The Sokoto State branch of the Nigerian Bar Association ( NBA), has urged the leadership of the association to cancel the 2022 SPIDEL conference to allow for better preparations in 2023.
This is contained in a letter jointly signed by its Chairman Mr Muhammad Nuhu and Secretary and Mrs Rashidat Mohammed and addressed to the NBA national leadership.
The branch also faulted the national body’s unilateral decision to cancelled the staging of the conference in Sokoto after members have already prepared ground for a successful hosting.
“Mr President may wish to recall that we have expressed our displeasure over the unilateral postponement and the subsequent cancellation of the SPIDEL conference in Sokoto.
“Before now, our branch treasured and held the President in high esteem and our members have demonstrated their love and support for the President during his visit to Sokoto in February.
“Then, the President had in unequivocal words promised to hold the SPIDEL conference in Sokoto, with or without sponsorship /donation from anywhere,” it said.
The branch said that immediately after the President’s visit, its leadership met and commenced preparations for a befitting hosting of the SPIDEL, committing huge amount of money to vendors and other service providers toward a hitch-free hosting.
This, it said, included the repairs and maintenance of the venue and vehicles, among others.
“Individual members equally committed their funds in making personal souvenirs for the conference. The branch also mobilised its members to register for the conference.
“Therefore, the suspension and subsequent cancellation of the conference came as a big shock and disappointment to all our members of the branch.
“We concede that it is within the absolute discretion of the President, in consultations with the chairman of the section, to select where the SPIDEL conference will take place.
“But, we hold the view that no member of the association shall be compelled or coerced to register or attend the SPIDEL conference against his wish,” it added.
The branch said that the President and some other influential members had expressed reservation over the proposed hosting of the conference in Sokoto claiming security challenges at that time.
It also faulted the shifting of the conference to Abuja saying that the FCT was also affected by the security challenge in the country.
“Moreover, our members and members of sister branches in the North are at peril in journeying down to Abuja for the conference.
“We, at the NBA Sokoto Branch, therefore, find it expedient to and do hereby call for the postponement of the SPIDEL Conference in Abuja.
“Should you decide to forge ahead as scheduled however, we in the alternative, ask and demand for the immediate refund of our members’ already long paid registration fees,”it said.
SPIDEL stands for “The Section on Public Interest and Development Law,” of the association.
It was created to help lawyers practising in Nigeria.