The definition and function of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) cannot be over emphasized.
There is a reason to define and redefine these functions in order to remind the association members as some among them are deviating from the duties.
According to Wikipedia which defines the NBA and it roles in the society as "The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) is a non-profit, umbrella professional association of all lawyers admitted to the bar in Nigeria. It is engaged in the promotion and protection of human rights, the rule of law and good governance in Nigeria. Maintenance and defence of integrity, promoting timely and affordable access to justice are few of their roles in which they took oath for."
Recently, the global president of One Love Foundation, Chief Dr. Patrick Osagie Eholor otherwise known as Ultimate Equal has revealed some corruption and illegal operations by the EFCC and some Lawyers in Edo State, which is the improper arrest and bailing of the Yahoo boys, the NBA chairman in Edo State, Barr. Edo Osagie responded harshly to this accusations by the One Love Foundation president, Dr. Eholor.
In an interview with the press, Eholor said "There are some good and bad people in the judiciary so we cannot classify the whole judiciary as bad or good, also talking about EFCC officials and even the Police, there are also good men, for those who is not really aware of what is going between myself and NBA Chairman, Edo State, Barrister Edo Osagie, I can not deny the fact that he is my brother and friend we both are from Benin.
"I was trying to call for his attention to the fraudulent and malpractices going in EFCC which involves some lawyers and I also called out the EFCC commander of Edo State. What is happening is that If you are lawyer who is not their cartel, they will not attend to you to bail, they rather tell the suspect to use their lawyer, then these lawyers will tell the ones in the custody they are using their certificate to bail him, to stand as surety, therefore, Yahoo boys who is in the custody will now use huge amount of money which the lawyer will now share with the EFCC people, also EFCC will go on by threatening the Yahoo boys with jail term and they also have a special squad, there are few judges that are corrupt, therefore they are aware of everything that is going on.
"However, the NBA chairman of Edo State, Barr Edo Osagie did not calm down, he rushed to accuse me, talking about my family. See, I have a beautiful family, my wife is a super model, very brilliant and humble, I also have intelligent and beautiful children too.
"A suspect has a right for bail, it is not within the right of a lawyer to bail the suspect with their certificate, it is also within the right of a lawyer to push further to encourage EFCC or the police that his client will not run, can you please release my client on self recognitions? and it is very possible to do that, so that is what happened that made me to call them out, I am glad there is a meeting to commence very soon organize by Mr. Collins to bring Nigerian Bar Association and the civil society to resolve the said issue between the EFCC and the judiciary.
"There was a letter sent to the president of NBA in Abuja with subject matter " You cannot be a judge in your own court" that the present chairman of NBA here, Barr. Edo Osagie is employed by the governor of Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, Edo Osagie is a member that the Governor's excos constituted, this means that if the governor of a state gives you a job and as the chairman, NBA of his state, it is not right, he is going to be biased, for instance if someone else is in the law court with the governor, because he is on the payroll of Edo State Government, he will have their sides, so I advised the NBA chairman to do himself a favour and resign honorably, you can't eat your cake and have it." Eholor concluded.