Olalekan Awojodu, Abuja
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and security agencies in the country are in fresh collaboration with a view to either eradicate or minimise conflict on human dignity and bickering in the discharge of their respective functions.
As part of measures to achieve this, the NBA has already set up NBA/ security/ Agencies Relations Committee (NBA-SARC) headed by a Mr Joe Kyari Gadzama, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria.
The Committee setup by the NBA President, Mr Olumide Akpata has already met with authorities of the EFCC, ICPC, NSCDS while a meeting is already scheduled with the office of the Inspector General of Police IGP in order to convey the collaboration to the highest level.
At the first Hybrid Town Hall meeting held NBA House in Abuja on Tuesday with the theme “Lawyers, Security Agents and.the Rule of Law” NBA President, Olumide Akpata said that time has come for legal practitioners and security operatives to learn how to discharge their respective functions within the ambit of the Rule of Law.
Akpata said that incessant bickerings arising in the discharge of functions by lawyers and security operatives are unnecessary adding that permanent solutions must be found to ensure that they work without stepping on toes of each other.
Also speaking at the occasion, the committee chairman, Joe Gadzama SAN, said the town hall meeting was organised to bring lawyers and.security agencies together as a starting point into having a cordial working relationship.
Gadzama said that in the next few days, the NBA committee will meet with police authorities with a view to having consultations on how to.make lawyers and police works done unhindered.
In his lecture at the town hall meeting, a Deputy Commissioner of Police and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr Simon Lough noted that pride and arrogance were responsible for the bickerings among lawyers and police.
Lough who is the first serving police officer to become SAN in Nigeria called for synergy between lawyers and security agents because they have vital roles to play in ensuring safety of life and property.
He noted that a situation where lawyers and security agents see themselves as enemies must be eradicated.
Another speaker at the occasion and Senior Advocate of Nigeria SAN, Mr Mela Nunghe called for an end into agency rivalry in the interest of the generality of Nigerians.
The hybrid town hall meeting was attended by representatives of Nigerian Army, Police, Customs Civil Defence. ICPC, Immigration and EFCC.
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