Senior Advocate Criticizes NBA Election, Loses Trust in Association

Jibrin Samuel Okutepa, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), has said he no longer trusts the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) after its recent national officers’ election that stirred controversy.

Mr Okutepa, known for his straightforward views on the Nigerian Bar and governance, shared his thoughts on X on Sunday. He expressed that the election, which sparked mixed reactions, has made him lose faith in the association as a professional body.

He claimed that the election, which saw Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya, also a SAN, become the association’s 33rd president, “stripped the association of the credibility, objectivity, honesty and integrity” it used to have.

According to him, “every stage of the processes” leading to what he called a “sham coronation” was manipulated to ensure a set outcome.

He said the election was affected by illegalities in the makeup of the Electoral Committee of the NBA (ECNBA) that handled the process. He believed the committee lacked independence and was guided to reach a predetermined conclusion, ending with, “It is sad that NBA has lost everything noble.”

He described the election as “stage-managed and biased to produce the sham outcome” and warned that this could harm the legal profession.

“I have lost faith in the Nigerian Bar Association as a professional association of lawyers,” he stated, adding, “Credibility, objectivity, honesty and integrity have all departed from the NBA, affairs of NBA and the politics in NBA, unfortunately.”

Reports say Mrs Badejo-Okusanya, also a SAN and the only woman in the three-person presidential race, received 12,317 votes to become president-elect of the association.

She beat Lateef Omoyemi Akangbe, SAN, who got 7,934 votes. Another Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Olumuyiwa Akinboro, received 5,855 votes.

The voting, which took place electronically for 24 hours, also resulted in winners for other national offices in the association.

Oghenero Okoro became the first vice president. Egya Nuhu John and Pepple Iniobong Irene were elected second and third vice presidents.

Afam Okeke won the general secretary position, while Aghogho Gladys Okpomor was elected assistant general secretary. Esther Ifeoma Jimoh took the role of treasurer, and Audrey Chinelo Ofoegbunam was elected welfare secretary. Prince I. Azubuike became the publicity secretary, and Hadiza Nasir Ahmad was chosen as assistant publicity secretary.

Chidi Betsy Nnaji, Rotimi Komolafe and Huwaila Muhammad Ibrahim were elected as representatives of the Eastern, Western and Northern zones on the General Council of the Bar.

Only 26,184 out of 82,172 registered voters participated in the election for the 13 available national offices. This shows a turnout of 31.86 percent.

After the results were announced, Mrs Badejo-Okusanya thanked lawyers for believing in her vision of “A Bolder Bar That Works for Everyone.”

She said the result showed lawyers want a stronger, more inclusive and responsive association.

The president-elect also appreciated her fellow contestants for their roles in the democratic process and promised to lead with integrity, courage, humility, fairness and accountability.

She vowed to improve the welfare of lawyers and work towards an NBA where members would “earn better, live better and practice better.”

Rejecting the election, Mr Okutepa said the agreed procedures were ignored “for processes to produce who the cabals want.”

He criticized lawyers who often condemn due process violations by the government but stayed silent on what he claimed were irregularities in the NBA election.

He argued that many who complained about the Independent National Electoral Commission’s technical issues in past elections ignored similar problems that affected the NBA’s voting platform.

Mr Okutepa also alleged that more lawyers could not vote than those who managed to cast their ballots due to technical problems during the electronic voting.

“The lawyers who did not vote are far more than the lawyers that were alleged to have voted,” he said.

He insisted that the credibility of any election depends on the integrity of the process that produced it. He reiterated that “every stage of the processes” leading to the “sham coronation” was manipulated to achieve a set outcome.

He described the election as “stage-managed and biased” and warned of its negative effects on the legal profession.

Mr Okutepa added that the election changed how he sees some members of the legal profession, accusing them of using double standards when judging electoral processes.

He expressed disappointment with lawyers who have criticized flaws in public elections but did not hold their association to the same standards.

The NBA election, which ran for 24 hours from Saturday to Sunday, received mixed reactions. Some lawyers congratulated the president-elect and praised the election, while others questioned the credibility of the process.

Mr Akangbe, who came second in the presidential race, rejected the process, calling it “shambolic.” He said widespread technical failures kept many lawyers from voting and questioned the credibility of the outcome.

He also criticized the ECNBA for poor preparation and changing the election timetable without the National Executive Council’s approval.

The outgoing NBA President, Afam Osigwe, SAN, defended the election. He admitted there were technical challenges but said they did not affect its credibility.

Mr Osigwe said the ECNBA would review the election, learn from the technical problems, and improve future electronic voting. He urged lawyers to move on and support the new leadership.

In a statement on his X account, Mr Atiku said Mrs Badejo-Okusanya’s victory showed the association members’ trust in her leadership.

He urged the new NBA leadership to uphold constitutional democracy, the rule of law, human rights and judicial independence while ensuring equal access to justice for all Nigerians.

The former vice president also wished Mrs Badejo-Okusanya and her team a successful and impactful term.