The Sokoto Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association is currently being rocked by crisis over the sharing of a five million Naira gift allegedly given to the branch by the governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal.
A Senior member of the Branch who spoke to BarristerNG on condition of anonymity, revealed that the leaders of the NBA Branch visited the Sokoto government house some weeks ago in obedience to NBA President, Olumide Akpata’s directive, to demand “Judicial Autonomy” from the state governor.
The Governor, who is a leader of the branch too, being a senior lawyer himself, in response to the visit, gave the Branch a gift of five million Naira.
Our source reveal that the leaders however shared the money among themselves and did not inform the branch of the gift.
Crisis however erupted when younger lawyers got wind of the gift and demanded their share.
Also confirming the crisis, another member of the branch claimed that the Members have lost faith in the current leadership of the Branch for its conduct relating to the Governors gift.
It is however not confirmed whether the money was a gift to the branch or to the representatives of the branch who visited the Governor.