The President of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Yakubu Maikyau, SAN on Wednesday said that the NBA will collaborate and support the Armed Force of Nigeria in order to help in the speedy disposal of trial of terrorist’s, bandits, kidnappers, and other criminals for terror-related crimes hanging in Courts which has been undermining the efforts of military in the fight against terrorism in the country.
The NBA President stated this when he led his team and executive members of the association on a courtesy visit to the Chief of Defence Staff at the Defence Headquarter in Abuja.
SpyeTV reports that, the NBA President in his remarks said the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) is identify and proud of Armed Forces of Nigeria under the leadership of General Lucky Irabor CFR because it comprises men and women that have sworn to defend the integrity and the territorial integrity of this nation with their blood.
"There cannot be an over emphasizing of the importance and the strategic position of the armed forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to the survival of this nation, and so if lawyers are directly connected with the existence of the nation and here we are with the institution of the armed forces of the Federal Republic Of Nigeria, comprising men and women that has taken an oath that they will lay down their lives to defend the existence of this nation called Nigeria" he noted.
NBA President while eulogizing the Military stressed that military has pulled the country together, not allowing anything to tamper with the territorial integrity of the nation which is a sacrifice that the association and Nigerian at large will not take for granted.
"We said that because we are a group of people that have been painless to be called into this profession of law with the responsibility of promoting the rule of law, then we must come to identify with the successes of the outsources of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in the discharge of your constitutional responsibilities.
"You have defended the integrity of this country, you have made us proud in the peacekeeping operations in Liberia, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Mali and the courage of the men and women of the armed forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, that we are very proud of and so everything starts with Nigeria, then we must appreciate the fact that any institution that is responsible for keeping the nation together is an institution worthy to honour," he said.
The NBA President also condole with the armed Forces of Nigeria on the loss that the military suffered in the discharge of their responsibilities that the Constitution has put on the shoulders, that is, men and women that have given up their lives, they died in the service of this nation.
"We feel for them, and I say please on behalf of the association, accept our sincere condolences and please extend also our condolences to the families of those that are currently serving this nation and die in the course of doing that", he added
On 2023 Election, the NBA President urged Military to remain apolitical and never be distracted while working with other security agencies.
Responding, the Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor thanked the President, Nigeria Bar Association for the warm encomiums poured out on him and on military and for identifying with the Armed Forces of Nigeria for the services rendered by personnel which is aligned with the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
General Irabor hinted that the armed forces of Nigeria, certainly is a creation of constitution and since 1999 there has been an incremental positive professionalism of military successes in terms of professional excellence amongst its personnel.
The CDS said, by partnering with Nigeria Bar Association the future remains bright for the armed Forces and to the greater good of Nigerians.
General Irabor thanked the NBA President for the condolences for the fallen heroes who paid supreme price, saying, "it is a commitment that the military made as sacrifice which will not in anyway turn our back on. When it is hot, that's where you will find us in order to ensure that the rest of the nation live in peace and harmony".
The CDS thanked the Nigeria Bar Association for pledging to partner with military for speedy administration of justice on cases that involve terrorism, insurgency and other related cases, so that there will be a huge value that brought into the peace and orderly disposition of the country.
On the 2023 Elections, the CDS said the Military have been working closely with the Nigeria Police, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and Other relevant stakeholders to give Nigerians Free and Fair elections. "The Police remains the lead and we are have been able to put in place a contingency that will enable us to be of assistance to the Police if the need arises and we have also taken measure in terms of training to ensure that, should we have the reason to assist the police during the 2023 elections to be professional, and the armed forces remains apolitical"
The meeting was well attended by Principal Senior Officers of the Defence Headquarters, and executive members of the Nigeria Bar Association.
