Months after conference invitation controversy, El-Rufai hosts NBA leadership

President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Olumide Akpata on Tuesday and his team paid a courtesy visit to the Executive Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai.

This visit was announced on Twitter by the office of the governor where it was revealed that the NBA team was hosted at the Kaduna government house.

“Malam Nasir @elrufai has welcomed Olumide Akpata, President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), and his team to Sir Kashim Ibrahim House,” the tweet read.

This is coming months after the NBA had withdrawn its invitation to the governor to speak at its annual general conference.

Following an outcry by some lawyers in the association who claimed that the governor stands against what the profession represents, the invitation was withdrawn.

“The National Executive Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association at its ongoing meeting resolves that the invitation to the Kaduna State Governor, H.E. Nasir El-Rufai by the 2020 Annual General Conference Planning committee be withdrawn and decision communicated to the Governor,” the NBA had written.

Recall that the governor insisted that he wil continue to make his voice heard on how the country can move forward despite the withdrawal.

He had also described the development as a “disregard for the rule of law”.

“It bears noting that in its response to pressure, the NBA leadership has signalled an unfortunate embrace of injustice, unfairness, absence of fair hearing and total disregard for the rule of law,” Muyiwa Adekeye, the governor’s spokesperson, had said.

But with the visit of the NBA leadership to the governor, it appears the controversy is now water under the bridge.

Some Nigerians on social media have reacted with varying points of view.

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