A civil society organization, Empowerment for Unemployed Youth Initiative (EUYI), has formally petitioned the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to investigate a group of individuals posing as legal professionals and allegedly orchestrating a smear campaign against Mele Kyari, the former Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).
During a press conference in Abuja on May 8, EUYI leaders Solomon Adodo, Comrade Danesi Momoh, and Igwe Ude-umanta accused the so-called Guardians of Democracy and the Rule of Law of conducting “heavily financed campaigns of calumny.”
They alleged that some of the individuals involved were impersonating lawyers to lend credibility to their protests demanding Kyari’s prosecution.
Adodo criticised the protests as lacking credibility, describing them as “multidimensional mischief.”
He pointed to a retraction and apology by Comrade Kabir Matazu, who had previously led a protest against Kyari, as evidence that the campaign was a form of blackmail. Matazu admitted to being misled by a member of the House of Representatives, casting doubt on the authenticity of the protests.
In their petition, EUYI requested the NBA to verify the professional credentials of individuals claiming to be lawyers, including Barr. Aminu Bello, Rotimi Adeyemo, Benjamin Theophilus, Emmanuel Agada, and Asika Raymond.
The organisation expressed concerns that some of these individuals may not be licensed to practice law and urged the NBA to compel them to provide details of the 500 lawyers they claim are pursuing the probe or trial matter against Kyari.
EUYI emphasised the importance of upholding the integrity of the legal profession and called for the NBA to take appropriate action to address the alleged misconduct.
The organisation also expressed hope that security agencies would investigate those who may have impersonated lawyers during the protests.
Also Read:’
3 Katsina PDP lawmakers defect to APC amid political realignment
Nnamdi Kanu denies involvement in Lagos EndSARS violence
Warri refinery support staff strike over poor working conditions
cc: Daily Post Ng
