 over its condemnation of the state of emergency declared in Rivers State, accusing the legal body of hypocrisy, political bias, and insincerity.){kind=link}
Solomon Bob, a member of the House of Representatives from Rivers State, has criticized the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) over its condemnation of the state of emergency declared in Rivers State, accusing the legal body of hypocrisy, political bias, and insincerity.
As reported by PUNCH Metro, Bob also called for the immediate refund of N300 million allegedly paid by the Rivers State Government to the NBA for its annual conference, which was initially scheduled to take place in Port Harcourt.
He rejected the NBA’s claim that the N300 million was a “gift” from the state government, describing it as “unreasonable” and “inappropriate” for an organization that positions itself as a guardian of the law.
“The NBA cannot alter or reinterpret the powers granted to the President under Section 305 of the Constitution,” Bob stated.
“It is not within the NBA’s role to decide what qualifies as extraordinary measures, as required by that section.”
The criticism followed a statement by the NBA on April 10, in which it denounced President Bola Tinubu’s March 18 proclamation of a state of emergency in Rivers State, calling it unconstitutional and politically motivated.
In response, Bob defended the President’s decision, attributing it to the deteriorating political situation in Rivers State, particularly the ongoing power struggle between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the Martin Amaewhule-led House of Assembly, which is reportedly loyal to Minister Nyesom Wike.
Bob argued that these tensions, including the threat of impeachment, escalating violence, and sabotage of oil infrastructure, warranted federal intervention to maintain law and order.
The lawmaker also accused the NBA of selective activism, questioning the association’s authority to offer guidance on democracy.
He criticized the NBA for what he perceived as a politically-driven agenda rather than objective legal analysis, and claimed that its recent stances reflected partisanship instead of impartial legal opinion.
Bob further stated that the NBA’s handling of internal and public matters undermines its credibility, warning that its perceived lack of neutrality would diminish its standing among Nigerians.