Collection of conference materials by delegates at the ongoing 62nd Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) resumed on Wednesday, after the pause that followed Tuesday’s looting and vandalisation of the accreditation centre in Eko Atlantic City, Lagos by conference delegates.
According to a report by The Nation, collection of materials resumed around 2pm at Best Western Hotel, Victoria Island, opposite Eko Atlantic.
Delegates, who presented themselves at the new collection centre, were attended to in batches of 80. The process seemed to be seamless.
The resumption of the collection of conference materials was ordered by NBA President Olumide Akpata earlier on Wednesday.
Akpata confirmed that the registration centre for the collection of materials by delegates was broken into, vandalised and looted by some delegates with most of the conference materials carted away and lawyers/registration officers injured.
He described the incident as “a national embarrassment as some of our members conducted themselves in a most despicable manner not expected of members of the profession.”
Akpata’s statement followed his remarks on the incident on Tuesday night while delivering an apology for his lateness to the President’s Dinner organized as one of the highlights of the AGC.
It was further learnt he was held up by the chaos that broke out over the delivery of conference bags.
The Technical Committee on Conference Planning (TCCP) reassured delegates that there were enough bags and other materials for every delegate and that every delegate would get his or her complete materials.
The TCCP asked delegates to continue to cooperate with the registration officers in the process to ensure that everyone gets their due accordingly.
The rampage by some lawyers and delegates over the distribution of Conference bags and materials followed their impatience at the delay in collecting conference bags which had hindered them from collecting other conference materials.
Several of them protested the delay.
The lawyers became impatient over the slow pace at which they were being attended to.
It was gathered that some of them also blocked a vehicle conveying the conference bags which arrived at the Eko Atlantic Accreditation Centre.
Others forcefully reached out to get the bags containing the conference materials and this led to chaos that saw the registration booths being destroyed.
They carted away conference bags and other items.
Activist-lawyer and a former Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Prof. Chidi Odinkalu lambasted the protesters in a tweet on his Twitter handle.
“Nigeria is nothing if not impressive. Ask these same lawyers to protest over their governor stealing money or politicians in Abuja stealing the country into destitution & calling it fuel subsidy, they will object & tell you how respectable a bunch of lads they are. But we will protest over bags! Our situation passeth all understanding,” Odinkalu said.
(Courtesy: The Nation)