NBA DENIES APOLOGISING TO AMEACHI OVER PROTEST.

The Port Harcourt branch of the Nigerian Bar
Association has denied reports making the rounds that
it has apologised to the immediate past Governor of
Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi over a protest carried out
by its members in Abuja.
Some Lawyers from Rivers state had protested against
Amaechi’s invitation to co-chair a session in the just
concluded Annual General Meeting of the NBA held at
the International Conference Centre, Abuja.
The Rivers state-based Lawyers carried placards with
anti-Amaechi inscriptions.
They said their grievance against the former Governor
was as result of the closure of courts in the state.
However, Chairman of the Port Harcourt branch of the
NBA, Dennis Okwakpam told DAILY POST that he had
no plan to apologise for the actions of his members.
Okwakpam attributed the report of his purported
apology to a “cheap blackmail.”
He also refuted claims that he and other Lawyers had
vested interest in the outcome of the Judicial
Commission of Enquiry investigating Amaechi’s
administration.
“I really deem it necessary to correct this extremely
erroneous story going around. For the records, I have
not offered any apology to anyone and I do not plan to
do so.
“I also have not had any contact whatsoever with Hon.
Justice Omereji over his duty at the Commission on the
allegations of corruption against the former governor.
What is happening at the commission has nothing to
do with me. I am not a witness and not even a counsel
in the commission.
“I want to re-emphasize that the purported interview
between me and a supposed Journalist never took
place and I want to challenge those peddling the
information to produce an audio record of the said
interview.
“I do not have reason to apologise to former governor
Rotimi Amaechi. He trampled on the dignity of the
Legal profession in Rivers state. How do you explain
how a man would close down the courts for one whole
year? He has to atone for the wrong decisions he took
on the Judiciary in Rivers state,” Okwapkam said.