The simmering fire-fight between the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi SAN and the leadership of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) snowballed yesterday when both NBA and the Electoral Committee of the NBA (ECNBA) issued separate statements rejecting the “directions” issued by the nation’s Chief Law Officer.

CITY LAWYER had in an exclusive report noted that Fagbemi had issued some directions to NBA regarding the forthcoming NBA National Officers Elections.

Fagbemi had, acting in his capacity as “Leader of the Bar,” directed NBA to postpone the elections to August or thereafter. He also directed the lawyers’ association to sack the controversial service providers hired for the elections, adding that “NIN be compulsorily used” for the elections.

But NBA has flatly rejected the “Directions.” In a response made available to CITY LAWYER and signed by NBA President, Mr. Afam Osigwe SAN, the association stated that it “believes that the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation could not issue the said directive as it is entirely unconstitutional, ultra vires the powers of the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation, and an attempt to bring the Nigerian Bar Association under the control of the office of the Honourable Attorney General.”

Continuing, it wrote: “For the record, the Nigerian Bar Association is an independent body not under the control of the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation. By the provisions of section 10(2) of the Legal Practitioners Act, the only time a body distinct from the Nigerian Bar Association is empowered to interfere in the activities of the Nigerian Bar Association is stated clearly therein and none of the events have occurred as to entitle the Honourable Attorney General to take the position stated in the purported directive.

“We are strengthened in our belief that the Honourable Attorney General could not have given the purported directives when in fact the purported directives are no different from the reliefs sought in the two Egbe Amofin Cases pending at the High Court of Oyo State. Indeed, the Honourable Attorney General cannot grant reliefs sought in the two Egbe Amofin suits in his capacity as a convener of a mediation meeting or even as the Chief Law Officer of the Federation. The Honourable Attorney General is at best a party/mediator, and it is settled that a mediator does not give directives to the parties in a matter in which he is a party.

“All Past Presidents of the Nigerian Bar Association in attendance, to the exclusion of Chief Wole Olanipekun, were of the view that the cases initiated by Egbe Amofin are frivolous and should be withdrawn. It was therefore the decision of the attendees of the meeting that the Sub-Committee set up is to ONLY liaise with the contending parties for the purpose of overseeing the withdrawal of the actions. The Sub-Committee was never empowered to make any inquest as to the conduct of the President of the Nigerian Bar Association to the extent of making far-reaching condemnations against him when he is not a candidate in the election. Their reliance on the memos submitted by some candidates as the basis for those findings violates the constitutional safeguard of fair hearing as the President was never served with those memos to enable him make a response before such condemnations were made, assuming he was a necessary person to appear before the Sub-Committee.

“The resolution of the meeting of 11 June 2026 is that the Sub-Committee is to report to the entire body at a reconvened meeting. From the face of the purported report, it is clear that none of those who attended the 11 June 2026 meeting were availed a copy of the purported report or made any input to it. Assuming without conceding that they have received the report, the meeting cannot give the directions as it violates the Legal Practitioners Act and the Nigerian Bar Association Constitution. Until the Honourable Attorney General reconvenes another meeting after the 11 June 2026 meeting to consider the report of the Sub-Committee, there cannot be any decision.

“If the Sub-Committee were empowered to review the issues contained in the report, Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN, who is the proponent of the cases of the plaintiffs, cannot chair such a Sub-Committee as he is clearly biased and has lost any neutrality to enable a Sub-Committee chaired by him to propose a resolution to these cases. There is no way the Nigerian Bar Association would have agreed that a person who is biased over one of the parties should head any committee considering his partisan role in the entire matter. This report, which is said to have been purportedly accepted by the Honourable Attorney General, is unacceptable owing to its source.”

Citing alleged bias, the NBA leadership wrote: “We therefore state categorically that the purported Sub-Committee report, which contains the purported directives of the Honourable Attorney General, is beyond its remit and is biased.”

The association vowed that it was “stating categorically” that “The Nigerian Bar Association is an independent body not subject to the control and directive of the office of the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation or any other arm of government,” adding that “The NBA National Officers’ electoral process shall continue as scheduled by the ECNBA.”

Saying that “We consider the report suspect as the report is not contained on the official letterhead of the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation,” the association added that “The Nigerian Bar Association is not in receipt of any communication from the office of the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation and cannot take it as the position of the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation, who is a member of the Bar.”

Touching on the issue of Fagbemi’s jurisdiction to issue the Directions, the NBA stated that “At no time was the Honourable Attorney General empowered to issue directives that are capable of truncating the democratic succession process of the NBA or even suggest a “recalibration” of the NBA Constitution.”

Meanwhile, the Electoral Committee of the NBA (ECNBA) is forging ahead with arrangements for the elections, even as it has urged lawyers to disregard the trending Directions.

In a statement seen by CITY LAWYER and titled “ECNBA: ECNBA Notice to All Members to Disregard Purportedly Suspension of the NBA Elections,” the committee wrote: “”The attention of the Electoral Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association (ECNBA) has been drawn to a document purporting to have been issued by the Hon. The Attorney General of the Federation, Prince Lateef Fagbemi SAN which amongst other issues is purporting to have suspended the forthcoming elections.

“While from the face of the document there’s nothing showing that it emanates from the esteemed office of the Attorney General as it is contained in bare sheets of paper that puts it within the compartment of an “AI generated” document.”

Signed by Mr. Aham Ejelam SAN and Mr. Ibrahim Nassarawa, its Chairman and Secretary respectively, the committee vowed “That the elections scheduled for the 18th of July, 2026 will hold as there’s nothing in law preventing it. Relevant bodies such as INEC, DSS, POLICE, NMA, ICAN and other election monitoring and observer groups will form part of the team for purposes of evaluating the integrity, transparency and credibility of the elections.

“That indeed, the Candidates Debate and Manifesto Day fixed for tomorrow, Wednesday, 8th of July, 2026 will hold as all arrangements have been made. Candidates and interested stakeholders are encouraged to participate in the event either in-person or virtually as already published by the Committee.”

Making good its resolve to proceed with the elections, the ECNBA wrote in an email seen by CITY LAWYER that “The Electoral Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association (ECNBA) hereby notifies all candidates and members that the Hybrid Debate Session for Candidates will hold tomorrow, Wednesday, 8th July 2026 at 11:00 AM WAT at the NBA National Headquarters, Abuja. Those joining virtually may register for the Zoom session using the link below.”

Another trending post set out the details of the planned “Candidates’ Debate and Manifesto Day” as follows:

Distinguished Colleagues,

You are invited to a Zoom meeting: Candidates Debate and Manifesto Day

When: Jul 8, 2026 11:00 AM West Central Africa

Register in advance for this meeting:
https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/PL2g6nAuRwCN7tUBZMrydg

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Fagbemi is yet to respond to NBA’s position as at the time of filing this report.

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