NBA leadership counting on member support for reconciliatory moves

The Executive of Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) under the leadership of the Abubakar Mahmoud, SAN have called on members of the association across the nation to support all reconciliatory efforts made towards the unity of the bar.

According to the General Secretary of the association, Abiola Olagunju, the NBA is counting on members to support the efforts of the five-man committee set up by the immediate past president of the NBA, Augustine Alegeh, SAN to reach out to disputing branches and members of the association who are in conflict over a number of matters relating to the current constitution on the NBA, uniformed by laws or election processes.

The committee, chaired by very senior members of the bar, including former NBA president Thompson Okpoko, SAN; former president, OCJ Okocha, SAN, another former president, Dr. Olisa Agbakoba, SAN, former General Secretary, Afro Fayokun and former president of Catholic Lawyers Association, Mbanugo Udenze is expected to submit its report to the National Executive Committee (NEC) in November.

Speaking on this development, the GS said,  “The president wants to work with everybody. We need the contribution of every lawyer for the success of the association. Apart from the Okpoko-led committee, the new president Abubakar Mahmoud, SAN has also constituted other committees to resolve the problems in Abuja and Ikeja branches of the association.”

Current disputes at the bar include, a suit at the Federal High Court instituted by Victor Abasiakan-Ekim seeking an injunction restraining Ezenwa Anumunu who was elected the branch chairman, from parading himself as the Chairman of the Abuja Branch. Abasiakan-Ekim is alleging that Anumnu did not participated in the election and was imposed on the branch.

In Ikeja branch, Adesina Ogunlana, who won the election, is seeking an injunction quashing the nullification of the branch election by the National Executive Committee of the NBA. He secured an order of court, an interim injunction restraining the NBA from swearing in Dele Oloke as the branch chairman. Ogunlana also filed a second suit seeking to stop the defendants from breaching his right to fair hearing and to stop them from from proceeding on any disciplinary action against him pending the determination of his suit.

Also in Ikeja, Dare Akande sued the immediate past president and others, challenging the purported election of Dele Oloke as the Chairman of NBA Ikeja branch.

At the national level, Chief Joe-Kyari Gadzama, SAN sued NBA and others at the FCT High Court, challenging the irregularities and manipulation of the 2016 NBA election. He is seeking an order of perpetual injunction restraining Abubakar Balarabe Mahmoud, SAN, from parading himself as NBA president.

Former NBA Assistant National Publicity Secretary John Unachukwu is also at the FCT High Court contesting his disqualification from contesting the election when he emerged the sole candidate for the office of national Publicity Secretary.

Also pending in court is the suit brought by Boma Ozobia and Bunmi Ibraheem against the immediate past president, immediate president and others, to challenge what they referred to as an arbitrary abuse of power. The suit sought declarations that immediate past president lacked the legal competence to annul the election of the Governing Council of the Section on Legal Practice (SLP), which had Mia Essien, SAN as chairman. They sought injunctions against him until he left office.

Also pending is the suit at the Federal High Court challenging the hike in practicing and conference fees by the Joseph Daudu- led administration and the Okey Wali-led administration; involving Seth Amaefula of the Lagos branch of the NBA and others.

Olagunju in his statement urged members of the association to work collaboratively with all reconciliatory teams towards the unity and progress of the bar.