NBA Declares Support For Lagos Speaker

Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Adeyemi Ikuforiji, who is currently facing a 54-count charge of financial impropriety at a Federal High Court in Lagos, has secured the support of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA).

The leadership of the NBA, Ikeja branch, which paid a visit to him at the Assembly complex yesterday assured Ikuforiji that the association would continue to stand by him in his current travails.

The speaker recently met a N1 billion bail bond handed down by the trial court in an action brought against him by the country’s anti-graft agency, the Economic And Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

Chairman of the Ikeja branch of the association, Mr. Onyekachi Ubani, gave the assurance on behalf of the executive members of the association and presented the speaker with an award of ‘Most Friendly Supporter of NBA’.

Ubani noted that the House of Assembly under Ikuforiji’s leadership, “has lived up to the expectations of the people and we have seen that you have put the House on the path of greatness.

“We in the NBA are solidly behind you.Whatever you are undergoing now is a political scheme.  But God will vindicate you. Definitely, the righteous will be vindicated.”

Ubani noted that the speaker has remained consistent in his efforts to make the state a better place through effective legislation and a level of humility.

He noted some laws which have been passed by the House for the good of the people of the state and for the government’s effective management of the state.

He affirmed that the state legislature is a parameter for others in federation.

Responding, Ikuforiji urged the NBA to consolidate on the struggle against misrule and bad governance in the country.

He reiterated the need for pooling resources to save the nation from the brink of collapse.

“The country is at crossroads. We call on God to help us but we need to have a sober reflection and put heads together and proffer solutions to our problems.

“The nation is on the brink of collapse, but we must not allow it to break up because the beauty of the nation lies in its big size,” he said.

The speaker also charged the NBA to continue to stand out as the voice of reason and be seen to stand up against oppression and the polarisation of the country.

He said this would help bring the much needed peace and progress that the country needs currently.

“It is only when a body like NBA takes the lead that others will follow. I have lots of respect for the NBA because I know what it is capable of doing,” Ikuforiji said.

—Eromosele Ebhomele