NBA Ikeja Branch Calls On International Community To Prevail On EFCC To Release Monday Ubani, Says Detention Is Unacceptable | Nairalaw

The Nigerian Bar Association, Ikeja branch has added her voice
to the call on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to
release the former NBA 2nd Vice President, Mr. Monday Onyekachi
Ubani.

In a press release sighted by TNL, the Executive Committee of
the branch, noted that the act of the Commission in detaining the
Mr. Ubani for over 22 days despite a court order for his release is
unacceptable and unconstitutional.

They are therefore calling on well-meaning Nigerians and the
international communities to prevail on the agency to release him
now.

“Gentlemen, the mainstream and social media have been awash with
the news of the arrest and detention of a revered senior member of
the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA; the immediate past 2nd National
Vice President and former chairman of NBA, Ikeja branch- Mr. Monday
Onyekachi Ubani by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
(EFCC) over an allegation of failure to produce a suspect for whom
he stood as a counsel and surety.”

“Mr. Ubani has now spent over 22 days in the gulag of the EFCC.
This is so, notwithstanding the order of the High Court of FCT,
coram Oriji J that Mr. Ubani be either charged to court or released
immediately.”

“Members of the Excellent Branch are in wonder as to why an
order of court of law validly made for the release of the former
chairman of the branch is treated with disdain by no such other
institution than the EFCC. This is an institution that should
ordinarily be entrenched in the respect for the Rule of Law and the
constitution, particularly Chapter 4 thereof, as it relates to the
fundamental rights of citizens.”

“It is obvious that the events surrounding the continued
detention of Mr. Ubani as well as recent actions of the Commission
have blurred the line between respect for Rule of Law and abuse of
rights of Citizens in the claim to the fight against corruption by
the Commission.”

The branch noted that it would not support EFCC’s operations if
it is not guided by the rule of law.

“It is not the position of NBA, Ikeja Branch that EFCC should
not do its work, but that, in doing such work, it must be guided by
the Rule of Law. The Branch is ready to commend the Commission when
it does well and will not hesitate to condemn it when it errs. A
flagrant disregard to an order of a court of competent jurisdiction
leaves no one in doubt that the Commission does not respect the
rule of law and rights of the citizens whose commonwealth is
deployed daily for the maintenance of the Commission.”

“The continued detention of Mr. Monday Onyekachi Ubani by the
EFCC is unacceptable to the entire members of NBA, Ikeja Branch, it
is unconstitutional, it is an abuse and it is hereby rejected. We
also condemn in the strongest terms, the act of impunity and
disrespect to the courts and their judgments and orders. We
Executive and members of Ikeja Branch, join the President and all
national officers of NBA to demand an immediate release of Monday
Onyekachi Ubani in accordance with the ruling of Lord Justice Oriji
of the High Court of FCT, Abuja.”

“We also call on all well-meaning Nigerians and international
communities to prevail on the EFCC to release Ubani NOW.”

Mr. Ubani is still in Eric’s custody.