The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Port Harcourt Branch has strongly condemned the recent issuance of a query to its Chairperson, Mrs. Cordelia Uwuma Eke, by agents of the Rivers State Sole Administrator. The query, which appears to be a response to a press statement signed by Mrs. Eke in her official capacity has drawn sharp criticism.
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At its monthly General Meeting held on Wednesday, April 30, 2025, the NBA Port Harcourt Branch unanimously adopted several resolutions in response to the troubling developments within the state.
The branch adopted the joint press statement issued by the Chairmen of the eight NBA branches in Rivers State, as well as the statement by the NBA President, Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, both of which condemned the unconstitutional declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State. The branch expressed deep concern over what it described as the dismantling of democratic structures and the erosion of civic rights under the administration of the Sole Administrator.
In a strongly worded resolution, the Branch condemned the query directed at Mrs. Cordelia Eke, labeling it as an attempt to silence the NBA and its leadership from fulfilling their role as the conscience and watchdog of society. The association described the action as “unwarranted and unacceptable,” especially as Mrs. Eke had issued the statement on behalf of the branch, pursuant to a collective decision of its members.
To reaffirm its support, the Port Harcourt Branch unanimously passed a vote of confidence on Mrs. Eke and the Branch Executive Committee. Members endorsed all steps taken by the leadership in response to the political and constitutional crisis in Rivers State, and vowed to stand united in defense of the rule of law and democratic governance.
The Branch further called on the Rivers State Sole Administrator and his agents, particularly the Solicitor-General, to withdraw the query issued to the Branch Chairperson, asserting that the action undermines the independence of the Nigerian Bar Association and violates the collective will of the branch.
The Nigerian Bar Association Port Harcourt Branch, at its monthly General Meeting held on Wednesday the 30th of April, 2025, passed the following resolutions unanimously:
We adopt the Press Statement issued by the Chairmen of the 8 Branches of the Nigerian Bar Association in Rivers State and the Statement issued by the President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, which condemned the declaration of State of Emergency in Rivers State as unconstitutional, and further decried the dismantling of democratic structures and erosion of civic rights in the state by the Sole Administrator.
We condemn the query issued to our Branch Chairman, Cordelia Eke, by agents of the Sole Administrator on account of the press statement she signed in her capacity as the spokesperson of the Branch.
The Branch views the action of the Sole Administrator as an attempt to gag the Nigerian Bar Association, particularly the Port Harcourt Branch, from performing its functions as the watchdog of the society.
The Branch unanimously passes a vote of confidence on our Branch Chairman, Mrs. Cordelia Uwuma Eke, and the Branch Executive Committee, endorsing all actions taken by them on the issue of the State of Emergency as our own.
We call on the Rivers State Sole Administrator and his agents, particularly the Solicitor-General, to withdraw the said letter of query issued to our Branch Chairman, as her statement was signed in her capacity as a Branch Chairman of the NBA and based on a Branch resolution.
Dated the 1st Day of May, 2025
