Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has said its Vice President, John Aikpokpo-Martins, is solely responsible and representing the body in his recent statement about Nnamdi Kanu’s arrest.
Naija News understands that following the order by the Federal High Court that the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader be kept in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS), a report quoted Aikpokpo-Martins as saying that President Muhammadu Buhari is constitutionally bound to “crush” separatists.
The NBA VP’s statement, however, stirred a barrage of reactions by Biafra supporters and other Nigerias that are in support of splitting Nigeria
Reacting to the development in a statement made available to newsmen, NBA President, Olamide Apata said he received many enquiries from members and the public.
“The views expressed by the 1st Vice President are his personal views which he posted on his Facebook account in the course of an online exchange, and that the said views do not represent the position of the NBA on the subject”, he noted.
Apata said as an association founded to defend the rule of law, the NBA will continue to champion and defend the rights of every Nigerian citizen and groups.
He stressed that they have the right to peaceful protest, make lawful demands recognized under the Nigerian constitution or international charters applicable to Nigeria, and the right to enjoy the presumption of innocence until proven otherwise by a court in a free and fair trial.
In another news, the Department of State Services (DSS) asked the Lagos State Police Command to transfer the 49 arrested 49 Yoruba nation’s protesters to its custody in Abuja.
Naija News had earlier reported that the Lagos Police Command had on Sunday paraded 49 suspects arrested at the Yoruba nation rally, held in the Ojota area of the state.
The Police said the suspects were arrested for violating the ban that no rally or gathering should hold in the state.
This article was originally published on Nigeria News