• SAYS MATTER IS SUB-JUDICE

• ECNBA SHIELDS WITHDRAWAL LETTER FROM ASPIRANT

Leading law firm of Falana and Falana Chambers has distanced itself from the petition by its Head of Chambers, Mr. Samuel Ogala against the candidacy of embattled Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Treasurer and aspirant for the position of General Secretary, Caroline Ladidi Anze-Bishop.

In a letter to the Electoral Committee of the NBA (ECNBA) obtained by CITY LAWYER, Ogala claimed sole ownership of the petition.

There are strong indications that the electoral committee also did not notify the aspirant that Ogala had withdrawn his petition against her candidacy, though it received the notice on the eve of the hearing.

Sources at the hearing told CITY LAWYER that the electoral committee in fact asked Anze-Bishop to respond to the ‘petition from Falana & Falana Chambers.’

Ogala wrote: “I wish to state categorically that the said petition was authored by me in exercise of my legal right as a member of the Nigerian Bar Association and not on the instructions of my Principal, MR. FEMI FLANA SAN as being insinuated in the various section of the media.”

Curiously, the letter of withdrawal was again written on the letterhead of FALANA & FALANA’S CHAMBERS.

Dated April 24, 2024 and signed personally by the senior lawyer, the letter was received by ECNBA the same day.

Ogala stated in the letter that “My intention to withdraw the said petition is premised on the fact that it has come to my notice that one PAUL J. MAGGA has filed a suit before the Federal High Court Abuja in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/462/2024 against the Nigerian Bar Association and the Chairman of the ECNBA on the same subject matter my petition is premised on.

“By virtue of the said suit, the said subject is now sub judice and it will not (sic) practically possible for me to appear before your committee as scheduled for Thursday the 25th of April to discuss the content of my petition.

“Kindly accept this letter as a formal notice of me withdrawing the said petition on this premise.”

CITY LAWYER gathered that the aspirant, in response to ECNBA’s query on Ogala’s petition, adopted his written answer to the petition as well as the petition by one Musa Tijjani.

It was also gathered that the electoral committee hinted that it may not be bound by the pending lawsuit by Paul Magga, arguing that Anze-Bishop is not a party to the lawsuit.

The hearing was attended by all ECNBA members, with the electoral committee chairman, Mr Oluseun Abimbola SAN; the secretary, Huwaila Muhammad and ranking member, Mr. Abdullahi Yahaya SAN physically present.

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