Prof. Itse Sagay (SAN),Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC) has said Abubakar Malami, Attorney-General and Minister of Justice has no powers to grant approval to the formation of a parallel body of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) known as ‘New NBA’.
The breakaway group, was formed following the controversy created by the dis-invitation of Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai by the NBA as speaker at its just concluded Annual General Meeting (AGM).
In a statement by two lawyers, Nuhu Ibrahim (Convener 1) and Abdulbasit Suleiman (Convener 2), explained that the formation of the ‘New NBA’ was aimed at protecting their interests as enshrined under Section 40 of the constitution.
They also said they have notified Malami of the existence of the NNBA as a splinter group.
However speaking with Daily Independent, Sagay who condemned the formation of the parallel body said Malami is irrelevant as far as the issue of the NBA is concerned.
“Let me start by saying Malami has no powers to grant approval to the New NBA. There is only one Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and it is a bar association established under an Act of the National Assembly. So, Malami is irrelevant as far as that is concerned” Sagay said.
