The Chairman of the the National Officers’ Election Appeal Committee (NOEAC), Mr. Usman Ogwu Sule SAN has allayed fears of disqualified aspirants that they may be shut out of the appeals process.

Responding to an enquiry by CITY LAWYER over allegations that the appeals committee published a “wrong” email address to which disqualified aspirants are to send their appeals, Sule told CITY LAWYER in a telephone conversation that he had received similar complaints.

He however assured all disqualified aspirants that the committee was not eager to shut out anyone from the appeals process, saying: “I am aware of such complaints. We are dealing with it. Aspirants are free to send in their appeals through as many channels as possible. They may even send copies to NBA Secretariat.

“One of the disqualified aspirants even sent to my WhatsApp number. My number is available. If they send it, we will receive it and treat it. If we receive hard copy from the NBA Secretariat, we will treat it. We are very flexible about it.

“It is our Bar; we must get it right. We will accept and treat all appeals. I think today or tomorrow is the deadline. If any aspirant fails to meet the deadline, that we cannot help.”

Some aspirants told CITY LAWYER that they were having challenges accessing the advertised email for receipt of the appeals.

The NOEAC had in its Guidelines for the appeals dated 6th May, 2024 stated that “All Appeals shall be sent to the NBA NOEAC via email to stellaohiozokai@nigerianbar.ng, and must be sent within 7 ( seven) days of receipt of Notice of the Disqualification.”

But some disqualified aspirants who attempted to send their appeal to the email address got an error message which read: “Message blocked. Your message to stellaohiozokai@nigerianbar.ng has been blocked.”

CITY LAWYER gathered that some aspirants had to resort to the email address displayed on top of the NOEAC letterheaded paper, even as some said they have received acknowledgement to their emails.

There are strong indications that the correct email is stellaohiozokhai@nigerianbar.ng, while at least one aspirant told CITY LAWYER that he had to send to both emails to ensure delivery of his appeal.

However, incumbent NBA Treasurer Caroline Ladidi Anze-Bishop was at press time still having grey hair trying to obtain an acknowledgement to her email, even as a source close to the embattled National Officer told CITY LAWYER that she had sent several emails and reminders on the issue without any positive feedback.

Part IX of the Second Schedule to the NBA Constitution provides as follows:

1) “Any candidate who is disqualified by the ECNBA in respect of his nomination or candidature, may within seven days of the communication of the decision, appeal to the Election Appeal Committee.

2) “The Election Appeal Committee, shall upon receipt of an appeal lodged by a Candidate in the manner stated above, hear the appeal, and make a decision thereon within fourteen (14) days thereof. Such hearing may be based on documents only, or by physical hearing or hearing via electronic medium.

3) “The decision of the Election Appeal Committee on any appeal lodged by a Candidate shall be final and binding on the parties.”

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