The Pacesetter Frontier Magazine

Tag: NBA

  • Prof Joy Ezeilo to Speak at 2026 NBA Conference

    Prof Joy Ezeilo to Speak at 2026 NBA Conference

    Professor Joy Ngozi Ezeilo, SAN, OON, a renowned human rights lawyer, legal scholar and former United Nations Special Rapporteur on Trafficking in Persons, will speak at the 66th Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), scheduled to hold in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, from August 21 to 28, 2026.

    The conference, themed “Beyond Limits,” is expected to bring together thousands of lawyers and other stakeholders for discussions on legal practice, justice, governance, professional development and contemporary issues affecting the profession. The NBA has confirmed Port Harcourt as the venue and August 21–28 as the conference dates.

    Ezeilo’s participation is expected to bring a strong human rights and international-law perspective to the conference, drawing from her decades of work in legal scholarship, advocacy, gender justice, trafficking in persons and access to justice.

    A professor of public law at the University of Nigeria, Ezeilo is the founder of the Women’s Aid Collective (WACOL), an organisation established to promote and protect the rights of women and young people. Through WACOL, she has supported vulnerable women and children with legal aid and other interventions.

    She served as the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Trafficking in Persons, especially women and children, from 2008 to 2014, giving her extensive experience in international human rights advocacy and accountability mechanisms.

    Ezeilo was also appointed in 2023 as a member of the UN Independent International Fact-Finding Mission for Sudan, alongside other international experts, to contribute to efforts addressing human rights violations in the conflict-affected country.

    Her record also includes service as a former Dean and Head of the Department of Public Law at the University of Nigeria, former Commissioner for Gender and Social Development in Enugu State, and membership of several national and international bodies. She has received multiple recognitions for her contributions to human rights, legal scholarship and social development, including the Nigerian national honour of Officer of the Order of Niger and the 2019 National Human Rights Award.

    Her appearance at the NBA conference comes as the association prepares for what it describes as a major gathering of the legal profession under the theme “Beyond Limits.” The conference is expected to feature intellectual sessions, policy discussions, professional engagements and networking opportunities for lawyers from Nigeria and beyond.

    With Ezeilo’s extensive experience spanning Nigerian legal institutions, academia, human rights advocacy and the United Nations, her contribution is expected to add an international dimension to discussions at the 2026 NBA Annual General Conference.

  • NBA Writes Emefiele, states CBN’s Statutory Obligation To Redeem Old Banknotes After January 31

    Maikyau expressed what he described as telling concerns about the fate of Nigerians with the old currency past the deadline, saying, “The law is clear on this issue.”

    The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) says the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is under statutory obligation to redeem the old N200, N500, and N1,000 banknotes after the January 31 deadline.

    The apex bank has however remained unequivocal about its decision that only the redesigned currency will be legal tender after the date.

    But the NBA President, Yakubu Maikyau, SAN, in a letter addressed to the CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, insisted that the law allows Nigerians to redeem their old naira notes at the CBN.

    According to a statement by the NBA’s National Publicity Secretary, Akorede Lawal, on Saturday, Maikyau expressed what he described as telling concerns about the fate of Nigerians with the old currency past the January 31, 2023 deadline, saying, “The law is clear on this issue.”

    He cited the provisions of Section 20 (3) of the CBN Act which he said provides that “notwithstanding Sub-sections (1) and (2) of this section, the Bank shall have power, if directed to do so by the President and after giving reasonable notice in that behalf, to call in any of its notes or coins on payment of the face value thereof and any note or coin with respect to which a notice has been given under this Sub-section, shall, on the expiration of the notice, cease to be legal tender, but, subject to section 22 of this Act, shall be redeemed by the Bank upon demand.”

    The NBA President noted that “any person who shall be in possession of the old notes which have ceased to be legal tender by 31 January 2023 is at liberty to approach the CBN and demand for the redemption of the notes and the CBN is under statutory obligation to ‘redeem’ the notes.”

    In view of the dearth of information in this regard, the NBA President added that “our recommendation, on this issue is that in addition to educating Nigerians on demonetisation itself, a campaign on what happens to old bank notes after 31 January should be launched so as to adequately inform the public on what to do and prevent or reverse the rising panic or agitations caused by concerns about the inability of Nigerians to swap their old notes for the new notes by 31 January.”

    See the full statement below:

    PRESS RELEASE

    CBN DEMONETISATION POLICY:

    *NBA PRESIDENT WRITES CBN GOVERNOR,

    *MEETS MINISTER OF FINANCE,

    *APPEALS FOR URGENT REVIEW OF POLICY,

    *SAYS PRESIDENT BUHARI MAY HAVE BEEN WRONGLY ADVISED, INSISTS THE LAW ALLOWS NIGERIANS TO DEMAND CBN TO REDEEM OLD NOTES AFTER THE JANUARY 31 DEADLINE

    In reaction to the demonetisation policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) which directs that the old naira notes (N100, N200, N500 and N1000) will cease to be legal tender in Nigeria from February, 2023, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has insisted that the law allows Nigerians to redeem their old naira notes at the CBN even after the January 31, 2023 deadline set by the apex bank.

    The NBA has also appealed for the urgent review of the demonetisation policy of the CBN.

    The NBA’s appeal is contained in a letter signed by the NBA President, Mr. Yakubu Chonoko Maikyau, OON, SAN and addressed to the CBN Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele.

    While acknowledging that the policy is laudable as it has the potential to stem corruption, votes buying and other criminal activities, the NBA President noted that “the necessary logistical, infrastructural and manpower support, required for the successful implementation of the policy are in short supply and should be greatly improved upon if they are to be leveraged for full implementation of the policy with minimal loss or economic hardship.”

    In the letter, the NBA President expressed the telling concerns that there is no information in the public domain as to what would happen to the old currency in possession of Nigerians, by or after the 31 January 2023, even as the law is clear on this issue. Quoting the provisions of Section 20 (3) of the CBN Act which provides that

    “notwithstanding Sub-sections (1) and (2) of this section, the Bank shall have power, if directed to do so by the President and after giving reasonable notice in that behalf, to call in any of its notes or coins on payment of the face value thereof and any note or coin with respect to which a notice has been given under this Sub-section, shall, on the expiration of the notice, cease to be legal tender, but, subject to section 22 of this Act, shall be redeemed by the Bank upon demand”, Mr. Maikyau noted that “any person who shall be in possession of the old notes which have ceased to be legal tender by 31 January 2023 is at liberty to approach the CBN and demand for the redemption of the notes and the CBN is under statutory obligation to “redeem” the notes.”

    In view of the dearth of information in this regard, the NBA President added that “our recommendation, on this issue is that in addition to educating Nigerians on demonetisation itself, a campaign on what happens to old bank notes after 31 January should be launched so as to adequately inform the public on what to do and prevent or reverse the rising panic or agitations caused by concerns about the inability of Nigerians to swap their old notes for the new notes by 31 January.”

    In a related development, the NBA President on Friday paid a courtesy call on the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Dr. Zainab Shamsuna Ahmed in Abuja and relayed the concerns of the Nigerian people over the demonetisation policy of the CBN, particularly in view of the scarcity of the new notes and the difficulty Nigerians are encountering in swapping the old notes .

    The NBA President informed the Minister that he directed the chairmen of the 128 branches of the NBA to survey and assess the impact of the policy on Nigerians in their respective jurisdictions and the aggregate of report thus far indicated that banking facilities are being overstretched and citizens are uncertain about the policy.

    Mr. Maikyau noted that the worse hit are the under-privileged citizens whose life asset may not be up to N10,000 and who do not have access to the new notes and may therefore be denied of their hard earned money in the old naira notes.

    The NBA President recalled that the Government ought to avoid the repeat of the harsh experiences of Nigerians in 1984 when a similar demonietisation policy reportedly claimed the life of a trader who committed suicide because he was stranded with about NGN 200,000 of the old notes.

    While addressing the Minister, Mr. Maikyau stressed that “President Buhari may have been wrongly advised on the policy because by the provisions of the CBN Act the power of the CBN to call in any of its notes or coins otherwise described as demonetisation, can only become operational upon the directive of the President after giving reasonable notice for the recall.

    From the clear wording of the section, these two conditions must coexist before the power to call any of the notes or coins by the CBN can crystallise. The questions that have trailed this policy from our consultations include; “was there a directive of the President? And where there was one, could it be said that the notice, given the prevailing circumstances was reasonable ? The questions seek to interrogate the process leading to the policy and justify the need for extension of the timelines for its implementation.”

    Speaking of the condition of reasonable time as provided for in the law, the NBA President added that while the CBN for the first time announced the policy in October 2022, citizens have only been given a mere 45 days to swap naira notes, since the new naira notes only became available from December 15, 2022. Mr. Maikyau noted that when a similar policy was introduced in an advanced economy as United Kingdom’s, the government had announced a date for demonetisation 18 months in advance.

    In her response, the Minister of Finance commended the NBA for being the first professional body to express concern over the issue, particularly as it relates to the provisions of Section 20 (3) of the CBN Act which allows Nigerians to approach the CBN to redeem their old currency notes even after the deadline. She added that the government is aware of the concerns over the policy and that the ministry would reach out to the CBN in a bid to consider revisiting the January 31 terminal date of the demonetisation policy.

    Akorede Habeeb Lawal

    National Publicity Secretary, NBA

    (Channels TV)

  • NBA vows to ensure justice is served in Bolanle’s case

    NBA vows to ensure justice is served in Bolanle’s case

    The Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, on Thursday, vowed to ensure justice was served in the case of Lagos-based female lawyer, Bolanle Raheem, who was shot dead by a police officer on Christmas day.

    The police officer, who was later identified as Drambi Vandi, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, ASP, was attached to Ajiwe Police Station in Ajah, Lagos State.

    The cop and his team were said to have tried to stop Raheem and her family members as they drove back home from a church service.

    Raheem was shot when her car attempted to make a U-turn under the Ajah Bridge and was later pronounced dead at the hospital to which she was rushed, causing outrage among Nigerians.

    Reacting to the incident on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily programme, on Thursday, the NBA’s 3rd Vice President, Mandy Asagba, chastised the police officer for violating the police code of conduct and assured the victim’s family that the NBA will pursue the case with them until justice is served.

    Asagba said: “They have rules and a code of conduct. One thing I have noticed with the system in Nigeria, particularly the police is that they kind of go outside the law at any point in time, they violate the law; they go contrary to the law most of the time. Constitutionally it was wrong, going by the police SOP, it is unacceptable, it’s so inhuman, it’s unthinkable I must say and I say to myself this could have happened to anybody.

    “So if Nigerians are going to keep quiet at this then trust me anybody can be the next victim, but I thank God Nigerians are not keeping quiet The NBA President has said it without mincing words that we are ready to go all the way out, we are ready to be the complainants with the family, we are also ready to ensure that we are not just going to the root of the matter but to uproot the system of injustice happening in the land.”

    IGP meets with Sanwo-Olu, pledges justice

    Meanwhile, the Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, yesterday, restated that justice will be served in the murder of Mrs Raheem.

    The IGP, who stated this while receiving Governor Sanwo-Olu at the Force Headquarters in Abuja, also cleared the air on the identity of the police officer arrested in connection with the murder of the late Raheem.

    Speaking during the meeting, the governor said: “We have come here this morning to get an update and also to brief him on the security situation in Lagos, especially the death of the late Mrs Raheem.”

    While condemning Raheem’s murder, Sanwo-Olu said he is collaborating with the police leadership in ensuring that the sad event does not repeat itself.

    PSC approves suspension of killer cop

    Meanwhile, the Police Service Commission, PSC, yesterday, approved the suspension of ASP Vandi, who allegedly shot and killed Mrs Raheem.

    The PSC, in a statement by its spokesman, Ikechukwu Ani said: “The Commission also directed that the final investigation into the matter is concluded to enable the Commission take further necessary action.

    “The Commission, in a letter to the Inspector-General of Police, signed by the acting Chairman Justice Clara Bata Ogunbiyi, stated that the Commission has carefully examined the facts of the case, observations and recommendation with respect to allegations against the officer and granted approval for the suspension of the officer from duty with immediate effect.”

    (Vanguard)

  • Tokyo 2020: Nigeria eyes olympic glory in basketball after football teams fail to qualify

     

    The Nigeria Men’s National Team celebrates after the game on July 10, 2021 at Michelob ULTRA Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

     

    Football has always been Nigeria’s favourite sport with a historic Olympic gold the pinnacle of its success, but the country now eyes basketball for glory at the Tokyo Games.

     

    The West African nation of 210 million people made history 25 years ago when their football team struck gold in Atlanta at the expense of top-rated Argentina, the first Olympic title won by an African team.

     

    But for the Tokyo Games, both the men and women’s football teams failed to qualify, with medal hopes shifting to other sports including the men’s basketball team, as ‘D’Tigers’ carry the nation’s aspirations following some shock results in the lead-up to the Olympics.

    Ranked 22nd in the world, Nigeria upset a United States team featuring NBA stars like Kevin Durant 90-87, having been blown away 156-73 by the same opponents at London 2012.

     

    The Nigerians also stunned world No.4 Argentina 94-71 in another warm-up game for Tokyo.

     

    “We have not won anything yet, but I have a feeling I can uplift a whole continent,” said 51-year-old coach Mike Brown, formerly in charge of the Los Angeles Lakers and Cleveland Cavaliers.

     

    “We are not going for the experience, we’re going to Tokyo to win,” he said.

     

    “This morale-boosting performance on the eve of the delayed Tokyo 2020 Olympics is a positive signal that Team Nigeria will achieve podium finishes at the Games,” added Nigeria’s sports minister Sunday Dare.

     

    “I am delighted with the progress our athletes are making in their respective sports and I strongly believe we will have many of our athletes in strong medal positions at this Olympics and future international global events.”

     

    Like the Nigeria football team, the ‘D’Tigers’ squad is dominated by players from the diaspora who play in the NBA.

     

    They have strength in depth at each position, with Miami Heat trio Gabe Vincent, Precious Achiuwa and KZ Okpala on the roster, along with Minnesota Timberwolves guard Josh Okogie and Detroit Pistons center Jahlil Okafor.

     

    Against the USA, Vincent scored 21 points while Israel-based Caleb Agada pitched in with 17 as Nigeria became the first African nation to beat the 15-time Olympic champions.

     

    “It gives all of us the confidence to go out there and perform at a high level just like we did against USA and Argentina,” said Okafor.

    “The message is to take care of business and avoid any let-down.”

    – Domestic league struggles -They trained stateside for four weeks before concluding preparations in Kisarazu, Japan.

     

     

    However, critics argue that the team’s fate in Japan will have minimal bearing on the domestic championship, which has been disrupted in recent times by a drawn-out power tussle in the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF).

    The men’s domestic league does not have a title sponsor amid grumblings that no home-based player made the cut for Tokyo.

    “What the team have done is a great development for Nigerian basketball internationally, but it’s killing us locally because we’re not investing at home,” said former ‘D’Tigers’ captain Olumide Oyedeji.

     

    “We have got carried away by what we are achieving internationally.”

     

    Oyedeji advocated for better opportunities for the players based in Nigeria.

     

    “It’s not a crime to be born in Nigeria, it’s not a crime to play in Nigeria, it’s not a crime to reside in Nigeria,” he said.

     

    “So, we should give the local boys a chance too, a hope for the future.”

     

    “The players who are now available for Nigeria are those who were not previously because the NBA season was on,” he said.

     

    “They don’t have a chance to play for the US who have so many great players, but they all now want to play for Nigeria because they will be seen at the Olympics and it will be great for their CVs.”

     

    Tokyo marks the third straight appearance at the Olympics for Nigeria, who failed to make it past the group stage at the past two editions.

     

    They have been drawn in a tough-looking group with Australia, Germany and Italy, and tip off their campaign on Sunday.

     

    “I see no reason why they cannot continue their success in the exhibition matches at the Olympics,” said Will Voigt, who led Nigeria to their first-ever African basketball championship title in 2015.

    “They are talented, confident and self-driven.”

     

     

     

     

    Source: www.punchng.com

  • NBA urge Buhari to Investigate the invasion into Benue State

    The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Makurdi Branch, has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to order probe into the invasion of Konshisha and Gwer East local government areas of Benue State.

     

    The appeal was contained in a statement yesterday in Makurdi by its branch chairman, Justin Gbagir.

     

    The Defence Headquarters had claimed that unknown men killed an Army captain and 11 soldiers on Achoho-Oju road in Konshisha.

     

    According to the Defence Headquarters, the soldiers were on special operation to bring peace to the warring communities of Bonta and Okpute.

     

    But, Gbagir appealed to President Buhari to urgently caution the military and order investigation into the invasion of the two local government areas.

     

    He said the military had on April 7 and April 8 invaded eight communities in Konshisha and Gwer East local government areas, killing and destroying property worth billions of naira.

     

    Gbagir named the communities as including Bonta, Gungul, Adoka, Guleya, Agidi, Gbinde, Agune in Konshisha and Mbayase of Ullam in Gwer-East Local Government Area.

     

    He said NBA condemned the killing of innocent people in whatever guise by either the security operatives or civilians.

     

    “Consequently, we are worried given the explanations offered by the military on the assignment of the military officers and the length and the depth the operation nosedived and the armoury employed on helpless civilians.

     

    “We call on President Buhari and the Military High Command to conduct an investigation into the real intent of the operation, which has brought in a load of humanitarian crisis that left innocent citizens homeless.

     

    “The incident also led to the destruction of foodstuffs, economic trees and alleged loss of human lives.

     

    “This is one destructions too many, which fuels the thinking that it is premeditated, properly planned and executed with the agenda to decimate and exterminate the Tivs,” he said.

     

    Gbagir questioned the operational guidelines issued to the officers on the said rescue mission of the missing soldiers as they were currently destroying villages and killing people in areas outside the scene of the act.

     

    “If this was actually the mission of these officers as designated by their superiors, then switching the touch pads of the trigger on helpless communities outside the warring areas of Bonta and Okpute is a matter of concern.

     

    “This also leads to solemn contemplation as to the real motive of the Army.

     

    “We further lament the brazen, uncivil, beastly and commando approach of the Nigerian Army on the lives and properties of the communities.”

     

    According to the branch chairman, the NBA would continue to respect the rule of law and promote the sanctity of human life in the country.

     

    “The proper thing to do in an allegation of crime is for the accused/perpetrator as the case may be to go through the full procedure of criminal trials as provided under the country’s law,’’ he said.

     

    He appealed to the Benue Government to urgently provide shelter and relief  materials to the affected communities.

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Source: www.thenationonlineng.net

  • NBA investigates CCT chairman for display of Naked Power

     

    The Nigerian Bar Association on Thursday said it would investigate the “display of naked power” by the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal, Danladi Umar, who was seen in a viral video with his security detail, assaulting a citizen at Banex Plaza, in Wuse Abuja.

     

    The organisation identified the victim to be a 22-year-old worker of Jul Reliable Guards Services Limited posted as a security guard to the Plaza.

     

    The National Publicity Secretary of NBA, Dr Rapulu Nduka, on Thursday said, “The attention of the NBA has been drawn to the video making the rounds where the Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal – Danladi Yakubu Umar, was seen, together with his security detail, allegedly assaulting a citizen at Banex Plaza, in Wuse Abuja.

     

    “We understand that this citizen turned out to be a 22-year-old employee of Jul Reliable Guards Services Limited, posted as a security guard to the Plaza and who is now reportedly hospitalised.

     

    “The NBA has also read the statement credited to the Head, Press and Public Relations of the CCT in response to the actions of Umar.

     

    “The NBA frowns on any display of naked power by a public officer especially one who, by virtue of his high office, is expected to exhibit a high standard of conduct. The situation is all the more critical when it involves the head of an agency of government set up to ensure compliance, by public officers, with the code of conduct.

     

    “Further, as a member of the legal profession, Danladi Yakubu Umar is expected, by the extant rules that regulate the conduct of legal practitioners in Nigeria, to maintain a high standard of professional conduct, and not to engage in any conduct which is unbecoming of a member of the legal profession.

     

    “Prima facie evidence available at the moment raise questions regarding whether such standards have been met.

     

     

    “In view of the foregoing, the NBA shall through its relevant committee, investigate the circumstances leading to the altercation, and depending on its findings, will ensure that appropriate action is taken to address this occurrence.”

     

     

     

     

     

    source: www.punchng.com