The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) says it would deploy the instrumentality of the law to ensure that no ex-convict was allowed to contest the forthcoming presidential election.
The umbrella body of legal practitioners noted that though some of the leading candidates in the impending presidential election had been accused of complicity in drug trafficking and corruption, such allegations had not been supported with any evidence of conviction.
Speaking at the state of the nation press conference in Abuja, the legal body, through its President, Mr. Yakubu Maikyau, SAN, said: “As far as we are concerned, they remain allegations that have not been proven against the threshold set by the law.
“The alleged involvement in drugs and corruption are mere allegations that have not been proved.
“If anyone has evidence of conviction of any of the presidential candidates, please make it available and we will take it up from there.
“It is a constitutional requirement that if there is conviction the person stands disqualified. Even the Electoral Act also has provisions that makes anyone with history of conviction ineligible to stand for election.
“So, we will be glad to see any evidence and we will employ the instrumentality of the law to make sure that no convict stands for election in this country”, the NBA President stated.
Besides, NBA said it will institute disciplinary action against any judge or lawyer that involves in the manipulation of the judicial process to favour any politician.
