The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Benin has responded to the recent article written by the Chief Dr. Patrick Osagie Eholor otherwise known as Ultimate Equal, who is the Father of Nigerian Students-FONS, One Love Foundation global president and Senior Advocate of the Masses as fondly called by friends.
Dr. Eholor who recently talked about the alleged operations of the EFCC and the lawyers, Eholor passionately complained on the actions and the relationship between the EFCC and some lawyers.
In the said report by All Campus Show, Eholor spoke about the EFCC, Benin office "The Benin zone is in the habit of raiding yahoo boys only to engage the same lawyers to come and do plea bargain for them on arrangement. This is not fair at all and it is disturbing. I have engaged with some perons who have been arrested and released and it is serious. Those young lawyers who are steady EFCC lawyers should know that the world is watching them and we will not stop talking about this. Our youths in hundreds are now ex convict, paying lawyers millions of naira to do plea bargain.
NBA Benin has responded as "A REJOINDER TO THE PROGRAMMED AND AUTOMATED EXPRESSIONS OF ULTIMATE EQUALS.
Distinguished Colleagues,
The attention of the Chairman of the NBA, Benin branch, Nosa Francis Edo-Osagie, Esq. has been drawn to a strange video trending on social media, reportedly made by one Mr. Patrick Osagie, Eholor (Aka Ultimate Equals), an easily manipulated, garrulous, attention seeking, apparently troubled and intellectually handicapped social media busy bee.
In the said video which has been viewed by over 64, 000 persons on his facebook handle, the NGO businessman - turned politician berated the Chairman and members of the Benin Bar, accusing the former of inducing the latter with pecuniary offers to obtain victory at the polls that led to his emergence as the Chairman of the vibrant Benin Bar.
At the risk of descending very low to respond to the politically motivated balderdash from the cheap, illogical, opinionless, and self-acclaimed activist acting the desperate script of his personal Home Lesson Teachers, some of whom are aggrieved carrier Law Practice politicians in the NBA Benin branch, it has become necessary therefore, to respond to the said video in order to set the record straight and dutifully secure the legitimate satisfaction of the teeming lawyers in the NBA Benin branch.
Patrick Osagie, Eholor is a professional litigant with no significant record of court victory. Besides his lack of capacity, competence and wisdom to save his failed marriage, he has had a long and pitiable history of slow learning which eventually culminated in his obvious low self esteem. The amiable Chairman of the Benin Bar is therefore not surprised as to why the businessman operating under the aegis of One Love Foundation continues in his worrisome struggle to be counted among those engaging learned minds even on legal issues. This is a case of inferiority complex taken too far.
No one could have better expressed the temerity of the former economic refugee in Canada, than Chinua Achebe, when in the popular Novel; "Things Fall Apart", he said "...after eating a heavy meal, _Nwanza_ the bird decided to challenge his _chi_ to a wrestling match". Such was the views of right thinking lawyers in Edo State when the video under reference surfaced on the internet.
On the mandate to set the record straight, it is to be noted that the issue between the EFCC, Benin zone and some lawyers only came to the kind attention of Mr. Chairman sometime last week. In his usual leadership characteristic, the former (47th) President of Rotary Club of Benin convened an emergency meeting of the NBA Benin Exco., where a decision was taken to set up a Committee headed by a respectable former Chairman of the Lion Bar; Prince Collins Ogiegbean to wade into the matter pending the outcome of the General Meeting of the Branch which has been scheduled to hold in few weeks.
Contrary to the falsehood maliciously peddled by the stomach-focused and innately corrupt NGO racketeer, also mockingly referred to as the "Ultimate Equals", Nosa Edo-Osagie, a successful businessman with specialty in Corporate and Property Law emerged as the winner and Chairman of the Benin Bar on popular mandate. Conversely, Nosa Edo-Osagie did not offer bribe or induced any member of the Lion Bar howsoever to secure his victory at the polls where he emerged in a seemingly flawless victory. In other words, Nosa Edo-Osagie was voted into office as the Chairman of the prestigious Lion Bar based on his track record of excellent leadership and service to the Bar which has earned him all the awards the Benin Bar offers to distinguished colleagues. The NBA Benin branch is therefore not surprised that Mr. Patrick's Home Lesson Teachers who are known to be disgruntled by the stirling and dispassionate leadership of their Chairman have obviously and maliciously fed their Messenger of Lies with more lies.
No one will suffer any wrong without a remedy. In due time, Mr. Patrick shall be summoned to justify his ill assertions made against the Chairman and members of the NBA Benin branch. At this point, we shall draw the curtain in order not to further dignify a loquacious and apparently lonely ignoramus.
The Lion Bar will continue to protect the professional dignity of all law abiding lawyers engaged in the business of law practice in Edo State."
Signed: The Dream Team.
Meanwhile, according to nigerianbar.org.ng that defines and states the roles of The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) as "The non-profit, umbrella professional association of all lawyers admitted to the Bar in Nigeria and a member of all statutory bodies that regulate the Nigerian Bar and Bench.
"The NBA is engaged in the promotion and protection of human rights, the rule of law and good governance in Nigeria. It has an observer status with the African Commission on Human and People's Rights, and a working partnership with many national and international governmental and non-governmental organisations concerned with human rights, the rule of law and good governance in Nigeria and across the world."
www.medianigeria.com also stated the functions of Nigerian Bar Association as to "Promote the welfare, security, economic, and professional advancement of Legal Practitioners in Nigeria. Create and maintain an Endowment fund for the proper observance and discharge of any of these aims. NBA promotes and protects principles of the Rule of Law and respect for Fundamental Human Rights."
Speaking with one of the Nigerian students leaders, whose name is withheld, during a chit chat with him, All Campus Show gathered that "NBA should not have replied Eholor in this manner because he did not attack them but the negative actions he perceived which they should have worked upon or communicated better still.
"I could flash back to some months ago when the same Ultimate Equal they are attacking for his candid opinion fought for the rights of the lawyers when the Chief Judge in Akwa Ibom state remanded Lawyer Inibehe, he stood and spoke for lawyers but they are paying him with this." he concluded.
Dr. Eholor the Ultimate Equal has replied the NBA Benin today, the reply titled
Re:Rejoinder to the Programmed and Automated Expressions of Ultimate Equal
Eholor's reply reads:
"I have come across a Statement issued by the NBA Benin Branch Exco with nickname dream team .Indeed the NBA Benin only get good governance in the dreams as the dream team has not woken up from its slumber.
"Nosa Edo Osagie instead of addressing the issues raised went from one personal attack to another .Nosa Edo- Osagie , the Chairman of the NBA Benin Branch should know that he is supposed to have resigned as an official of Edo State Government before taking up the mantle of Leadership.How can you be the NBA Chairman and you are still a Member of the Edo State Private Property Protection Committee and a Board Member of the Edo State Public Procurement Agency? Is that not conflict of interest? So instead of being a check on the Edo State Government, the NBA Benin Chairman is giving Awards to his boss-the Edo State Governor in Government House.
"As a Litigant, I have won all my cases , some which are now being cited by Lawyers in Court. But Nosa Edo-Osagie will not know , because he is not a practicing the profession.
"I have a very beautiful wife at home and a wonderful family In fact I dropped my children at school this morning.On the contrary ,Nosa Edo-Osagie has no wife at home ,the Benin Elite know the story of how his wife left him in a very scandalous manner and relocated to the United States.
"Nosa Edo-Osagie and his band of dreamers has conceded to my point that Lawyers are working with the EFCC to make our Young Ones Plea Bargain under duress .Instead of addressing the issues he choose to beg the question.
"Unlike Nosa Edo-Osagie,I am not a dreamer ,I am a realist.The NBA Benin Branch must rise against the impunity at the EFCC.If it took my intervention to bring this issue to public discourse , then it shows Nosa Edo-Osagie and his Exco are actually in dream land."
Speaking with the Journalists today, Eholor pleaded to the public to be the judge of this, he also said there are lots of oppressing situations in this country, we all must come out and say them "If the truth shall kill them, let them die"