STATEMENT OF THE NBA PRESIDENT ON THE RELEASE OF MR. OKEY WALI, SAN

STATEMENT OF THE NBA PRESIDENT ON THE RELEASE OF MR. OKEY WALI, SAN

Mary Akanbi

1st May, 2023

The President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mr. Yakubu Chonoko Maikyau, OON, SAN has released a statement on the release of the abducted former NBA President, Mr. Okey Wali, SAN.

Please find attached the statement of the NBA President announcing the release of the kidnapped former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mr. Okey Wali, SAN. Thank you. Habeeb

STATEMENT OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE NIGERIAN BAR ASSOCIATION, MR YAKUBU CHONOKO MAIKYAU, OON, SAN, ON THE ABDUCTION OF MR. OKEY WALI, SAN 

Update II 

Distinguished Colleagues, 

To the glory of God Almighty, I am pleased to announce the release and return of Mr Okey Wali, SAN to his family. I personally spoke with him, and he is in good spirits. The 26th President of the NBA was kidnapped and held for 14 days following a violent attack on his convoy along East–

West Road, in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State on 17 April 2023. 

On behalf of the members of the Nigerian Legal Profession I thank all well-wishers who stood by the Bar and the family of Mr. Okey Wali, SAN, in thoughts, prayers and deeds, throughout this horrific ordeal. 

I appreciate the interventions of the Governor of Rivers State, His Excellency, Nyesom Wike; the Inspector General of Police; the Director General of the Department of State Services; the Commissioner of Police and the State Director of Service, Rivers State; together with all their 

officers and men, who worked tirelessly since the ugly incident took place. I am grateful to all members of both the Bench and Bar, for the display of camaraderie during this period of trial. The support, prayers and goodwill have greatly helped the efforts deployed towards the safe release of our brother and leader. The leadership and members of the Bar in Rivers State have been 

exceptionally wonderful. We thank God Almighty for answering our prayers and granting us the safe return of Mr Okey Wali, SAN. 

We reiterate our call on the Federal Government to live up to its constitutional responsibility of protecting the lives and properties of all Nigerians in all its ramification. Every life is valuable and must be treated with honour and dignity. There must be a deliberate and appropriate investment in the improvement of the welfare of all security agencies particularly the Police, and adequately 

equipping them to function effectively and efficiently. Otherwise, it will be hypocritical, if not fraudulent, to expect any meaningful result from the Nigerian Police in its constitutional duty of protecting the lives and properties of Nigerians. One can only give from the abundance of what 

he/she has. 

As our past President recovers from the experience of this ordeal, I pray that God will comfort the families of those who were killed in the incident and grant them eternal rest. I also pray for the quick recovery of the police officers who suffered gunshot injuries from the incident. 

I thank you all. 

Yakubu Chonoko Maikyau, OON, SAN 

PRESIDENT