Alamieyeiseigha's Pardon: It's Lawful But ... – NBA

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) yesterday said it would neither condemn nor commend President Goodluck Jonathan's state pardon for his former boss, ex-Bayelsa State governor Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, as he had acted within his powers.                  

The lawyers' umbrella body stressed that as an association of learned people, it is aware of the constitutional powers the president has under Section 175 to grant such pardon on the advice of the Council of State.

Answering questions from judiciary correspondent at the NBA headquarters, Abuja, yesterday, the NBA president, Chief Okey wali (SAN), said that, as lawyers, the body knew that the president had such powers under the constitution, but remarked that the move was a disservice to the fight against corruption..

According to him, "Section 175 of the CFRN gives the president the authority, in consultation with the Council of State; so also Section 212 to the state governors, and unless you know what the Council of State was thinking and what it had in mind, it will be wrong to condemn President Jonathan's actions."

Wali however stated that "there is no doubt the fact that it is a bad signal in the fight against corruption but NBA cannot react the way other groups are reacting because we know the laws and the laws said the president can grant pardon under Section 175 of the CFRN.

"Therefore, the NBA cannot give the president ultimatum to rescind his decision. Suppose we give an ultimatum and it elapsed, I cannot as a lawyer sue the president knowing very well that he has the constitutional power."

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Original Page: http://www.leadership.ng/nga/articles/50549/2013/03/21/alamieyeiseighas_pardon_its_lawful_nba.html