The Udu Branch of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) has condemned recent reports in some newspapers that Chief Benedict Asabaro has been impeached, saying there was no iota of truth in the reports.
It stated that the Chief Benedict Asaboro’s led executive remains the authentic executives of the Branch, adding that the purported EGM called and held on June 7, 2020 by the vice chairman of the Branch was not only illegal but a nullity and should be so treated by the National body and every member of the Branch.
In a letter addressed to the General Secretary of NBA and signed by the Secretary, NBA, Udu Branch, O. O Erhurhu Esq. stated that the alleged purported dissolution of the validly elected officers of the Branch was illegal and unconstitutional.
The Branch explained that the assistant secretary who issued the notice of meeting under the instigation of the vice chairman has no such powers to do so as it offends section 12(3) and 12(5) of the Uniform Bye Law.
According to the letter, it is either the chairman of the Branch or the Executive Committee that can summon an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) upon requisition of 25 financial members, which was not meant before the exasperation meeting was held.
“The Executive Committee of the Branch or any of the elected officers of the Branch can only be removed from office in a general meeting of the branch in accordance to section 14(1) of the Uniform Bye Law and not an EGM.
“Apart from the fact that these elements has no such powers to set up a caretaker committee, the said purported caretaker committee was set up in disregard to the provisions of the Uniform Bye Laws”, it added.
It stressed that in view of the above reasons, their election as caretaker committee members was illegal and unlawful because its only Ayo Asala SAN as the only past chairman and Francis Avbenagha Esq. as the immediate past secretary, that are qualified persons to be appointed into the caretaker committee.
The NBA Udu Branch in the letter, called on the National body of NBA to disregard any communication from any quarter of Udu Branch, except it comes from the chairman, Chief B. O Asaboro and the Secretary O. O Erhurhu Esq.
