The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in Akwa Ibom, has solicited media’s support to its quest for enforcement of law in the state.
Chairman of Uyo branch of the association, Mr Aniekan Akpan, made the appeal on Tuesday in Uyo when he visited Chairman of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in the state, Mr Patrick Albert.
Akpan said that NBA, as the mouthpiece of the Judiciary, wish to partner the NUJ to educate the citizens on their rights and the rule of law.
“I see NUJ as a veritable partner in the enforcement of the rule of law,” he said.
According to him, it is the adherence to the rule of law that makes democracy an interesting and appealing system of government all over the world. He called on producers of legal programmes and judiciary correspondents to liaise with NBA for inputs to enrich the content of their programmes and write-ups.
Akpan noted that the legal practice also had the problem of quackery just as it was being experienced in journalism. He therefore called for a strong synergy between NBA and NUJ to weed out quacks in both professions in the state.
“Our profession is regulated, we have our fees, but the quacks are always spotted going for peanuts,” he said.
Akpan called on security operatives to execute their functions within the limit of the law and avoid trampling on the rights of citizens.
Responding, NUJ chairman, Patrick Albert, noted that the law and the media were two important components of a stable society.
“The rule of law is the fundamental requirement for the survival of democracy,” Albert said.
He said that he was impressed by the request for partnership and urged the NBA to contribute to the NUJ desk in the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act. Albert congratulated the NBA chairman and his executive members on their success at the recent election of the branch.
NAN
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