I read with shock and surprise, an essay by one Chief C.P. Oli, Esq. captioned “Rebuttal: Joe-Kyari Gadzama SAN did not Refer to Supporters of YC Maikyau, SAN as “empty vessels” and “rented crowd” at the EBF Quarterly Meeting held at Anaocha, Anambra State,” in which he, either ignorantly or mischievously, wrote that Joe-Kyari Gadzama did not refer to us as “a rented crowd” and “empty vessels” simply because, according to him, he has not seen “a transcript” or “an audio” of Gadzama referring to us as such. I must say, Mr Oli was either ignorant of the facts and circumstances of what occurred that day, or he was wrongly informed, or he mischievously wrote that. I was There: Joe-Kyari Gadzama, SAN Referred to us as “empty vessels” and “a rented crowd”
Think about it: is it not funny and illogical for someone to deny the occurrence of an event that was witnessed by hundreds of people, simply because he has not seen a “transcript” or “an audio” of it? The fact that Gadzama referred to us as “a rented crowd” and “empty vessels” is a notorious fact. It happened in the presence of hundreds of people. I was there.
It was not by design, but rather a coincidence that YC Maikyau, SAN was called upon to give a goodwill message before Joe-Kyari Gadzama, SAN. When YC Maikyau stepped out to the podium, we all stepped out with him. YC Maikyau, like his usual self, sought the permission of everyone present to introduce members of his entourage, as he would not be happy to speak without recognising them. He introduced all of us, one after the other, by our names, branches and our positions. We were, among others:
1. Elder Bar man, Murtala Aliyu Kankia, Life Bencher, from Katsina Branch;
2. Aminu Sani Gadanya, Chairman Kano Branch;
3. Muhammad Umaru, Immediate Past Chairman Maiduguri Branch;
4. Abba Mallam Ummate, Chairman Maiduguri Branch;
5. Audu Umaru, NEC Rep Biu Branch;
6. Ibrahim Alhassan, Chairman Lokoja Branch;
7. Umar Abdullahi Chiroma, Chairman YLF Maiduguri Branch,
8. Mallam Abdulwasiu A. Alfa, former Chairman, Maiduguri Branch;
9. Nuhu Suleiman Tafida, Chairman Dutse Branch;
10. Muhammad Nuhu, former Secretary Sokoto Branch;
11. Ahmad Tukur, Chairman Gombe Branch;
12. Jibrin Sa’id Jibrin, Chairman Bauchi Branch;
13. Jibril Jimeta, Chairman Yola Branch;
14. Muhammad Mu’awiyya, Chairman Mubi Branch;
15. Safiya Balarabe, Treasurer Women Forum;
16. Wada Ahmed Wada, former Vice-chairman Ungogo branch and Chairman National Council of NBA-YLF,
17. A. A. Umar, past Chairman Minna Branch,
18. Husaini Abdu, Chairman Zaria Branch;
19. Bullus Atsen, Chairman Abuja Branch;
20. Barbara Omosun, former National Chairperson YLF;
21. Mudassir Sale, Chairman YLF Birnin Kebbi;
22. Aishatu M. Hassan, former FIDA Chairperson, Taraba;
23. Altine Ibrahim; former Chairperson, Damaturu Branch;
24. O.D Jimoh, Chairman Arewa YLF;
25. Princess Adaeze, Abuja Branch;
26. Sameera Tabo, Abuja Branch;
27. Mudashiru Sale;
28. Abdullahi Musa Karaye, Secretary Ungogo Branch;
29. Ahmed Khalil, Mulan Secretary Yobe State;
30. Lawal Hudu Garba, past Secretary Birnin Kebbi Branch;
31. Adekunle Olanipekun, YLF Chairman Abuja Branch;
32. Ebenezer Chisom Amadi, YLF Abuja;
33. Kelechi Davidson Ogbonna, Sokoto Branch;
34. Usman Lukman Nuhu, Chairman Damaturu Branch;
35. Aminu Hassan, Secretary Birnin Kebbi Branch;
36. Garba Hamza Umar, former YLF Chairman Dutse Branch;
37. Nwabueze Obasi-Obi, Partner Y. C. Maikyau & Co;
38. Muhammad Adelodun, Partner, Y. C Maikyau & Co;
39. Morris C. Duru, Senior Associate Y. C. Maikyau & Co
These are highly respected Bar men and women both in their branches and at the national level. I enumerate the names, their branches and positions for verification. Reach out to all or any of them to confirm my story.
After YC Maikyau had given his goodwill message, he received a standing ovation and endless applause. We accompanied him back to his seat.
As I said earlier, it was not by design that YC Maikyau was called to the podium before Joe-Kyari Gadzama. Now, Joe-Kyari Gadzama was equally called upon to give his goodwill message. He was accompanied by two persons: Mustapha Imam from Ungogo Branch and Steve Abar from Jos Branch. We all clapped for him and cheered him up as he walked to the podium, as a senior Barman just as we did to those before and after him. But the first words that came out of his mouth were innuendos and insinuations that a junior secondary school student would know that he was referring to us.
‘I don’t need a rented crowd for me to be recognised here,’ he said to us.
‘They are just empty vessels,’ he added.
‘If accompanying YC Maikyau makes us “a rented crowd” then we’re happy to be rented by YC Maikyau,’ some of us clapped back to him.
The whole place flooded with murmurs of disappointment. We all expected more of him. After he had finished calling us “a rented crowd” and “empty vessels”, he left the podium, and on his way down, YC Maikyau reached out to him, shook his hand and warmly embraced him.
These are facts within my knowledge. The allegations against Joe-Kyari Gadzama are true. I was there: Gadzama referred to us as “empty vessels” and “a rented crowd”
Lawyers are known for tailored words, Joe-Kyari Gadzama referred to us as a rented crowd and empty vessels. As if that was not enough, now one Oli is saying all of us are lying, that Gadzama did not say so. We are highly respected Bar men and women both in our branches and at the national level. I never had the intention of saying anything about it. But for someone to come and say that Gadzama did not do it, is absurd, to say the least.
