By Kayode Adeoti
For quite a while, series of controversies have been trailing the removal of the executives of the Young Lawyers’ Forum of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ilorin branch.
The Secretary of the YLF, Adebayo Mustapha and the Financial Secretary, Foluke Adeleru were removed from office over alleged non performance.
In order to ventilate their displeasure over the development, the duo reportedly approached the NBA for redress.
It was gathered that Mustapha and Adeleru forwarded a petition letter of the YLF to the NBA challenging their removal from office without due process.
It was further learnt that the affected members of the legal body were of the opinions that certain enquiry committee ought to have been constituted to consider the allegation of non performance against them and subsequently make recommendations to the leadership of the YLF.
In view of this, the NBA set of up a committee that investigated the allegation and came up with a resolution.
The press statement which was signed by the secretary of the NBA, John Mayokun Dada and made available to Pilot Law by the NBA chairman, Muhammed Idowu Akande stated that the members of the YLF who were sacked should be reinstated.
The statement was tagged, ‘The resolution of the NBA Ilorin branch Officers on the Young Lawyers’ Forum crisis resulting from the removal of Adebayo Mustapha Esq as the Secretary and Mrs. Foluke Adeleru as Financial Secretary.
It further reads in part, “Sequel to the above, the NBA Ilorin Branch set up a fact finding Committee in which all parties were heard and the report was submitted to the Branch Officers for consideration.
The Branch Officers at its meeting held on 12th June 2019 hereby resolves as follows:
1. That the removal of Mr. Adedayo Mustapha and Mrs. Foluke Adeleru as the Secretary and Financial Secretary respectively on the ground of their absence from three consecutive meetings without being queried or given the opportunity to be heard negates the principle of fair hearing and it is hereby quashed and accordingly set aside.
2. That the appointment of Haruna Geo Ibn Mahmud as the Secretary of YLF Ilorin during the pendency of this matter is an effort/action in futility and same is hereby set aside.
3. That it is within the public domain that Mr. Adedayo Mustapha though a financial member of Ilorin Branch is now the PRO of YLF Abuja Branch, therefore the issue of his reinstatement has been overtaken by event and he automatically ceased to be the Secretary of YLF Ilorin Branch.
4. That the YLF Ilorin Branch is free to appoint/elect any suitable candidate as its Secretary. It is worthy of note that Mr. Haruna Geo Ibn Mahmud is not disqualified for such appointment/election (if YLF deemed fit).
5.That some comments/release made by Mr. Adedayo Mustapha in respect of this matter on the NBA Ilorin Group Whatsapp Platform is an effrontery and derogatory to the Branch Officers particularly on the person of Mr. Taofeeq Alubarika (Financial Secretary). Mr. Mustapha is hereby directed to cause an apology to be written to the Branch Officers and same to be posted by him on the NBA Group Whatsapp Platform within 7 days from the date of this release.
6. That Mr. Adedayo Mustapha is hereby advice to withdraw the pending suit in court in the interest of peace and unity of Ilorin Bar.
In a telephone chat with the NBA boss over the issue yesterday night, he stressed that the association took the bold decision in order to avert unprecedented situation the sack may attract in future.
He added that the leadership of the YLF has accepted the resolution, saying normalcy has returned to the legal body.
