Lawyer and former chairman of National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Chidi Odinkalu, has accused president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Yakubu Maikyau (SAN) of being partisan.

Odinkalu stated this following the invitation of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to the NBA Annual General Conference (AGC) by Maikyau at MKO Abiola Stadium in Abuja on Sunday.

Speaking on the theme of the conference, ‘Getting it Right: Charting the Course for Nigeria’s Nation-Building,’ Maikyau urged the president to replicate what he did in Lagos at the federal level.

“President Tinubu got it right in Lagos, and it is our considered expectation that as president of Nigeria, you will not only replicate your achievements in Lagos, but surpass them for our country.”

In his remarks President Tinubu stated that hard decisions must be made to set the country on a growth trajectory, despite the initial pains which meaningful reforms usually bring.

He pointed out that the kind of country that Nigerians desire cannot be achieved without the reforms initiated.

Reacting to the outcome of the AGC on his X handle (formerly Twitter), Odinkalu said Maikyau mortgaged the NBA with his obsequiousness at the AGC.

Odinkalu stated that it was all unashamedly party political and the NBA president could easily have asked the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) to represent the government while the case, challenging Tinubu as elected president is in court.

The lawyer described Maikyau as irredeemable.

After INEC announced Tinubu of the All Progressive Congress (APC) winner of the 2023 presidential election, five political parties with their presidential candidates approached the Presidential Election Petition Court to challenge the election outcome.

Meanwhile, the tribunal will announce its judgement of the petition of Peter Obi of Labour party and Atiku Abubakar of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) against Tinubu’s election as Nigeria President. (The Guardian)

Update news