In the wake of the dastard murder of Deborah Samuel Yakubu by Islamic fundamentalists in Sokoto, the venue of NBA Section on Public Interest and Development Law (SPIDEL), I Felix Chukwuma Ashimole, wish to appeal to Monday Ubani, Esq and the entire leadership of SPIDEL, to conduct this year’s conference via zoom instead of outright cancellation.
I also appeal Lawyers not to boycott it but vociferously insist that it be done via zoom.
There is general insecurity all over Nigeria but yesterday’s murder of an innocent student, by her fellow students, over her caution that class WhatsApp platform, is for academic intercourse and not posting of religious messages, has driven it overboard.
The organizers of SPIDEL, may argue that this is isolated, that the school had been closed down and peace restored but can they guarantee the safety of lawyers traveling into Sokoto? With the high price of flight, how many lawyers can afford to fly into Sokoto? If flown in, how will they access the venue without passing through streets and neighborhoods that harbor these Islamic hotheads?
Alcohol, sourcing for “conference materials” are side attractions in any NBA sponsored activity. Will S guarantee the safety of lawyers crawling at night in search of comfort in Sokoto?
Against this backdrop, I join 100s of other lawyers, to call again on leadership of SPIDEL, to make this year’s conference 100% zoom or at worst hybrid.
