DR. ANNE AGI'S STATEMENT TO THE NBA CALABAR BRANCH ON THE NBA SPIDEL ELECTIONS CRISIS, THE ROLE OF THE BRANCH CHAIRMAN, ENOME AMATEY, AND NOTICE OF RESIGNATION FROM ALL BRANCH COMMITTEES
Dear learned colleagues of the Nigerian Bar Association, Calabar Branch - The Doyen Bar, greetings.
I had initially resolved not to involve our Branch in the unfortunate events surrounding the SPIDEL 2025 elections. I deliberately kept my responses away from the Branch platform because I did not want to embarrass our Branch, inflame passions unnecessarily, or personalise an issue that ought to have been resolved by adherence to due process. I reasoned that my ambition is not worth damaging the peace or dignity of the Branch.
However, recent developments have made silence no longer tenable.
First, our Branch Chairman, Enome Amatey publicly posted on his Facebook page thanking members of SPIDEL for “electing” him as Secretary of SPIDEL. (https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1D9AXsLTtN/)
This representation is not accurate. There was no "election". What occurred was the truncation of an electoral process and the imposition of a list. As lawyers, words matter. A Branch Chairman ought to know the difference between an election and an imposition, especially in a Section that prides itself on public interest and the rule of law.
Second, the NBA National statement falsely attributed to the NBA Publicity Secretary, which has since been publicly disclaimed by her, was posted on the SPIDEL platform by our own Branch Chairman, Mr.. Enome Amatey.
A screen shot of his post of this false NBA National Statement on the SPIDEL platform and the swift rebuttal by Mrs. Bridget Edokwe, NBA Publicity Secretary is below:
I am a member of this Branch, the Secretary of the Continuing Legal Education Committee, and the Alternate Chairman of the Bar Week Committee. Yet, my own Chairman saw nothing wrong in circulating a statement that contained untruths and denigrated my person, without any attempt to verify its origin or to protect a member of his Branch. That statement has been reposted twice by the branch Secretary, Atteh Triumph on all our branch platforms.
This is deeply insensitive.
When I issued my statement on the SPIDEL platform, I didn't see this same zeal in republishing it on the platform by Mr. Triumph Atteh, or anyone in this exco. Very telling!
When rumour of the midnight meeting at the SPIDEL Conference first reached me, I spoke directly with our Branch Chairman. He informed me that the NBA President had told him he had chosen him as Secretary of SPIDEL. I asked what his response was. He told me that when he mentioned that a member of his Branch was contesting, the President allegedly stated that if he did not take the position, nothing else would come to the Branch. I asked him what he intended to do. He said he had no choice, because it was the NBA President making the request. I told him clearly that he had a choice and that I would not do the same to him. That I would never betray a member of my Branch for personal advancement. I asked him directly whether he would do something illegal simply because the NBA President asked him to. He was silent. I walked away disappointed and reminded him that everyone is free to do what they want, but whatever actions one takes has consequences.
Despite this, I still chose to protect his dignity and that of the Branch by keeping these facts away from our platform. Unfortunately, that restraint has not been reciprocated.
My own branch Chairman has shared a publication of the NBA National Secretariat against my person when he is neither the NBA Publicity Secretary or the Assistant PublicitySecretary, and on a platform where NBA National Officers are members! It just goes to show who is being used to do their dirty work.
It is legitimate to ask why, if the NBA President was determined that I must not emerge as Secretary, our Branch Chairman could not have declined, or at the very least nominated another member of the Branch. He is already a Branch Chairman and a member of the NBA NEC. Would it not have strengthened the Branch to have two members at that level instead of one individual taking everything, even at the cost of cheating a fellow Branch member.
These are questions not just of integrity, but also of ambition.
When a person repeatedly shows you that they have no regard for you, that they cannot protect you when your rights are trampled upon, and that they are willing to go further to publicise material that denigrates your person, the appropriate response is to withdraw.
Accordingly, and effective immediately, I hereby resign as the alternate Chair of the Branch Bar Week Committee and as Secretary of the Continuing Legal Education Committee.
This decision was not taken lightly. I sincerely apologise to Prof. J. A. Dada, Ntufam Dr. Joey Edet, (Asso. Prof.), the Chairman and Alternate Chairman of the CLE Committee respectively, and Dr. Paul Ebiala, Chairman of the Bar week ctte, for any inconvenience this may cause them. My respect for them remains undiminished. However, I cannot continue to serve under a leadership that has shown a clear lack of integrity and a willingness to sacrifice its own member.
I remain committed to the Nigerian Bar Association and to the values of fairness, courage, and the rule of law. But I will not work for anyone who cannot stand for what is right, especially when it concerns one of their own.
I am not unaware that in the coming days, there may be rebuttals, explanations, and even attempts at mud slinging. That is expected. I have placed the facts on record, and I am at peace with my decision. I leave the rest to God, who alone judges rightly.
Thank you for your understanding.
I am my mother's daughter,
Dr. Anne Uruegi Agi
