By Myke Uzendu, Abuja
The Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Section on Public Interest and Development Law (NBA-SPIDEL) Dr. Monday Ubani has advised lawyers to be circumspect over calls for the cancellation of the 2022 NBA-SPIDEL Conference scheduled to hold in Sokoto in protest against the murder of a female student of the Shehu Shagari College of Education by irate youths in Sokoto, Deborah Samuel.
This is even as Sokoto State Governor, Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal has continued peace talks with broad spectrum of Muslim leaders in the state including the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Catholic Diocese of Sokoto led by Bishop Hassan Kukkah to deliberate on the way to maintain peace, harmony and co+existence among citizens.
The Governor had to cut short his various official engagements in Abuja, the nation’s capital, to rush to Sokoto in view of the importance of the various consultations.
Deborah Samuel, a student of College of Education, Sokoto, was killed on Thursday over alleged blasphemous statement against the holy Prophet Mohammed.
The Governor, according to a statement from the office of his Special Adviser Media and Publicity, has resolved to meet with all relevant bodies and groups to ensure that the peace, which Sokoto is known for is preserved.
According to the statement, “Gov. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal of Sokoto state, a while ago, met with a broad spectrum of Muslim leaders in the state at the Government House, Sokoto to deliberate on the way to maintain peace and harmony amongst its citizens of all religions that Sokoto is famous for following the killing of Deborah Samuel.
“It should be noted that Governor Tambuwal was billed to visit Bayelsa, Delta and Edo States today in continuation of his Presidential consultations but had to cancel the visits to consult with citizens and religious leaders to ensure security of lives and property of all residents of Sokoto State”, the statement said.
Tambuwal, immediately after the unfortunate incident happened, first met with the Chairman of the state chapter of the Christians Association of Nigeria, CAN, Rev. Nuhu Iliya, before meeting with the Council of Ulamas in the State.
The Governor has also met with various strategic political and religious leaders, opinion molders and relevant stakeholders in the state, during which his message centred, primarily, on the need to ensure peaceful coexistence among all the people in the state.
Adding his voice, The Chairman of the NBA section on Public Interest and Development Law (NBA-SPIDEL) Dr. Ubani has maintained that it is preposterous for lawyers to call for the cancellation of the 2022 NBA-SPIDEL Conference scheduled to hold in Sokoto in protest against the killing of Deborah which was carried out by law breakers in the state.
According to him, “the barbaric act was not authorized or approved by the State Government to our knowledge. In fact the State Government has issued a statement condemning the act and requested that the crime perpetrators be brought to book.
“Arrest of two persons have been made and we await the outcome of the process. Gentlemen let us all be circumspect over the sad Sokoto incident.
“The barbaric Killing is condenmnable as no individual has any right, under our present jurisprudence, to take life except in accordance with due process.
“Assuming but not conceding that the said lady has committed a written and known crime, the state alone has the requisite power to prosecute and punish the alleged crime. Extra judicial killing is not allowed by our laws.
“Having said that, it will be preposterous for someone who is a lawyer to be suggesting that we should cancel our conference that is billed to take place in Sokoto because of the acts of law breakers in the state.
“I have sent a text (message) to the Governor and the AG (Attorney-General of Sokoto), and requesting for a statement that our safety is guaranteed.
“I am in touch with the President of the Bar, Mr Olumide Akpata and if there is any need to take a drastic decision about the conference in Sokoto we will ensure prompt communication to the constituency.
“It is absolutely wrong for our colleagues, without locus, to be calling for boycott of the conference when the state government that is hosting is not complicit in this heinous crime unless there is evidence to the contrary.
“It is like asking for conferences billed for Owerri to be cancelled because of the killings of two army personnel (husband and wife) by unknown gunmen or asking that we cancel conferences in Abuja because of some of the killings that have taken place there recently. Is there any sound logic to such rash requests?
“Let us be patient and await statement from the appropriate authority sirs. Please take it easy gentlemen, i plead. Love you guys.
It will be recalled that following the news of the unwarranted killing of Deborah Samuel, a 200-level student, who was accused of making a social media post that blasphemed the holy prophet Muhammad (SAW), some lawyers took to social media to call for the cancellation of the scheduled conference in Sokoto.
