Nigeria, Aug. 22 -- The Yobe and Bauchi branches of the Nigerian Bar Association have threatened to boycott the association's annual general conference over the decision to withdraw Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, as a participant.

In separate statements issued Friday, the NBA branches expressed displeasure with the decision of the association's leadership to withdraw an earlier invitation extended to Mr El-Rufai, the Kaduna State governor, to speak at the event.

"The decision of the NEC is against the pillars of natural justice on the presumption of innocent and fair hearing as enshrined in constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 and equal opportunity to all citizens of this country," read the statement of the Yobe bran...