Former NBA President Has Been Freed, Alegeh says

Former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Okey Wali, who was kidnapped by unidentified gunmen on October 11, is now free.

The immediate past president of the NBA Okey Wali. Photo: BellaNaija

The current NBA President, Augustine Alegeh, confirmed that Wali has been released at about 11pm on Thursday, October 23, by his kidnappers after spending 13 days in captivity.
“I have personally spoken to him and can confirm that he is hale, hearty and in good spirit,” he said.
He did not give the details of how the senior lawyer was freed or whether ransom was paid to his abductors.

Alegehonly expressed thanks to Mr. Wali’s professional colleagues, security agencies and Nigerians in common who supported his family or played any role in receiving his freedom.

He added: “The Nigerian Bar Association is greatly delighted by the safe release of Okey Wali, SAN and wishes to express appreciation to all NBA members and well-meaning Nigerians who supported the Bar and the Okey Wali Family during this trying period. We must also commend NBA members for keeping calm throughout this period and not taking any steps that may have directly or indirectly jeopardised the efforts for his safe release which have now yielded positive results.

 “We call on the Government to take much more seriously its constitutional duty of providing a safe and secure environment for all Nigerians.”

The family of ex-President of the NBA, Okey Wali, has begged with lawyers and human rights activists in the country not to openly protest the seizure of their head.
Mr. Wali, the immediate past president of the NBA, has been kidnapped in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, in the night of October 11.

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria and an indigene of Rivers State, Okey Wali, was elected the NBA’s president in 2012 and served in that capacity until July this year.