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.
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