President of Nigerian Bar Assassination, NBA, Mr. Yakubu Maikyau, SAN, has set up a seven member elections appeal committee to consider appeals and petitions of candidates disqualified by the Electoral Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association, ECNBA, from the July 20, 2024, national elections of the association.
Meanwhile, an appeal/petition is to be heard and determined within 14 days of receipt of such appeal lodged by a candidate, according to one of the guidelines on the committee.
The NBA National Officers Election Appeals Committee according to a statement entitled ‘Notice of Hearing and Determination of Complaint(s) from candidates sisqualified from Participating in 2024 NBA National Officers Elections,’ by Usman Sule, SAN, chairman and Stella Owu, Secretary, on Monday, said:
“Establishment and mandate of the NBA National Officers Election Appeals Committee, NBA-NOEAC.
“The Committee was established pursuant to the provisions of Section 14(1)(L) Constitution of the NBA, 2015 (as amended in 2021) (hereinafter referred to as ‘the Constitution’), with powers to receive and resolve electoral complaints and disputes arising from the Election of National Officers and the election of representatives of the NBA in the General Council of the Bar.
“In line with the above-referenced provision, the President, Mr. Maikyau, SAN, with the approval of NEC, constituted the NBA National Officers Election Appeals Committee , NBA-NOEAC.
“Usman Sule, SAN, Chairman- Abuja; Mrs. Folashade Ali, SAN (Alternate-Chair-Lagos); Dr. Agada Elachi, SAN (Abuja); Adizua Okoroafor (Umuahia); Matthew Osume, (Ughelli); Mrs. Amina Senchi, (Gusau); and Stella Owu, (Secretary-Owerri).
“Pursuant to and incidental to the foregoing, the NBA-NOEAC hereby issues the following guidelines for dealing with complaints and disputes arising from candidates, who were disqualified from participating in the elections of National Officers and representatives of the NBA in the General Council of the Bar scheduled to hold on July 20, 2024.
READ ALSO: Deportation of follow Nigerians by Lagos govt sad, shocking -Peter Obi
“Any candidate who is disqualified by the ECNBA in respect of his nomination or candidature, may within seven days of the communication of the decision, appeal to the NBA-NOEAC.
“The appeal, by way of a notice or petition, shall be accompanied by the letter of disqualification from ECNBA and other supporting documents.
“All appeals shall be sent to the NBA-NOEAC via email to stellaohiozokai@nigerianbar.ng, and must be sent within seven days of receipt of notice of the disqualification.
“The hearing may be conducted by reviewing documents presented by the petitioner only. The NBA-NOEAC, where it considers it necessary, may call for oral hearing, which may be conducted online or in-person.
“The NBA-NOEAC may rely on any document, information, or materials relevant for the just determination of the appeal/petition, after giving the parties the opportunity to address it on the same.
“Hearing and determination of all appeals shall be concluded within 14 days of receipt of an appeal lodged by a candidate in the manner stated above.
“The decision of the Election Appeal Committee on any appeal lodged by a candidate shall be final and binding on the parties,” the statement added.
