The last may not have been heard of the recent Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) General Elections following trending claim by former Oyo State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Mutalubi Adebayo Ojo SAN.

In a post seen by CITY LAWYER, Ojo alleged that though immediate past NBA President, Mr. Afam Osigwe SAN assured some Bar Leaders that he would be succeeded by a Yoruba NBA President, the outcome was not as desired by Yoruba lawyers.

CITY LAWYER recalls that Osigwe has consistently maintained that the election was free and fair, even as the Electoral Committee of the NBA (ECNBA) took the unprecedented step of publishing how all the ballots were cast. An appeal by one of the presidential candidates, Mr. Lateef Omoyemi Akangbe SAN was also dismissed by the NBA Appeals Committee.

Reflecting on the elections in a birthday message to Osigwe, Ojo however bemoaned its outcome.

His words: “Mazi told some of us who are members of his inner caucus that a Yoruba President will succeed him and not a Mid-Westerner. Though, he actually fulfilled that promise, but he was succeeded by a very unpopular Yoruba President anointed by Mazi’s godfather and not the preferred President that the Yoruba lawyers desired.” He did not name the alleged “godfather.”

Below is the full text of the post.

A TRIBUTE TO MY FRIEND AND BROTHER, MAZI AFAM JOSIAH OSIGWE, SAN ON THE CELEBRATION OF THE ANNIVERSARY OF HIS DATE OF BIRTH TODAY

My President or Afam or Mazi, as I often call him is fully known as Mazi Afam Josiah Osigwe, SAN. He is my bosom friend who has over the years turned to a darling brother from another mother. Afam is a very dependable friend and fiercely loyal.

Afam is a friend that could go to any length to assist any of his friends , even to the greatest inconvenience and disadvantage to himself. All that matters to him at such a time or period is the comfort or satisfaction that his efforts and intervention would bring to his friends in need . I can testify and attest that Afam has extended such benevolent and uncommon interventions to me severally, even as a sitting President of the Bar.

The 2026 NBA election really tested my friendship with Afam, but Afam was always reaching out to me in his usual soft and a lady-like sonorous tone as follows-
“My Leader and my Senior ( when Mazi was even the Bar President and hence the Leader of the Bar, and also the fact that he took Silk before me), we cannot afford to be fighting and condemning each other publicly because of Bar politics. Politics will come and go o, but our so much cherished friendship must never be sacrificed for any political expediency or any primordial sentiments and consideration.

My Egbon, as a man who is older than me in age biologically, I am of the firm view that you should be the one playing this role that I , your younger brother is now playing.

Whatever you may say or write about me in the media , I will never reply or respond to you because of our bond of friendship which I so much cherish and treasure, You remain my friend and brother for life.”

Mazi told some of us who are members of his inner caucus that a Yoruba President will succeed him and not a Mid-Westerner. Though, he actually fulfilled that promise , but he was succeeded by a very unpopular Yoruba President anointed by Mazi’s godfather and not the preferred President that the Yoruba lawyers desired.

Happy birthday to a very wonderful friend and my darling brother from another mother in whom I am always well pleased. Long live and prosperity in good health and abiding grace of God.

May you never know a better yesterday and may your shadow never grow less, Amen.

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