The Executive Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Ibadan branch expressed its sympathy for the victims of Tuesday’s explosion in the Bodija area of Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State. The association conveyed this sentiment in a statement released on Saturday by its Publicity Secretary, Oluwatobi Fatoki, Esq.
According to the statement, Folasade Aladeniyi, the Chairman of the association, along with other members of the executive committee, reached out to legal practitioners residing and practicing around the affected area. The NBA reported that some of its members, including Chief Iyiola Oladokun (former deputy governor of Oyo state), Chief Niyi Akintola (SAN), Niyi Farinto, Ayo Arowosafe, and others, were among those affected by the explosion.
The executive committee of the NBA commended the prompt response of the state government, security agencies, fire brigade, medical practitioners, Red Cross, and others in alleviating the effects of the blast on the victims.
Furthermore, the NBA chairman emphasized the importance of society members speaking up and reporting any suspicious issues in their surroundings.
“Our general conspiracy of silence and to look the other way in our country when we notice wrong and abnormal behaviours all around us is our undoing.
“As long as the matter does not affect us personally, we look away, and we are not bothered.”
Aladeniyi also urged the Oyo state government to always act on complaints received by members of the public in the interest of good governance.
Aladeniyi further urged the Federal Government to urgently look into how to bring the Mining sector under the concurrent legislative list to enable the state to initiate laws that would regulate activities of miners within their territories.
She added that the NBA was ready to render any legal assistance whenever its intervention was needed.
Also, the NBA Secretary, Olakunle Akintola urged the government and security agencies not to leave any stone unturned in carrying out a thorough investigation and getting to the cause of the explosion.
“Those involved must be fished out and made to face the sanctions of the law if found guilty.
“God Almighty shall heal and restore those affected by the explosion,” Akintola prayed