The Nigerian Bar Association has postponed its annual summit scheduled to be held in Sokoto state after keynote speakers such as international human rights attorney, Chidi Odinkalu and former education minister, Oby Ezekwesili withdrew their participation from the event.

The duo had pulled out of the event to protest the brutal murder of Christian female student, Deborah Samuel, and condemn the deafening silence of the NBA over the matter.

In a belated statement released five days after Ms Samuel’s killing, NBA announced the postponement of its conference to honour the deceased memory. The association also cited security concerns among other reasons that informed the postponement.

“As such, having critically reviewed the current security condition in Sokoto, it has become apparent that we cannot guarantee the safety of our guest speakers, delegates and other stakeholders that have committed to attend the NBA-SPIDEL’s conference which was designed to put the State in the global spotlight for the duration of the conference and beyond,” partly reads the statement signed by Olumide Akpata, NBA president.

“Accordingly, the Executive Committee of NBA-SPIDEL came to the painful decision to request, and I have approved, that the 2022 NBA-SPIDEL Annual Conference be postponed not only for the safety of our conferees and guests, but as a mark of respect for the memory of the slain Miss Deborah Yakubu,” the statement added.

Meanwhile, Rivers state governor and 2023 presidential aspirant, Nyesom Wike, had earlier excoriated the NBA over its inactions in curtailing president Muhammadu Buhari’s notoriety in abusing the rule of law.

The Rivers governor advised NBA to go beyond issuing statements to taking concrete actions against attacks on the nation’s judiciary.