Immunity Clause Grooms Criminals - Ukam

Former NBA chairman, Calabar branch, Tony Ukam is one of the few legal minds outside South Western Nigeria that has demonstrated that rights activism is not a preserve of South Westerners alone. Since 1991 when he was called to the bar, he has been plying his legal practice in Calabar and within a short time his Wisdom Chambers is reported to have produced over 70 lawyers, some of whom are now on the Bench. He was the leading Counsel in the celebrated case between Commandclem and Mobil Nigeria Unlimited which extended to New York in the United States of America in 2007. He has authored many books, among which is the Supreme Court Cases through the Eyes and Lips of Niki Tobi, JSC. In this interview with Special Correspondent Nsikak Ekanem, Ukam bared his mind essentially on how the rule of law had fared within the last 12 years of Nigeria's democracy. He also restated the need for a sovereign National Conference as a panacea for assuaging perceived grievances of the component units within the Nigerian federation just as he clamoured for a part time legislature and discarding of immunity clause in the constitution. Excerpts: