Hannibal Visits ANEEJ!

Hannibal Visits ANEEJ!
Unlike the Hannibal of old, this Hannibal Uwaifo, President of the African Bar Association, AfBA, drove into ANEEJ premises without fanfare. Dressed in a sky-blue kaftan with feet ensconced in a flip-flop, he held a smile that measured his self-confidence and assuredness. In tow with him was the media director of the ABA, Samuel Abasilim, decked in the crispness garbs of the Nigerian Bar. On ground to meet him were five persons. The Executive Director of Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ), the Rev David Ugolor, his deputy, Mr Leo Atakpu, ANEEJ Head of Communications, Bob MajiriOghene Etemiku, Charles Iyare of ANEEJ Monitoring & Evaluation Unit, Kelly Umukoro, communications officer and a journalist, Mike Egbejule from the respected The Guardian newspapers of Nigeria.

The Rev. David Ugolor, welcomed the AfBA president and acknowledged that it was a privilege to have in Hannibal Uwaifo a distinguished personality visiting ANEEJ for the very first time and appreciated the opportunity to work closely with the ABA, as Senior Adviser on ethics and corruption for the AfBA. Rev Ugolor encouraged the ABA to deepen its work on anti-corruption in Nigeria and Africa at large.
Ugolor also pointed out that since the British government is planning an international conference on corruption issues, he suggested that ABA and other professional bodies should endeavour to be part of the event.
‘ANEEJ is interested in organizing a road side event in Bangui, Gambia, as a way of promoting its anti-corruption campaign in Africa. ANEEJ, will source for alternative funding, including a possible support from AfBA to ensure it is successful’, Ugolor told Mr. Hannibal Uwaifo.

On his part, the AfBA president assured support ANEEJ of his support in fighting corruption, human rights abuses, and entrenchment of environmental and economic justice in the society.
He added that the AfBA was founded in 1972 as fighters of frontline body to fight for the emancipation of the down-trodden and for transparency and good governance. He highlighted that the AfBA renaissance started about a-decade-and-half-ago, and it led to an election in 2010 ‘devoid of political interference of any sort’.

According to Mr. Hannibal this election sanitized the AfBA, and made it impossible for members who are presiding over the National Bar Association in their respective countries to hold the same position in the AfBA.
We expect much expected from the Senior Adviser of the AfBA on ethics and corruption issues especially in the areas of funding its anti-corruption projects and the search for formidable partnership that can strengthen the AfBA’, Mr. Hannibal said.

In his vote of thanks, Comrade Leo Atakpu, thanked the AfBA president for finding time from his busy schedule to visit ANEEJ secretariat. He promised him that issues that were raised will be worked on and the timeline met.