NBA APPEALS C’TE DISMISSES VP ASPIRANT’S CASE

An appeal by an aspirant for the post of Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) 2nd Vice President has been dismissed by the Nigerian Bar Association Appeals Committee headed by renowned chartered arbitrator, Mrs. Funmi Roberts.

The decision on the appeal filed by Mr. Finian Eze Ndukwu may also be a pointer to how the other appeals by other disqualified aspirants may be resolved by the committee.

In the decision obtained by CITY LAWYER, the committee stated that the sole issue for determination was “Whether upon consideration of the omissions in the Appellant’s Nomination Form constituting the basis for the rejection thereof and his disqualification thereby, the Appellant’s appeal is not devoid of merit and liable to being dismissed.”

It held that “It is therefore, our finding that the failures or omissions by the Appellant, his Nominator and Seconder in filling in those fundamental pages, portions, spaces, columns etc in the Appellant’s Nomination Form are not mere irregularities but failure to fulfil or supply to the ECNBA, facts/answers that would have aided ECNBA to determine his eligibility or otherwise for the position of office of the 2nd Vice President of NBA, in the 2022 General Elections.”

“We are in full agreement with the submissions by the ECNBA at page 2 lines 13, 21, and 24 of its Reply to the Appellant’s Appeal, that having failed to proffer answers to questions vii, viii, x, xi, xii, xiii, xiv, xv, xvi, xvii, and xviii of his Nomination Norm, which would have demonstrated his eligibility under the provisions of Part VIII(c), (d), (e) of the Second Schedule and Section 4(a), (b), (c), of the Constitution, the ECNBA was right to have rejected the nomination of the Appellant, and in consequence of that rejection, disqualify the Appellant pursuant to part I, paragraph 6, Second Schedule to the Constitution of the NBA2015, as amended in 2021.”

Bringing its final hammer on the quest by the aspirant to reverse the decision of the ECNBA, the Appeals Committee said: “The Appellant’s contention that he should have been notified of the errors, and that by not notifying him, his right to fair hearing is breached, is of no moment.

“The ECNBA is not clothed with such vires and more so, the Appellant was given the same opportunity as other aspirants to fill the Nomination Form properly, before submitting them. In Ayoade vs State (2020) 9 NWLR (pt 1730) 577 ratio 3 at pages 583 – 584, the Supreme Court held that:

“A party cannot and should not complain of breach of his right to fair hearing where he refused to avail himself as in the instant case, of the opportunity provided under the law to present his case. Darma Vs Eco Bank Plc. (2017) 9 NWLR (pt 1571) referred to………” See also C.M & E.S Ltd. (2020) 1 NWLR (pt 1704) 70 ratio 8 at page 78.

“It is upon the foregoing that this Committee resolves the sole issue against the Appellant and accordingly, his Appeal is hereby dismissed for lacking merit.”

It is recalled that the Appellant, an aspirant to the office of 2nd Vice President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA/Association) in the 2022 National Elections of the Association, was disqualified by the Electoral Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association (ECNBA) for failure to fill pages 4, 5, and 6 of the Nomination Form, and that his Nominator and Seconder did not fill pages 10 – 12 and 16 – 18.

The NBA Election is scheduled to hold on July 16, 2022.

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‘WE NEED LAWYERS TO SPEAK TRUTH TO POWER,’ CLEMENT CHUKWUEMEKA TELLS NBA BWARI

Special Goodwill Message To My Branch, NBA Bwari Branch (Cradle Bar) On The Occasion of her Annual Law Week, 2022

There is always joy when you look back and discover that , your foundational Branch remains a key player in the Bar community.

The topic and the keynote speaker must have been chosen by the wisest men in this legal profession. I, Clement Ugo Chukwuemeka am not surprised to see the quality and caliber of discussants.

Bwari Branch, in the last Ten years has demonstrated capacity of standing amongst the oldest branches of NBA, chilling comfortably with the big boys branches in area of advocacy.

The above is demonstrated in the novel and epoch Theme chosen for this year’s law week. While lawyers are running away from condemnation , responsibility and blames, the leadership under the captainship of the pilot, Monday Adjeh refused to exonerate lawyers in the problem bedeviling the Nigeria space, hence the choice of the law week topic across the NBA community: THE STATE OF THE NATION, Where are the lawyers?

Lawyers in Nigeria have disappointed the Nigerian society; I can attribute all these to the lackadaisical approach of lawyers towards human rights abuses, exoneration of being the chief pressure group in the land and above all, reluctance in holding leaders accountable to their disrespect to rule of law and protection of life and property, not leaving out the religiosity monster amongst colleagues.

You can not be a judge of a court without firstly, being a lawyer! The Bench and the Bar must agree that lawyers have failed this nation and begin to thinker very quickly the solution and mechanisms as the way forward for Nigeria .

The sub-theme of the event can be seen as catalyst towards achieving a state of the nation where all amenities for survival abound. Can the lawyers perform optimally without first imbibing the ethics of the profession? Can we actualize a good state of the nation without proper administration of justice founded on the principle of rule of law? The absence of the above can never guarantee us the Dinner topic which is Unity In diversity ! We must act now.

The topic no doubt will keep all Nigerians, especially lawyers in a state of reclaiming our nation . We lawyers are responsible to the woes of this nation and it is high time we began in earnest to tell ourselves the truth about our responsibility as the soul of the nation. If we rise up today to say bad governance shall be over , it shall be so.

It is so because , the leaders of the nation submits to us to adjudicate on their existence . We owe the society a duty to do justice and when we begin to deliver meritorious judgement and lawyers that appear before the Judex maintains a high moral standard for the good of the nation , be rest assured the bad state of the nation shall be eroded and the new order of goodness shall be our portion moving forward .

In conclusion, I must thank the organizers and I sincerely felicitate with the NBA Bwari Branch as it holds her Law week. I appreciate the leadership for choosing a Democrat like me, Senator SHEHU SANI to be the keynote speaker. I cannot thank the Chairman enough for this wonderful topic, coming at a time where ethical value of a lawyer before the society is eroding by the day.

Lawyers must lead this discussion and reclaim our lost glory. In the next one month, lawyers shall be electing their leaders; we owe ourselves the duty to look inward and vote for the right candidates that could look the government of day in the face and speak truth to power as well as activate the pressure group mantra to salvage our nation.

May I wish the Chairman, Branch Executives and members of the Branch a successful Law Week.

Finally, I wish the members and participants a fun filled day .

God bless NBA Bwari Branch

God bless the Nigerian Bar Association

God bless Nigeria.

Clement Ugo Chukwuemeka, Esq.

Immediate Past Chairman, Nigerian Bar Association, Bwari Branch, Abuja

(A cleared Aspirant for the office of the 2nd Vice President Of NBA )

‘I DEDICATE ECNBA CLEARANCE TO MY SUPPORTERS,’ SAYS ISAAC OGBAH

FEATURED

IT IS WITH GREAT JOY FOR ME TO AWAKE TO THE NEWS OF MY HAVING MADE THE FINAL LIST OF THOSE QUALIFIED TO CONTEST THE FORTHCOMING NBA NATIONAL ELECTIONS

Having earlier received an email wherein the petition written against me by a fellow legal practitioner was dismissed, the news of my making the final list of those qualified to contest for the post of 3rd Vice President of the NBA crowns it all

*Once again I have no doubt whatsoever that God, who began the good works in me, will surely bring it all unto perfection *

*With all my heart ❤️ I sincerely appreciate and thank everyone of you for standing by me all these while. Special thanks to you all for all your support, counsel and prayers. I could never have gone this far without you all the way. Together we shall have cause to celebrate when the elections are finally over *

*I dedicate this victory so far to you all for your having to believe in me. You never gave up on me even in the face of the frivolous petition that was written against my person. And neither did any one of you ever stop believing in me even when the much needed email from ECNBA was delayed in coming. Surely we shall all have cause to celebrate together in the coming weeks. *

*Once again I sincerely appreciate and celebrate you all now and always *

*It shall all end up in testimonies. To God alone be all the glory *

Isaac Omuta Ogbah, FICMC, Past Chair, NBA Ota; Editor-in-Chief, EJSC

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NBA AHOADA ENDORSES GADZAMA, ISIOKPO HONOURS HIM, STORMS YENAGOA SOCCER FINALS

FEATURED

NBA AHOADA BRANCH ENDORSES PRESIDENTIAL AMBITION OF CHIEF JOE-KYARI GADZAMA, SAN AT THE MONTHLY MEETING FOR MAY

The NBA Ahoada branch, Rivers State held its monthly meeting on Friday, May 27, 2022. The branch extended invitations to eminent members of the Bar such as Chief Joe-Kyari Gadzama, SAN amongst many others. While some of the invitees could not attend the meeting, Chief Joe-Kyari Gadzama, SAN and other aspirants were in attendance at the meeting.

The branch specially designed a banner which was strategically placed to welcome only Chief Joe-Kyari Gadzama, SAN and his entourage to the branch. Mr. Morris Kipe Alali, Esq., the chairman of the NBA, Ahoada branch personally welcomed the Learned Silk and gave him an opportunity to address members of the branch. The Learned Silk thanked the branch for the hearty and elaborate welcome he received.

“This is not my first time here. I was here several years ago and I will be here again” Chief Joe-Kyari Gadzama, SAN said while informing members of the branch that Rivers State is home to him as he is an adopted Rivers State man.

“Collectively, we can work together to improve the Bar and take smaller branches to the next level,” Chief Joe-Kyari said while commending the branch for their rapid growth.

He urged members of the branch to actively participate in initiating ideas that positively affect the branch and the Bar at large. The Learned Silk who has proven that mentorship of young lawyers is very dear to his heart through the Hon. Justice Chukwudifu Oputa JSC (Rtd) Mentoring Program of J-K Gadzama LLP, noted that he shall continue to take steps that are directly aimed at bettering the legal profession, particularly capacity building for the young lawyers.

Members of the branch wildly applauded at the end of the Learned Silk’s address to the branch. The chairman endorsed and stated that the branch shall support the Learned Silk with his NBA Presidential ambition. The leadership of the branch and other members of the branch joined the Learned Silk while he was taking pictures with the banner made for him by the branch.

Some amiable members of the NBA who accompanied the Learned Silk to the branch’s meeting include: Hon. Nimi Walson Jack, past general secretary of NBA; Mrs. Anthonia Osademe, vice chairman of NBA, Port Harcourt branch; Ms. Sarah Apia; Mr. Victor Agala; Mr. Ebuka Samuel; Ms. Sophia Ugwuorah; Mr. Akuro T. Enoch; Mr. Adebayo Williams; Mr. Godsent Belema; Mr. Evidence Asite Agbor; Ms. Harmony Chikodili; Mr. Wejinya Azubuike A; Mr. Nwaiwu Patrick; Mr. Dafenone Akpomudiare; Ms. Hillary Ayebaifie Ojeke amongst many others.

NBA YLF, ISIOKPO BRANCH HONORS CHIEF JOE-KYARI GADZAMA, SAN WITH AN AWARD FOR HIS REMARKABLE CONTRIBUTION TO THE LEGAL PROFESSION

On Friday, May 27, 2022, the NBA YLF, Isiokpo branch organized a one-day seminar with the theme, “Contemporary Areas in Legal Practice: Challenges & Prospects for Young Lawyers” at the OCJ Okocha Bar Centre, High Court Complex, Isiokpo, Rivers State.

The Keynote Speakers at the event were: Chukwuka Ikwazom, SAN, Partner at Aluko & Oyebode; Dr. Hon. Cashmia Ofurum; Mr. Ogbonna Goodluck Ogbom, Esq.; and Mr. Nweke Prince Nweke, Esq. They all delivered justice to the theme of the seminar as they selected different areas of law to concentrate on such as: entertainment law, financial technology, land law, intellectual property law and several other emerging areas of law. Other distinguished guests who were at the event include: High Chief Lukeman Ihua, past chairman, NBA, Isiokpo branch and Hon. Churchill Wosu, pioneer chairman, NBA, Isiokpo branch.

Chief Joe-Kyari Gadzama, SAN who was a guest speaker at the event was introduced to the audience by DCN Promise Uche Ichegba, incumbent chairman of the NBA, Isiokpo branch. Mr. Goodluck Ogbonda, chairman of the NBA YLF, Isiokpo branch presented an award on behalf of the branch to the Learned Silk for his selfless contribution to the legal profession.

We could tell that the Learned Silk was overwhelmed with excitement as the award was being presented to him. He expressed his immense gratitude to both the leadership and members of the branch. He noted that he was encouraged by the creativity of the NBA YLF, Isiokpo branch. He commended both the past and present leadership of the branch for the growth of the branch and noted that they had done a good job with the younger generation of lawyers in the branch.

Furthermore, he urged all present to take steps towards the development of the Bar as that duty remains a collective one. He implored the older generation of lawyers to participate in improving the welfare and remuneration for young lawyers. He saluted the incumbent president of the NBA, Mr. Olumide Akpata and the president of the NBA Remuneration Committee, Mr. Anthony Nwaochei for the steps taken by the administration to improve the remuneration for the legal profession. He reiterated the point made on specialization for young lawyers by Mr. Chukwuka Ikwazom, SAN. He urged the young lawyers present to center their legal practice around two to three areas of law as this shall influence the success of their legal practice.

The Learned Silk was accompanied to the seminar by the following lawyers of the NBA, Port Harcourt branch and NBA, Abuja branch (Unity Bar): Mrs. Anthonia Osademe, vice chairman of NBA, Port Harcourt branch; Ms. Sarah Apia; Mr. Victor Agala; Mr. Ebuka Samuel; Ms. Sophia Ugwuorah; Mr. Akuro T. Enoch; Mr. Adebayo Williams; Mr. Evidence Asite Agbor; Ms. Harmony Chikodili; Mr. Dafenone Akpomudiare; Ms. Hillary Ayebaifie Ojeke amongst many others.

JOE-KYARI GADZAMA SAN ATTENDS THE 2022 LAW WEEK FOOTBALL MATCH FINALS OF THE NBA, YENAGOA BRANCH

The Learned Silk and a group of other lawyers attended the final football match organized by the NBA, Yenagoa branch for their 2022 law week between Wuku FC and Ambaowei FC.

The Learned Silk who attended the football match between the two teams at Joseph Beredugo International School received a positive reception from members of the branch.

This is the second match of the NBA, Yenagoa law week that the Learned Silk has witnessed in his short visit to Bayelsa State. Yesterday, he witnessed the match for third place between Dambo FC and Ayabowei FC wherein Dambo FC emerged as the winner with a score line of 2-1.

The Learned Silk’s interest in the football game is not out of place as he is indeed a fervent supporter of the game and an energetic sportsman. Recently, he sponsored his football team, Gadzama FC during the 2022 Abuja Lawyers’ League where the team came in third place at the league. He is the chairman of Gadzama FC; incumbent vice chairman of the Bar and Bench Golf Tournament; a trustee of Hon. Seriake Dickson Golf and Country Club in Yenagoa and also, a member of the Bayelsa State Sports Committee headed by His Royal Majesty, King Alfred Diete-Spiff.

Ambaowei FC came out victorious with a win of 4-2 over Wuku FC. The Learned Silk congratulated both teams and took pictures with the players and other members of the branch who were present at the game. The chairman of the branch, Mr. Ukumbiriowei Saiyou and members of the branch received the Learned Silk as one of their own and thanked him for his show of interest in the activities of the NBA, Yenagoa branch.

Some members of the NBA, Yenagoa branch who were present include: Mr. Ukumbiriowei Saiyou, chairman of NBA, Yenagoa branch; Mrs. Pere Egbuson; Mrs. Bob Ayonimite; Mr. Jumbo Soala, vice chairman of the branch; Mrs Peterside Peretimi, the sports chair person of the NBA, Yenagoa branch; Mr. Ben Braye; Mr. Duke Ebiyon; Mr. Emmanuel Robert, football captain of NBA, Yenagoa branch and a host of others.

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‘I HAVE BEEN CERTIFIED BY ECNBA,’ SAYS TAIDI

FEATURED

Dear Distinguished Colleagues,

Recall that on the 14th of April, 2022 in furtherance of my deep commitment to galvanize the Bar to live up to its challenges and the even more grievous challenges bedeviling our nation, I made a commitment and that commitment has now been certified as fit and proper by the Electoral Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association (ECNBA).

I therefore thank Almighty God for enabling my availability to serve, and our esteemed courageous supporters and would-be supporters for patiently and painstakingly keeping step with us.

Indeed, it has not and will not be an easy task to consolidate on the gains so far achieved and with vigour surpass every performance so far experienced, but it is possible.

In the coming days when ECNBA will unveil the manifesto for the well being of distinguished colleagues and total liberation of the Bar, each one will be required to share their lofty ideas with others for a focused, truly unified and dignified Bar.

I thank you all most sincerely and I am more than confident that together we win.

Jonathan Gunu Taidi, Esq.
Candidate for NBA President

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ECNBA RELEASES LIST OF CANDIDATES, CLEARS GADZAMA, MAIKYAU, OTHERS

The Electoral Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association (ECNBA) has released the list of candidates for the forthcoming NBA National Elections.

As earlier reported by CITY LAWYER, all the three presidential aspirants were cleared by the electoral committee. These are Chief Joe-Kyari Gadzama SAN, Mr. Yakubu Chonoko Maikyau SAN and Mr. Jonathan Taidi.

Aside from the presidential candidates, three candidates were cleared for the post of 1st Vice President while only three aspirants were also cleared for the post of 2nd Vice President.

Two aspirants will slug it out for the post of 3rd Vice President while four candidates will battle for the post of General Secretary.

Assistant General Secretary has four candidates while three candidates will battle for the Treasurer position. On the other hand, Welfare Secretary has five candidates while Publicity Secretary has only two candidates. The same number of candidates will battle for the post of Assistant Publicity Secretary.

The position of NBA representatives for the General Council of the Bar has 22 candidates to do battle.

It was unclear at press time how appeals by some disqualified aspirants may affect the final list.

ECNBA_Nominated Candidates

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MAXIMUS UGWUOKE DEDICATES ECNBA CLEARANCE TO SUPPORTERS

FEATURED

MAXIMUS UGWUOKE DEDICATES HIS CLEARANCE FOR NBA NATIONAL WELFARE SECRETARY ELECTION TO GOD AND SUPPORTERS

Ikechukwu Maximus Ugwuoke, frontline aspirant to the office of National Welfare Secretary of the Nigerian Bar Association has received his notice of qualification to stand election for the position in the NBA election scheduled for July 16th 2022.

In reaction Ugwuoke has dedicated his clearance to God and to his supporters and surmised that God has the final say.

His reaction reads;

“This morning I received a notice from the Electoral Committee of Nigeria Bar Association (ECNBA) expressing their pleasure to inform me that I am qualified to stand for election into the office of
“Welfare Secretary” of NBA in the Election scheduled to hold on Saturday, July 16, 2022.

I dedicate this clearance conveyed in this notice of my qualification which I received today 26th day of May 2022 to God who laid in my heart the desire and vision to seek and pursue an HAKUNA MATATA Regime of MAXIMUM WELFARE for the Nigerian Lawyers; And to my supporters who believe in this vision and my ability to deliver. The Mantra Maximus for Maximum Welfare coined by my supporters is gradually gaining space and shall see the light of the day. This is my honest prayer.

Having gone thus far, it is my belief that I have played my part in offering myself to serve the bar as its National Welfare Secretary and the electoral umpire has done its part of finding me worthy. Only two things are now left at this stage. First is for the bar to make a statement on this through their votes on 16th July 2022 being the election day. Second is for God to have the final say.”

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ECNBA CLEARANCE: ‘I HAVE NOBODY BUT YOU,’ SAFIYA BALARABE TELLS LAWYERS

FEATURED

CLEARED TO PROCEED!!! ECNBA CLEARS SAFIYA BALARABE TO CONTEST FOR POSITION OF TREASURER, NBA 2022-2024

The Electoral Committee of the NBA (“ECNBA”) has found Safiya Balarabe worthy to proceed to contest for the position of the Treasurer of the NBA 2022-2024.

This notification came vide a letter dated 20th May, 2022 with an unequivocal approval having duly met the requirements as enumerated in the Constitution of the NBA and Guidelines of the ECNBA.

The gentleman in skirt penned down the following upon the clearance notification:

“Distinguished and respected seniors and colleagues,

It is with utmost humility that I inform you of my clearance by the ECNBA to contest for the position of Treasurer for 2022-2024. This clearance notification came vide a letter dated 20th May, 2022.

I want to express my sincere gratitude to you all for standing by me strongly during the waiting period for approval; your words and deeds of encouragement kept me steadfast. I am really humbled by your show of love.

We are entering into the contest period proper, I want to again beseech you for your continued support to actualize my quest to keep and guard the treasury of our dear Association.

I have nobody but YOU to count on.

God bless the you, God bless the NBA and God bless Nigeria”.

Signed:
Safiya Balarabe
Treasurer, NBA Women Forum

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ECNBA SETS MONDAY DEADLINE FOR ICT VENDOR PROPOSALS

The Electoral Committee of the Nigeria Bar Association (ECNBA) is requesting proposals to appoint an Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Services Provider for the forthcoming NBA Elections slated for July 16, 2022.

In a release published today but dated May 20, 2022, the electoral umpire noted that the ICT Service vendor “will provide
the platform and services related to the conduct of electronic voting and post-election activities as required by the ECNBA.”

According to the statement signed by Mr. Ayodele Akintunde SAN and Ms. Mabel Ekeke, ECNBA’s Chairman and Secretary respectively, “The EMS Provider shall be responsible for providing the enterprise grade, robust and modern election management system to be deployed for the conduct of the NBA 2022 general elections as well as the pre-election and post-elections activities required for a successful free and fair online election.”

It indicated that “The ECNBA will shortlist and publish successful respondents on the ECNBA/NBA website or any other major platform to afford members of the Association the opportunity to object or file any compliant (sic) against the engagement of any the respondents. The decision of the ECNBA in respect of the choice of the respondent shall be final.”

While the electoral committee stated that the proposals must be submitted on or before 5 pm on Monday, 30 May, 2022 and must remain valid for 90 days, it indicated that the contract would be awarded by June 13, 2022.

To view the full ECNBA statement, please click on the link below.

ECNBA_ICT

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SENIOR ADVOCATE TACKLES ECNBA OVER DISQUALIFICATION OF VP ASPIRANT

A senior lawyer, Mr. Mohammed Ndayako, SAN has disagreed with the Electoral Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association (ECNBA) over its disqualification of NBA First Vice President aspirant, Mr. Muhammad Idris Doko from contesting the forthcoming NBA National Officers election.

Doko was disqualified from participating in the election because “your Seconder being a member of a political party in Nigeria is not qualified like you in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution.” Ndayako is Doko’s seconder.

But in a response to the disqualification made available to CITY LAWYER, Ndayako described the turn of events as “rather unfortunate,” arguing that membership of political party was never raised as an issue in the nomination form.

He also berated the electoral committee for not contacting him to provide evidence of his membership of the NBA National Executive Committee (NBA-NEC), adding that his branch Executive Committee was also not contacted to provide the information.

His words: “This is rather unfortunate. I commend M D Idris for taking this decision in a sportsmanship way.

“However, for the records, I was one of the nominators of M. D. Idris for the position of 1st Vice President of NBA, filled and submitted the form by ECNBA. There was no where in the form where membership of political party was raised.

“I was the Chairman of NBA Minna branch between June, 2016 to June, 2018.

“I was the NEC Rep, member, the only one from Minna branch, between June, 2018 to June, 2020.

“Evidence of membership of NEC can easily be found in the minutes of NEC meetings. Meanwhile, I was never contacted to provide my Evidence of NEC membership, which I stated the relevant period in the form.

“My branch EXCO were not also contacted on my membership of NBA (NEC) between 2018 and 2020.

“I am not yet aware of any law, rule, guidelines of NBA placing restrictions on Members of the Bar from belonging to or actively participating in politics, when political office holders are considered worthy of being made Members of Body of Benchers.”

He urged Doko not to relent in his quest, adding that “we shall continue to support you in your future endeavors, particularly, in NBA politics.”

It was unclear at press time whether Doko plans to appeal his disqualification. The NBA Election is scheduled to hold on July 16, 2022.

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‘I ACCEPT MY DISQUALIFICATION BY ECNBA, I WON’T APPEAL,’ SAYS ABDUSSALAM SALEH

An aspirant for the post of Assistant General Secretary in the forthcoming Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Elections, Mr. Abdussalam Mohammed Saleh has said that he would not challenge his disqualification by the Electoral Committee of the NBA (ECNBA).

In a statement made available to CITY LAWYER, Saleh, who is currently the Welfare Secretary of NBA Unity Bar Abuja Branch and former member of NBA Ungogo Branch Human Rights Committee, said that he has “taken my disqualification in good faith.”

The statement reads:

‘I ACCEPT MY DISQUALIFICATION BY ECNBA, I WON’T APPEAL,’ SAYS SALEH

This weekend, l received with shock an email from the Electoral Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association (ECNBA) informing me of my disqualification as an aspirant for the position of Assistant General Secretary in the forthcoming NBA Elections scheduled to hold on July 16, 2022.

This was not the outcome l had expected when l filed my nomination to contest for the post. I had sought to offer myself as part of a team to revolutionize the NBA Secretariat and make it more member friendly. I was therefore deeply disappointed at this unfortunate outcome.

However, the unity of the Bar is more paramount than my personal ambition. Accordingly, l have taken my disqualification in good faith. I shall not challenge it.

Further, l am ready to serve and support whoever emerges as NBA President in any capacity my services may be needed.

I thank my numerous supporters for the confidence reposed in me, and urge them not to relent in their quest for a Better Bar! It is also imperative that we all elect competent, disciplined and honest National Officers who can sustain the gains made by the Akpata Administration.

Thank you.

SIGNED:
ABDUSSALAM MOHAMMED SALEH

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DOKO, NWOSU, AKPETO, OTHERS DISQUALIFIED, NDUKWU FILES APPEAL

More aspirants have been disqualified by the Electoral Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association (ECNBA) in the run-up to the 2022 NBA National Officers and General Council of the Bar (GCB) Elections.

While there is palpable anxiety within the ranks of the aspirants as most of them are yet to be communicated by the electoral committee on their fate, CITY LAWYER gathered that the ranks of aspirants who have come under the ECNBA hammer has swelled.

Meanwhile, CITY LAWYER can authoritatively confirm that at least one aspirant for the position of NBA First Vice President, three aspirants for the post of NBA Second Vice President and one aspirant for the post of NBA Third Vice President have been barred by the Electoral Committee from contesting the forthcoming elections.

Aside from NBA First Vice President aspirant, Mr. Muhammad Idris Doko who was slammed because “your Seconder being a member of a political party in Nigeria is not qualified like you in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution,” outgoing NBA Ukwa Branch Chairman, Sir. Samuel Nwosu was disqualified from the NBA Second Vice President race because as regards the mode of reckoning post call years, “your Nominator is less than the requisite 15 years post-call. Similarly, there is no evidence that your Seconder paid her Branch Dues for year 2020 and 2022.”

His counterpart in the NBA Second Vice President race, Mr. Anthony Chukwurah came under the ECNBA hammer because “your Nominator is not from the Eastern Zone, he is not qualified like you in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Constitution.”

Another aspirant for the same position, Mr. Finian Ndukwu also fell by the way side. Giving reasons for his disqualification, the electoral committee told Ndukwu that “having failed and/or omitted to complete your nomination form and supply requisite answers for determining your eligibility to contest in the Election, your nomination form is accordingly rejected. Consequently, you are hereby DISQUALIFIED from contesting for the office of 2nd Vice-President in the Election.”

Mr. Promise Besinginwayemi Awolowo Ademi-Akpeto, an aspirant for the position of NBA Third Vice President, suffered a similar fate when the Electoral Committee noted that the Seconder for his nomination “is less than 15 years post-call as required” in view of the above constitutional provisions and particularly the mode of reckoning post call years.

Meanwhile, Ndukwu has activated the appeal process. In an appeal made available to CITY LAWYER and addressed to the Chairperson of the Chairperson of NBA 2022 National Election Appeal Committee, he wrote: “I herein attached the said unfiled pages 4,5 and 6 of my nomination form and pages 10-12 including pages 16-78 of my nominator and that of my seconder, as 2nd Vice President for your perusal and reconsideration in this
appeal for the following grounds….”

Outlining the grounds of his appeal, he wrote: “1. That I completed the up part of page 4 of the said form and never filed the remaining part of page 4,5 & 6 because it was clear and stated that it should be filed by candidate for the position of President, 1st Vice President and General Secretary only.

“2. That in respect to pages 10-12 of the said form, it was not also filed by my nominator because it was clear as it is strictly stated for it to be filed by the Nominator of Candidate for the position of President, 1st Vice President and General Secretary only including Nominator of candidates for the position of Treasurer only in the case of page 12 of the my form.”

In a veiled lampooning of the Electoral Committee, Ndukwu argued “that ECNBA in this information age ought to have given fair hearing by giving me time and notice to supply the said information to the above said pages either by invitation, E-mail, whatsapp or Phone call which is available to them and that of my Nominator, and seconder before disqualifying me.

“I therefore most humbly urge the Appeal Committee to reconsider my nomination in the interest of justice as my nomination form was not rejected but accepted with acknowledgement on the 16th of April, 2022 by the ECNBA at the time of submission.”

Meanwhile, almost all the aspirants told CITY LAWYER that the ECNBA is yet to communicate to them on the outcome of the screening process.

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MAIKYAU VS OHAZURUIKE: ‘NBA-NEC SEAT INTACT, ABSENTEEISM OR NOT,’ SAYS AGWUNCHA

RE: WHETHER SECTION 8(8) OF THE NBA CONSTITUTION IS SELF-EXECUTING ON LOSS OF NBA-NEC MEMBERSHIP (PART 1)

By Ifeanyi Agwuncha

I am compelled to publicly respond to the above captioned article written by Sylvester Udemezue in which he stated that there is no condition requiring that the NEC must (by a resolution or other independent decision) declare such NEC member’s seat vacant before the provisions of section 8(8) would apply. I look forward to reading from Udems (as he is commonly known) as I am always enriched by his in-depth and incisive writings. Unfortunately, the article under reference happens to be one of the few occasions I will strongly disagree with the learned law teacher as to publicly reply him .

According to Udems such a member’s seat will automatically become vacant provided the following conditions are present:
a) He absented himself from NEC meeting on at least three consecutive occasions;

b) He either didn’t write the NEC to give “reasonable cause” for his absence at such proposed or past meeting(s) or he had actually written to the NEC, but the NEC had considered such explanation unsatisfactory.
Let me start by noting that if Udems’ position, that a member who fails to attend three consecutive meetings of NEC would automatically lose his/her membership without the need for any hearing, were to be the correct position, then that would equally mean that NEC would automatically withdraw the recognition of any Branch where the membership falls below fifty members in good financial standing for two consecutive years.

It should be noted that the word automatically was not used in the Constitution, but had been used quite liberally by Udems. Indeed, if it was the intendment of the NBA Constitution to make the provision of that sub-section automatic, the drafters would have chosen words which show such intention clearly without ambiguity. I will make reference to a few provisions in the NBA Constitution to buttress this submission:

1. Article 18(2) of the Third Schedule (Uniform Bylaws) provides that “Except otherwise resolved at a General Meeting, all Standing and Ad-hoc Committees of the Branch shall automatically become dissolved upon the swearing-in of the new elected officers”.

2. Article XVI(b) of Part II, Third Schedule (Uniform Byelaws for Sections) of the Constitution provides “In the event of any Officer or any other member of the Executive Committee of the Section ceasing to be a member of the Section, he or she shall cease to hold office in the Executive Committee of the Section and his or her seat shall automatically fall vacant”.
To succeed in his argument Udems would have to discharge the onerous burden of showing how Section 36(1) of the 1999 Constitution would not apply in this circumstance or how the section obviates the need to afford an affected person the right to be heard before he/she loses his membership of NEC. Until he shows how the mandatory constitutional stipulation that in “the determination of his civil rights and obligations, including any question or determination by or against any government or authority, a person shall be entitled to a fair hearing within a reasonable time by a court or other tribunal established by law and constituted in such manner as to secure its independence and impartiality’ cannot be read into Section 8(8) of the NBA Constitution. As held by the Supreme Court, per KARIBI-WHYTE, JSC (Pp. 27 – 28, paras. F – D) in Adeniyi v. Governing Council of Yaba College Of Technology (1993) LPELR – 128 (SC) “I do not think any proposition can be more clearly established in the administration of justice. There is no doubt that no determination involving the civil rights and obligations can be properly made, until the person whose civil rights and obligations maybe directly affected, has been notified of the matter and given the opportunity of answering the case against him.”

Perhaps it was the writer’s inability to show that right to fair hearing does not inure to a person affected by Section 8(8) of NBA Constitution that led to reference to many company practices that are unrelated to the subject, like – what is the essence of notice of meetings, effect of the portion of the usual Minutes of Meeting known as “Apologies” etc.

If only was that simple. It is my respectful submission that any attempt to suggest that any person who fails to attend three consecutive NEC meetings would automatically lose his membership, does violence to the wordings of the provision which qualified same with the proviso that “unless he/she shows reasonable cause for such absence to the satisfaction of the Council”. I will desire your understanding to reproduce Section 8(8) of NBA Constitution:

(8) Any member who is absent from three (3) consecutive meetings of the National Executive Council shall cease to be a member of the Council unless he/she shows reasonable cause for such absence to the satisfaction of the Council:

I will now break down the provision into its component parts to expose the fallacy in the submission.
1. It applies ONLY to any member who is absent from three (3) consecutive meetings of the National Executive Council;
2. Such a person will be punished with cessation (loss) of membership of the Council;
3. The cessation or loss of membership of the Council will not happen unless he/she fails to show reasonable cause for such absence to the satisfaction of the Council:

The suggestion that there is no need for a hearing will no doubt be a product of misconception of the provision. If we ponder on the following questions, we will understand why his position cannot be the correct position of the law or even a proper interpretation of the Constitutional provision:

1. Is it not only a person who has absented himself/herself from three (3) consecutive meetings of the National Executive Council that is expected to show “reasonable cause for such absence to the satisfaction of the Council”? – Of course.

2. Is a member who has not absented himself/herself from three (3) consecutive meetings of NEC, at any risk of losing his/her membership? Not at all

3. Does the Constitution require a person who has not absented himself/herself from three (3) consecutive meetings of NEC to show “reasonable cause for such absence to the satisfaction of the Council”? – Not at all.

4. Of what use will a reasonable cause shown when the person stands to suffer no loss of membership, be in the context of Section 8(8)? – Totally unnecessary.

5. Is the correct interpretation of Section 8(8) not one which requires ONLY an affected person, (i.e. person who has absented himself/herself from three (3) consecutive meetings of NEC) to show “reasonable cause for such absence to the satisfaction of the Council as to why he/she should not cease to be a member of the Council (NEC)? – Of course, it is.

6. Is it not in accord with common sense that it is only when a person is about to lose his/her membership that such explanation would be required in the determining he/she would continue to retain his membership? – Of course, it is.

The fact that a person who misses one meeting or even two consecutive meetings, will suffer no punishment, shows that NO explanation would be required of such a member in the context of Section 8(8) as he/she runs no risk of losing NEC membership. To conclude otherwise would only turn logic on its head. Indeed, any other interpretation would amount to doing violence to letter and spirit of the Constitution. No reference to articles on the essence of sending apologies or how to do so would make the argument right. I insist that before NEC can take any adverse decision against any member who allegedly failed to attend three consecutive NEC meeting, NEC must accord him/her the right to fair hearing as guaranteed by Section 36 of the Constitution.

I suspect that the writer fell into error in arriving at the conclusion by proceeding on the wrong premise that a lawyer becomes a member of NEC by “appointment”. The submission is clearly not in sync with the provisions of the NBA Constitution, and I will show how it adversely affected the thinking. Section 8(1) of the Constitution provides that the NBA NEC shall comprise the following:
a. National Officers;
b. All past Presidents and General Secretaries;
c. All Chairmen and Secretaries of registered Branches;
d. Chairmen and Secretaries of Sections and Fora;
e. Other deserving members of the Association co-opted by the National Executive Council provided always that the total number of the co-opted members shall not exceed 150 (one hundred and fifty) the composition of which shall be as follows:
i. Senior Advocates of Nigeria – 30;
ii. Senior Members, other than Senior Advocates of Nigeria, who are over 25 years post call – 30;
iii. Active members of 10 years post call but below 25 years post call – 45
iv. Past National Officers other than Past Presidents and General Secretaries – 10
v. Special interest groups – 20
vi. Active members who are less than 10 years post call – 15

From the foregoing is clear the NBA NEC is made up of two categories of members: ex officio (also known as statutory members) and appointed members. The ex officio members are the National Officers of NBA, all past Presidents and General Secretaries, all Chairmen and Secretaries of registered Branches and Chairmen and Secretaries of Sections and Fora. The appointed members are the not more than 150 (one hundred and fifty) co-opted members appointed pursuant to Section 8(1)(e) of the Constitution.

It is my respectful submission that the learned writer misconceived the provisions of the NBA Constitution as well as the imperativeness of affording any affected member a fair hearing before he/she can lose his/her membership of the National Executive Council (NEC) of NBA. According to him “section 8(8) of the NBA Constitution appears to impose a Volenti Non Fit Injuria Rule which operates automatically without any (further) action required on the part of anyone, once the necessary preconditions are present”.

He regrettably fell into error when he submitted that in his “opinion, the necessary implications of section 8(8) of the NBA Constitution is as follows: 1) A Lawyer who is appointed a NEC member and who is absent at NEC meetings on three consecutive occasions, loses his membership of NEC unless there exists a “reasonable cause” for such an absence to the satisfaction of the NEC”.

If Udems is right, it would mean that any National Officer, past President or past General Secretary, Chairman or Secretary of a registered Branch or Chairman or Secretary of a Section or Forum who fails to attend three consecutive meetings will automatically lose his/her membership of NEC. In the same manner, a past President or past General Secretary, who is ordinarily regarded as a life member of NEC, will automatically lose the life membership? Will it also mean that those who are serving officers would equally automatically lose their seat by virtue of which they became entitled to NEC membership?. So will these ex officio members automatically lose their constitutional membership of NEC without any opportunity to explain why they failed to attend three consecutive meetings of NEC?

Will such a conclusion not leave fair-minded and due process advocates, scratching their heads? Udems, cannot therefore be right. As lawyers, I am very certain that we should NOT be the ones suggesting that the right to fair hearing which is clearly stipulated in Section 36(1) of 1999 Constitution and Section 8(8) of the NBA Constitution should count for nothing. As stated by Fortescue J. in R v. CHANCELLOR OF CAMBRIDGE (1723) 1 Strange 557

“The laws of God and man both give the party an opportunity to make his defence, if he has any. I remember to have heard it observed by a very learned man upon such an occasion, that even God himself did not pass sentence upon Adam, before he was called upon to make his defence. Adam (says God) where art thou? Hast thou not eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldst not eat? And the same question was put to Eve also.

I can only safely conclude that anything short of affording a fair hearing to any NEC member who is absents at NEC meetings on three consecutive occasions, will violate Section 36(1) of the 1999 Constitution. No member of NEC can rightly lose his/her membership there has been a opportunity given to him/her to show that there exists a “reasonable cause” for such an absence to the satisfaction of the NBA-NEC.

Ifeanyi Agwuncha, Esq
NBA Onitsha Branch

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MAIKYAU REPLIES KAYODE BELLO’S PETITION, SAYS ‘I’VE NOT BEEN FOUND GUILTY BY LPPC’

An aspirant for the presidency of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr. Yakubu Chonoko Maikyau SAN has responded to the petition by embattled Bar aspirant, Mr. Kayode Bello which urged the Electoral Committee of the NBA (ECNBA) “to suspend the candidature of Mr. Y. C. Maikyau as the NBA presidential Aspirant, pending the determination of the disciplinary case against him at the Legal Practitioners Privileges Committee (LPPC) for his misconduct.”

But in a response dated May 12, 2022 Maikyau stated that section 20(1)(f) relied upon by the petitioner “is inapplicable to my person and to my candidature for the office of the President, Nigerian Bar Association.” He argued that the section deals with removal of National Officers from office, adding that the section “is not only inconsequential but irrelevant.”

The presidential aspirant stated that “I have not been found guilty of any offences or misconduct by the Legal Practitioners Privileges Committee (LPPC) or any other tribunal or Court whatsoever,” adding that “my right to fair hearing under section 36(4) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) dictates that until and unless the Disciplinary Committee of the LPPC hears and determines the petition before it, I cannot be subjected to any denial of my right as a consequence of the Petitioner’s petition before the Disciplinary Committee of the LPPC.”

Conceding that the petitioner authored a petition against him at the LPPC, Maikyau stated that he responded to the petition, “thereby joining issues with the Petitioner. I also appeared before the Disciplinary Committee of the LPPC to defend myself, but the Committee decided on 14th June, 2019 to adjourn hearing sine die until the Petitioner’s action before the Federal High Court is determined one way or another.”

He argued that Bello had elected the LPPC to ventilate his alleged grievance, adding that “This petition therefore and this hearing amounts to an abuse of administrative process and forum shopping by the Petitioner.

Maikyau stated that the lawsuit “upon which his petition and indeed this petitioner (sic) was originally founded” was dismissed by Justice N. E. Maha on March 11, 2020, adding that he communicated the outcome to the Disciplinary Committee of the LPPC through a letter dated February 4, 2021.

He argued that “It is based on the foregoing, that I humbly submit, that this Committee cannot entertain this Petition, as doing so would pre-empt the decision of the Disciplinary Committee of the LPPC before which the Petitioner has willingly submitted his grouse against me.” Maikyau however stated that he would “for the abundance of caution” isolate and respond to the kernel of Bello’s petition.

The presidential aspirant restated his response to the Disciplinary Committee of the LPPC, adding that he never lied to the Disciplinary Committee. He said that “Neither myself nor my client disobeyed the Order of Court to allow the petitioner write his exams,” adding that Bello “cannot hang the blame of his failure/refusal to show up to write his exams on the CLE or myself.”

Maikyau also denied scuttling settlement between Bello and the Council of Legal Education, noting that “Counsel have a minimal role to play in parties’ settlement.” He added that he “did not use my position as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, or even as Counsel to scuttle the Court’s advise (sic) on reconciliation.”

The senior lawyer stated that he “will not be blackmailed by the shenanigans of the Petitioner and his likes who believe that everything that does not go their way is rigged,” adding that “the necessity of me responding to it (petition) is only but one of the sacrifices of offering to serve.”

The decision of the ECNBA is awaited on the petition.

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AIKPOKPO, EDUN, RAPULU, AGADA, ANAGOR SET FOR BAR COUNCIL POLL

Several members of the current Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) National Executive Committee will be vying for positions in the forthcoming NBA National Officers and General Council of the Bar Elections slated for July 16, 2022, CITY LAWYER can authoritatively report.

While some of the aspirants have confirmed that they would be vying for the election, impeccable sources told CITY LAWYER that the other officers have also filed nominations for the elections.

There are strong indications that all the aspirants are gunning for positions in the General Council of the Bar.

Impeccable sources told CITY LAWYER that the incumbent National Officers have thrown their hats into the electoral ring are NBA First Vice President, Mr. John Aikpokpo-Martins; Welfare Secretary, Mr. Kunle Edun; Treasurer, Mercy Ajato Agada and Financial Secretary, Mr. Raphael Nnamdi Anagor.

While highly reliable sources told CITY LAWYER that incumbent Publicity Secretary, Dr. Rapulu Nduka had expressed interest in the position, it was unclear at press time whether he was able to beat the deadline for submission of nomination forms.

Section 10 (1) of the NBA Constitution (as amended) provides that “There shall be established an independent body to be known as the Electoral Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association (hereinafter called “the ECNBA”) to conduct elections into National Offices of the Association and election of the representatives of the Association in the General Council of the Bar.”

The ECNBA had issued notices calling for nominations for the election of National Officers and representatives in the General Council of the Bar.

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CONTROVERSY TRAILS PETITION AGAINST NBA PUB-SEC ASPIRANT, OGAGA

An Owerri based lawyer has urged the Electoral Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association (ECNBA) to bar NBA Publicity Secretary aspirant and current Secretary of NBA Welfare Committee, Mr. Ogaga Emoghawanre from further participation in the forthcoming National Officers Elections.

In the petition obtained by CITY LAWYER, the petitioner, Mr. Francis Ugwumsinachi alleged that Emoghawanre, a leading aspirant for the prominent post, is “not qualified to contest for the office of the Publicity Secretary of NBA in the forthcoming election.”

However, NBA Owerri Branch leadership has written a disclaimer to the ECNBA disowning the petitioner, saying he is not a member of the branch.

Ugwumsinachi had in the petition dated May 4, 2022 vowed that he is “a bonafide member of Owerri Branch and by virtue of same, I will be affected by the outcome of the conduct of 2022 NBA National Elections.”

Continuing, the young lawyer wrote: “Sir, Ogaga Emoghawanre Esq. by our understanding of the provisions of the NBA Constitution is not qualified to contest for the office of the Publicity Secretary of NBA in the forthcoming election.”

According to the petitioner, “His tenure as the Publicity Secretary of NBA will expire in June 2022. As at the time of collecting and submitting of his nomination form (21 March- 15th April 2022), he had not been in office for 2 years as prescribed by the constitution of our great NBA.”

He asserted that “It will be a miscarriage of justice if Ogaga Emoghawanre esq (sic) is qualified to contest in the face of manifest precedent,” arguing that former NBA Assisatnt Publicity Secretary Habeeb Akorede Lawal suffered the same fate in 2020 when he was disqualified by the ECNBA allegedly on the same grounds.

But in a letter dated May 9, 2022 and addressed to the ECNBA Secretary, the NBA Owerri Branch leadership described Ugwumsinachi’s claim of being a bonafide member of the branch as “spurious.”

Signed by Messrs Jude Ogamba and Chinedu Agu, the branch chairman and secretary respectively, the branch leadership said: “We have gone through our records to discover, much to our consternation, that the said Ugwumsinachi Francis Ajuruchi has never been and is currently not a registered member of our Branch, and therefore is not a person known to our Branch as such.”

This has however set off a controversy in the branch, with the petitoner threatening to head to court to clear his name. He told CITY LAWYER that the Branch Secretary has urged him to “calm down” as the matter would be amicably resolved soon.

“He sent an inbox message to me assuring me that he would issue an apology letter and a withrawal letter to ECNBA,” he said. “If that is not done, I will go to court to clear my name.”

Validating the petitioner’s membership of the branch, the Branch Young Lawyers Forum (YLF) Chairman, Mr. Kelechi Ogugbuaja told CITY LAWYER that “Ugwumsinachi is a member of the branch. He has a branch ID Card issued by the Secretary and signed by the Branch Chairman. He also furnished us with his branch dues from 2019 till date issued and signed by the Financial Secretary.”

Continuing, the Branch YLF Chairman said: “I do not know how they investigated to say that the young lawyer is not a member of the branch. I don’t believe that we should engage in politics as to deny our own member. Meanwhile, he did not write on behalf of the branch. He is a bonafide member of the branch. We are patiently waiting for the branch leadership to issue him an apology letter and withdraw the purported disclaimer.”

When CITY LAWYER contacted the Branch Chairman, he said: “We have written to the ECNBA. If there is an error, it will be remedied.”

When CITY LAWYER pointed out the petitioner’s claim that the Branch Secretary promised to withdraw the disclaimer, Agu said: “If that is the position of the secretary, he should know. I saw a picture he (petitioner) took with the Branch Secretary. We will not want to injure anyone. Recall that we are transiting from analogue to digital records. We would look at every record. In our branch, we have a procedure for obtaining membership. I have asked the appropriate officers to look at our records again.”

On his part, the Branch Secretary told CITY LAWYER that the disclaimer stands until the branch concludes its enquiry into the petitioner’s membership status. His words: “No such (withdrawal) letter will be issued without a further deep-pocketed inquest into the validity or otherwise of his membership. This inquest is underway.” Reminded that he had assured the petitioner of such a letter and an apology in a message sighted by CITY LAWYER, he said: “Letter of Disclaimer was an official Letter.”

It was unclear at press time if the electoral committee had taken a decision on the petition.

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MORE ASPIRANTS EMERGE FOR NBA ELECTIONS

Following the publication of list of aspirants for the forthcoming Nigerian Bar Assocaition (NBA) Election, more aspirants have confirmed to CITY LAWYER their interest in the election.

Among those who have confirmed submission of nomination forms to CITY LAWYER are Mr. Abdullahi Muhammad, immediate past Secretary of NBA Gwagwalada Branch who is gunning for the post of NBA Third Vice President; Mr. Ebuka Nwaeze, former Secretary and erstwhile Financial Secretary of Unity Bar who has put in papers for the General Council of the Bar (GCB), and Mr. Abdulssalam Mohammed Saleh, Welfare Secretary at Unity Bar who is vying for the post of Assistant General Secretary.

Also confirmed are Sir Samuel Nwosu, outgoing NBA Ukwa Branch Chairman; Adaeze Anah of NBA Abuja Branch and Mr. Daud Sulaiman of NBA Gwagwalada Branch who are all vying for the position of NBA Representative in the General Council of the Bar and .

There are strong indications that the list of aspirants will be more than what is already in the public domain when the electoral committee publishes it.

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MAIKYAU REPLIES PETITION, SAYS NEC MEMBERSHIP INTACT

A presidential aspirant in forthcoming Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Elections, Mr. Yakubu Chonoko Maikyau SAN has responded to the petition by an Abuja based lawyer that he ceased to be a member of the 2018-2020 National Executive Committee and is not qualified to contest the 2022 NBA presidential election.

In the petition dated 6th May, 2022 and received by the Electoral Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association (ECNBA) on Monday, 9th May, 2022, the petitioner, Mr. Tochukwu Ohazuruike had alleged that Maikyau “is not constitutionally qualified to contest for the office of President in the forthcoming 2022 NBA National Officers’ election due to his failure to meet the eligibility criteria of not less than two years membership of NEC at the time of nomination mandatorily required under section 9(3)(c)(i) of the NBA Constitution.” Ohazuruike later delivered an addendum to the earlier petition where he alleged that Maikyau “did not attend any of the 9 NEC meetings for the period 2018 to 2020.”

In a response dated 12th May, 2022 and obtained by CITY LAWYER, Maikyau stated that “The allegation that I didn’t attend the meetings of the 2018-2020 NEC is hereby denied. I also deny the allegation that my membership of that NEC ceased at any time before the end of that administration. The Petitioner, beyond citing the provisions of the NBA Constitution and alleging that I did not attend meetings, has failed to show that my membership of the 2018-2020 NEC ceased at any time before the 26th of August 2020.”

Continuing, the senior lawyer wrote: “It should be noted that the Petitioner admitted my membership of the NEC for the period between 2018 to 2020, this being no less the action of any institution of the NBA than the NEC itself. Suffice to say that what has been admitted requires no further proof. Nonetheless, see my letter of appointment into the NEC dated 4th May, 2019 attached hereto, as Annexure 1.”

Maikyau argued that the proviso to Section 7(7) of the NBA Constitution “is noteworthy and germane to the resolution of this petition,” adding that “It is clear from the language of the Constitution that the provision is NOT self-executing. Rather, the provision contemplates that a Member of NEC shall cease to be a member ONLY by or UPON a resolution of the National Executive Committee (now Council) to that effect.”

He argued that “it is also clear from the language of the Constitution that, before such a resolution or decision is taken by NEC, terminating a person’s membership on the stated ground, there must first be a hearing and such a member must be given the opportunity to show reasonable cause for his absence to the satisfaction of the National Executive Committee.”

According to Maikyau, “In the petition under reference, the Petitioner has neither shown that there was any resolution of the 2018-2020 NEC terminating my membership of the Committee for non-attendance at meetings, nor has he alleged that there was any such resolution. The Petitioner has also not shown that I did in fact cease to be a member of the NEC. None of the documents which accompanied the petition, show or contain any complaint regarding my alleged absence from any NEC meeting, any deliberation by NEC on such a complaint or any decision of NEC, terminating my membership thereof.”

Maikyau contended that the petitioner’s allegation that he ceased to be a NEC member for non-attendance “must be strictly proved by him and the way to do so is by presenting before the Committee a Resolution of that NEC, duly signed by the President and General Secretary, declaring that I ceased to be a member thereof. May I also reiterate that this ECNBA cannot go into a forensic audit of Attendance Registers and Minutes of Meetings of NEC to decide whether I was attending meetings or not and whether my membership thereof ought to be terminated. It also cannot take a decision to terminate my membership of the 2018-2020 NEC. That is the sole duty of that NEC and it is only the proceedings of that NEC terminating my membership that can form the basis of a petition such as this, I so submit.”

Concluding, the senior lawyer wrote: “I therefore humbly request this Electoral Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association to disregard the Petition and the allegations contained therein as misguided and one predicated on a gross misunderstanding of the Constitution of the NBA.”

The decision of the electoral committee is awaited on the petition.

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‘LAWYERS IN POLICE FORCE DESERVE BETTER WELFARE,’ SAYS MAXIMUS UGWUOKE

Mr. Ikechukwu Maximus Ugwuoke, Nigerian Bar Association Welfare Secretary aspirant, has canvassed better welfare package for lawyers serving in the Nigeria Police Force.

A statement made available to CITY LAWYER reads:

Frontline Aspirant to the office of National Welfare of Nigerian Bar Association, Ikechukwu Maximus Ugwuoke is making a case for the upgrade of the welfare of Legal Practitioners in the Nigeria Police Force. He argued that they deserve better welfare treatment in the Force than they have now.

In a statement he made available to newsmen he said that during his consultations with Lawyers in the various branches of NBA in Lagos, Abuja and other places he has visited so far, he has realized that lawyers in the Nigeria police force are facing a very sorry situation in terms of their welfare and ranks.

In his words, “I was chocked to gather that some lawyers in the Police Force are still at the rank of Corporal or Sergeant or Inspector cadres which are third, fourth and fifth lowest rank in Nigeria Police in ascending order. I was also amazed that other professional like medical doctors are given the rank of Superintendent of Police (SP), which is the third rank in the Senior Officers Carde in ascending order, at the point of their entry. This situation should not be. The Bar Part 2 Programme, which is mandatory for Legal practitioners in Nigeria, is a post graduate course and legal practitioners in the Force should not be treated like this. This debased entry ranking or generally degrading ranking of legal practitioners in the Force reflects on their welfare package, recognition and remunerations as lawyers in the Force. The result of this is the lack of interest by legal practitioners to join the Force and a handful of those who have joined (some of whom I know) are resigning from the Force to join private practice and to pursue their careers elsewhere.”

Ugwuoke maintained that there is no doubts that there is the need for NBA through its welfare body and drivers to engage Nigeria Police Force to upgrade the ranking and welfare of lawyers in the Force commensurate to their work, productivity and comparable to their other professional peers in the Force. He said that approach will reduce the dearth of legal practitioners in the Force and increase productivity of the entire Police Forces in terms of prosecution of cases in court. He pointed out that the degrading treatment to lawyers in the Force could be the cause of using non-lawyers police prosecutors in the trial of capital offenses in Magistrate courts and possibly one major reason for the holding charge in the criminal Justice system which has been used to remand many suspect in the awaiting trial of correctional facilities in Nigeria.

According to him, “Even when non-lawyer police prosecutors have good cases to present in court but had to face a legal practitioner on the defence side, your guess is as good as mine. All this makes it imperative that the welfare of lawyers in the Police Force need to be prioritized and enhanced to encourage them to remain in the Force and deliver their services diligently. It is high time the Nigerian Bar Association which is the parent body that should advocates for the welfare of lawyers in Nigeria began to engage the Nigeria police force and the Police Service Commissions to enhance the welfare of Lawyers in the Police Force. This is part of the focus of the NBA of my dream and my priority” he said.

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NBA ABUJA CRISIS: PETITIONER WANTS GADZAMA, MAIKYAU, OTHERS DISQUALIFIED

An Abuja based lawyer has urged the Electoral Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association (ECNBA) to reject any aspirant whose Letter of Good Standing is endorsed by any of the factional chairmen of NBA Abuja Branch.

If successful, this will sound the death knell for the ambition of two leading presidential aspirants, Chief Joe-Kyari Gadzama SAN and Mr. Yakubu Chonoko Maikyau SAN, paving the way for the emergence of the immediate past NBA General Secretary, Mr. Jonathan Taidi as the next NBA President.

Though undated but addressed to the ECNBA Chairman, Mr. Ayodele Akintunde SAN, the petition was received by the electoral body on May 9, 2022.

In the petition obtained by CITY LAWYER, Mr. Maris Chinye Obichie urged the electoral umpire “to invoke section 10 part 1(6) of the second schedule to the NBA constitution and accordingly reject the candidature of any person who has submitted a letter of good standing from anyone purporting to be chairman of Abuja Branch in respect of a candidate, nominator or seconder for election into national offices and the General Council of the Bar in the 2022 election.”

Arguing that there is a precedent to this effect, the petitioner stated that “the position of NEC on the issue is that none of the factions of Abuja Branch be recognized until the issues are resolved and reconciled,” adding that “Pursuant to this position, ECNBA had in 2018 already set the precedent by disqualifying candidates from Abuja Branch as no valid letter of good standing was issued from Abuja Branch.”

Obichie contended that a Letter of Good Standing from the branch of a candidate, nominator and seconder “is a condition precedent to a valid nomination,” adding that “From the minutes of the NBA National Executive Council (NEC) held on 15th December, 2020; 18th March, 2021; 24th June 2021; 30th September 2021; 2nd November, 2021 and 16th December, 2021 there is (sic) no Chairman for Abuja Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association.”

If the petition succeeds, it would lead to a gale of disqualification of aspirants. Aside from the two leading presidential aspirants from Abuja, there are aspirants for other positions including the General Council of the Bar, NBA Second Vice President, Publicity Secretary, Assistant Publicity Secretary and Assistant General Secretary.

Aspirants from branches other than Abuja who may have sourced their nominators or seconders from the branch would also be affected by the decision.

The decision of the electoral umpire is awaited on the petition.

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NBA ELECTIONS: KAYODE BELLO ASKS ECNBA TO DISQUALIFY FELIX ASHIMOLE

Embattled Bar aspirant, Mr. Kayode Bello has written a petition to the Electoral Committee of the NBA urging it to disqualify Mr. Felix Ashimole (aka Che Oyinatumba) from contesting the forthcoming NBA Elections.

In a petition addressed to the ECNBA Secretary and copied to CITY LAWYER, the petitioner alleged that the NBA Publicity Secretary aspirant “has violated the above section of the NBA Constitution,” in reference to Section 9 (4) (b) of the NBA 2021 Constitution (as amended).

Titled “Petition to disqualify Mr. Ifeanyi Chukwuma Ashimole as NBA aspirant/candidate in the forthcoming NBA election,” the petition was sent to the electoral committee via electronic mail.

He recalled the grounds for disqualification from holding any National Office, adding that a member “shall not be qualified to hold any national office in the Association if during election campaigns: (b) He/she sponsors or is associated with sponsoring a Newspaper or Magazine article or any electronic broadcast, vilifying other candidates or extolling a candidate’s virtues.”

Giving the particulars of alleged breaches by the aspirant, Bello stated that “Mr. Felix Chukwuma Ashimole operates uses and operates WhatsApp group and a website (www.kubwaexpress.com) as electronic broadcast media to promote the candidacy of Mr. Y. C. Maikyau, an NBA Presidential Aspirant/candidate, whom I have petitioned against, during these 2022 NBA elections/election processes.”

Continuing, he alleged that “Mr. Felix Chukwuma has also belittled other candidate(s) in his electronic broadcast.

“Hence, it is hereby prayed that the Electoral Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association should disqualify Mr. Felix Chukwuma from holding any national office in the Association for such constitutional infractions.

“Kindly find attached screenshots of infractions by Mr. Felix Chukwuma.”

Asked whether the electoral committee had communicated him on the petition, Ashimole queried: “Why should they? A petition by a non-lawyer!”

The petition was copied to “Mr. Gadzama, NBA Presidential Aspirant;” “Mr. Laidi, NBA presidential Aspirant;” the Legal Practitioners Privileges Committee (LPPC), the United States Embassy and the United Nations Human Rights Council.

 

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‘MAIKYAU IS NOT ABUJA BRANCH MEMBER,’ PETITIONER TELLS ECNBA

There are strong indications that a leading aspirant to the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Elections, Mr. Yakubu Chonoko Maikyau SAN may have his hands full responding to the gale of petitions against his candidacy as yet another petition has been brought against him by an Abuja based lawyer, Mr. Tochukwu Ohazuruike.

It is recalled that Ohazuruike had earlier brought an petition against Maikyau alleging that the senior lawyer “is not constitutionally qualified to contest for the office of President in the forthcoming 2022 NBA National Officers’ election due to his failure to meet the eligibility criteria of not less than two years membership of NEC at the time of nomination mandatorily required under section 9(3)(c)(i) of the NBA Constitution.” The petition was dated 6th May, 2022 and received by the Electoral Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association (ECNBA) on Monday, 9th May, 2022. Ohazuruike later delivered an addendum to the earlier petition where he alleged that Maikyau “did not attend any of the 9 NEC meetings for the period 2018 to 2020.”

In the latest petition, the lawyer stated that he has been a member of the Unity Bar “and I know that Y. C. Maikyau, SAN has never formally been a member of the Unity Bar at any time whatsoever.” Continuing, he stated that “The authentic register and records of the branch will reveal this without difficulty,” adding that “The first and last time he was seen at the Abuja Branch meeting was on 1st April, 2022 when his friends hosted the monthly in his honour.”

Arguing that his petition was based on the eligibility requirement set out in Section 9(3)(a) of the NBA Constitution, Ohazuruike stated that “This branch membership requirement for qualification as full member of NBA, as set out above, has not been met by Yakubu C. Maikyau, SAN as he has indicated in his nomination form a branch – Unity Bar – which he does not belong to. No doubt, mere participation in activities of a branch (if any) or clearance or letter of good standing from a branch Chairman/EXCO does not translate to formal membership of a branch for purposes of qualification to contest for the office of NBA President under section 9(3)(a) read in conjunction with section 4(1)(a) of the NBA Constitution.

According to Ohazuruike, “Given that Yakubu C. Maikyau, SAN is not a member of the Unity Bar as represented by him, it follows that he is not eligible to contest the forthcoming elections under the highlighted provisions of the NBA Constitution. I therefore urge the ECNBA to scrutinize the eligibility of Yakubu C. Maikyau, SAN on this constitutional ground and accordingly disqualify him in the circumstances.”

It was unclear at press time whether the ECNBA has communicated the latest petition to the presidential aspirant.

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FEAR GRIPS ASPIRANTS AS ECNBA GRILLS GADZAMA, MAIKYAU, TAIDI, OTHERS

Palpable anxiety has gripped aspirants in the Nigerian Bar Association National Officers and General Council of the Bar Elections in the wake of the long-awaited screening by the Electoral Committee of the NBA (ECNBA), CITY LAWYER can authoritatively report.

The Electoral Committee summoned some aspirants to an online “further screening” via ZOOM during which the aspirants were grilled on their nomination forms and related documents.

An email on the virtual screening obtained by CITY LAWYER read: Dear (Name of aspirant),

“Further to the preliminary review of your Nomination Form and the annexed documents in support, the ECNBA by this email invites you for a virtual screening to determine your eligibility to contest in the forthcoming election.

“Please see below the login details below for the screening scheduled for Tuesday, 9 May 2022 at (time).

“Topic: ECNBA Screening….”

The email was signed by ECNBA’s Secretary, Ms. Mabel Ekeke and titled “Electoral Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association (ECNBA) – Further Screening Exercise.”

CITY LAWYER gathered from some aspirants that the online interviews were not without hitches, as there were some delays and connectivity issues which prompted the committee to reschedule at least one of the interviews.

Meanwhile, many aspirants who did not receive the emails from ECNBA for “further screening” have expressed worries on their fate, wondering whether they had been shut out of the process.

There were speculations that only aspirants who had queries on their submissions were invited by the ECNBA to clarify the issues via the virtual interviews.

Though CITY LAWYER sought clarification on the issue from ECNBA Chairman, Mr. Ayodele Akintunde SAN, he was yet to respond at press time.

Meanwhile, among those aspirants who had faced the ECNBA Panel at the virtual interviews are Chief Joe-Kyari Gadzama SAN, Mr. Yakubu Maikyau SAN, and Mr. Jonathan Taidi, all NBA presidential aspirants.

Also grilled by the ECNBA members are aspirants for the position of NBA First Vice President including Linda Rose Bala and Messrs Yakubu Saleh Bawa, Liman Salihu and Idris Doko Muhammad..

A source who is familiar with the process told CITY LAWYER that it was a mandatory screening for the presidential and First Vice presidential aspirants. However, other aspirants who were screened by the ECNBA Panel may have been summoned to clarify some gaps regarding their nominations.

Among the aspirants who confirmed to CITY LAWYER that they had appeared before the ECNBA Screening Panel are Messrs Ede Asenoguan, Collins Ogiegban, Gerald Abonyi, Anthony Chukwurah, Habeeb Akorede Lawal and Felix Ashimole.

Aspirants who told CITY LAWYER that they have not received any invitation from the electoral committee for “further screening” are Messrs Adesina Adegbite, Damian Nosike, Isaac Ogbah, Clement Chukwuemeka, Auta Nyada, Maximus Ugwuoke, Anthony Oseme, Lekan Oladapo, Anthony Nwoye, and Joshua Enemali. Others are Chinyere Obasi, Safiya Balarabe, and Caroline Ladidi-Bishop.

While the aspirants were queried on their documentations by ECNBA members, at least one aspirant said that he was interviewed by the ECNBA secretarial staff on his documents.

There are strong indications that aspirants who were not invited for further clarifications on their nominations may sail through while those who could satisfactorily clarify the queries posed to them by the ECNBA Panel would also get a green light from the electoral committee. This may not be the case for aspirants who have fundamental defects in their nominations.

CITY LAWYER gathered that the screening process has been concluded while aspirants with petitions have been asked to respond to the petitions. The electoral committee is expected to release the list of qualified candidates soon.

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PETITIONER ASKS ECNBA TO BAR MAIKYAU FROM NBA ELECTION

* SAYS HE HAS PENDING PETITION AT LPPC

* ‘I HAVE NO COMMENTS,’ MAIKYAU TELLS CITY LAWYER

An embattled aspirant to the Nigerian Bar and erstwhile student of the Nigerian Law School has urged the Electoral Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association (ECNBA) to bar one of the leading presidential aspirants in the forthcoming NBA Elections, Mr. Yakubu Chonoko Maikyau SAN from taking part in the NBA presidential poll.

The petitioner, Mr. Kayode Bello, made the plea in a petition he emailed yesterday to the verified email handle of the ECNBA, info@ecnba.ng and copied to CITY LAWYER. Others copied in the petition include “Mr. Gadzama, NBA Presidential Aspirant;” “Mr. Laidi, NBA presidential Aspirant;” the “press/media;” Legal Practitioners Privileges Committee (LPPC); “United States Embassy (for rule of law),” and the United Nations Human Rights Council.

His words: “It is hereby prayed that Mr. Y.C. Maikyau, an aspirant for the NBA election, 2022, be screened properly based on the foregoing and his candidacy be suspended based on the doctrine of necessity to ensure sanctity and sanity of the noble legal profession. And that the ECNBA should do that which is appropriate and or necessary to sustain and maintain the nobleness of the legal profession.”

Meanwhile, Maikyau declined comment on the matter when CITY LAWYER contacted him, saying that the petition was not addressed to him. “Why should I respond?” he asked. He however expressed readiness to respond to the petition if asked to do so by the electoral umpire.

Dated May 2, 2022 and addressed to the Secretary, Electoral “Commission” of the Nigerian Bar Association, the petition was titled “PETITON AGAINST Y.C. MAIKYAU AT THE LEGAL PRACTITIONERS’ PRIVILEGES COMMITTEE: NEED FOR PROPER SCRUTINY AND SUSPENSION OF Y.C. MAIKYAU’S CANDIDATURE AS NBA PRESIDENTIAL ASPIRANT.”

The petitioner based the ground of his petition on section 20 (1) (f) of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Constitution 2021 (as amended) which states that “A National Officer may be removed from office where he /she is involved in an act or behavior that brings or is likely to bring the Association into disrepute.‘’

He urged the ECNBA “to suspend the candidature of Mr. Y. C. Maikyau as the NBA presidential Aspirant, pending the determination of the disciplinary case against him at the Legal Practitioners Privileges Committee (LPPC) for his misconduct.”

Bello argued that the suspension of the candidature of Mr. Y.C. Maikyau “is necessary as expounded by the 13th century English jurist, Henry de Bracton,” adding that the doctrine of necessity is that ‘’that which is otherwise not lawful is made lawful by necessity.

“The suspension of Mr. Y.C. Maikyau from contesting as the NBA presidential aspirant would bring honour to the highly revered legal profession, and would prevent unnecessary distractions in the conduct of the NBA activities and duties in respect especially of the next administration of NBA and National Executive Committee of the NBA.”

Delving into the kernel of his grouse against the senior lawyer, Bello wrote: “The petition against Mr. Y.C. Maikyau at the LPPC is based on disobedience of Court Order obtained by me (Kayode Bello) permitting me to write my Bar Final examination at the Nigerian Law School after I was unlawfully expelled by the Nigerian Law School over reservation of seat by my colleague, Miss Chidinma Akam (who has been called to the Nigerian Bar), due to poor state of facilities at the Nigerian Law School.”

He alleged that he has not completed his Law School programme, blaming it “mainly to acts and lies” of a plethora of persons including a former Dean of Faculty of Law, University of Ibadan “who kept sending negative reports about me to the Nigerian Law School that led to my expulsion at the Nigerian Law School, Mr. Obasi Obi, the lawyer working with Mr. Y.C. Maikyau, Late Mr. Akinyemi Julius (of late memory) amongst others.

“Another Law School Application Form I obtained was sent by my Faculty of Law, University of Ibadan, to the Nigerian Law School for admission purpose but the Nigerian Law School has neither admitted me nor given reason it did not admit me. In accordance to the code of conduct of the Nigerian Law School, I was not barred from attending the Nigerian Law School.”

Stating that Maikyau “elected” to be the counsel to the Council of Legal Education, the beleaguered Bar aspirant alleged that “It is also untruthful, unfair and unbecoming of Mr. Y.C. Maikyau in his response to the Legal Practitioners Privileges Committee (LPPC) to have LIED that:

‘’ …. Notwithstanding the matters stated above, the Petitioner [myself] failed and or refused to show up to write the examination’’ (paragraph 12 of Mr. Y.C Maikyau’s reply to the Disciplinary Committee of the Legal Practitioners Privileges Committee (LPPC), Supreme Court of Nigeria, dated 14th March 2019, whereas on August 15th, 2017 I was at the Nigerian Law School gate to enter for the Bar Final Examination, but I was not
allowed to enter.”

Bello alleged that while he proceeded to court to levy contempt proceedings against Maikyau among others, the NBA presidential aspirant “used his position as the Senior Advocate of Nigeria to scuttle the reconciliation efforts as advised by Justice B.O. Quadri on 8th of September, 2017, that we (parties) should reconcile.”

Restating his grouse, Bello wrote: “In summary, Mr. Y.C. Maikyau who stands as presidential aspirant for the office of the NBA President in the forthcoming NBA election has lied to the LPPC that I did not show up at the Nigerian Law School for my Bar Final examination and he has used his office and position as the Senior Advocate of Nigeria to frustrate the reconciliation process between the Council of Legal Education and myself (Kayode Bello).

“The fact that Mr. Y.C. Maikyau lied to the LPPC that I did not or refused to show up for my Bar final examination in 2017 is/was tantamount to perverting justice and conspiracy to disobey the order of the Court.”

He alleged that the acts “are against the basic aims, objects and tenets of the Nigerian Bar Association,” and “prayed that Mr. Y.C. Maikyau, an aspirant for the NBA election, 2022, be screened properly based on the foregoing and his candidacy be suspended based on the doctrine of necessity to ensure sanctity and sanity of the noble legal profession.”

The ECNBA is yet to respond to the petition. The NBA Election is scheduled to hold on July 16, 2022 to elect National Officers and NBA representatives at the General Council of the Bar.

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‘GADZAMA IS A JAUGGERNAUT,’ SAYS YAKUBU BAWA

The Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Jos Branch has described the NBA Security Agencies Relations Committee (NBA-SARC) Chairman, Chief Joe-Kyari Gadzama SAN as a juggernaut who transcends above everything noble.

Speaking yesterday while addressing members of the branch during their monthly general meeting, Bawa also hinted that the leading litigator is a crowd-puller when he said: “So many turned up for this meeting because they heard you were coming. I have never seen some faces since I became chairman of NBA Jos Branch, but I’m privileged to identify with them today because of you.”

Gadzama had visited the branch accompanied by a strong delegation and in continuation of his consultations in his quest for the presidency of the NBA.

Mr. Tobb Kekemeke, a long-term friend and ardent supporter of Gadzama, described him as “an astute Bar man who has given and is still giving to many in large and impressive quantum.” He noted that the monthly meeting was hosted by “Friends of J-K Gadzama SAN.”

Also speaking, a Governorship aspirant, Mr. G. S. Pwul, SAN expressed delight at the virtues embedded in the foremost arbitrator, noting that “he is a humble man, a man of integrity, a son of the soil.” He assured Gadzama of massive support from the branch in the run-up to the NBA Elections.

Responding, Gadzama thanked the Branch executives and members for the warm welcome, urging them to support his vision for the Bar. His words: “When I climb, I do not remove the ladder; I leave it there for others to climb because I stand on justice, equity, good conscience and what is right.” He concluded that the future is only successful when there are successful successors.

Gadzama was accompanied by Mr. Mela Audu Nunghe, SAN; Mr. Steve Abar; Mr. Ralph Monye; former NBA Jos Branch Chairman, Mr. I. Y. Karson; Mr. M. T. Hussaini; Mr. Stephen Lobani; Mr. H. A. Bulmen; Mr. Emmanuel Obateru; NBA Young Lawyers Forum, Bukuru Chairman, Mr. Simon Mom; Mr. Jacob Dawan; Mr. Zion Lashom; NBA Bukuru Branch Secretary, Mr. Chapo Daniel; NBA Bukuru Branch YLF Secretary, Mr. S. S. Obende; Mr. Jerry Musa Ombugadu, and Mr. Tengya Jochebed Habila.

Meanwhile, the NBA-SARC Chairman has also received a similar warm welcome at NBA Bukuru Branch.

The branch members welcomed the entourage with a standing ovation and rounds for applause “in recognition of the presence of a giant in the legal profession whose milk of kindness has flowed lavishingly on noble men and women of the legal profession and beyond,” a statement said.

In his response, Gadzama declared that dignity and respect for lawyers are virtues that should be upheld to the letter irrespective of seniority or rank in the legal profession. He urged the members to “keep the sanctity of NBA by walking in the footsteps of pace setters who have proven themselves over the years.”

The NBA Bukuru Branch YLF Chairman, Mr. Emmanuel Obateru pledged his support and that of his friends to the aspiration of the Bar Leader.

On his part, Mr. Fom Bot said: “I have been a supporter of Chief Joe-Kyari Gadzama, SAN for more than 10 years. Wherever he goes, I will go. I pledge my support and promise to avail myself through the process till finish.”

 

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ANXIETY, AS ECNBA CONSULTANT IN CONTROVERSIAL 2018 ELECTION ‘RETURNS’

There are concerns in legal circles following revelation by the Electoral Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association (ECNBA) that one of the applicants for the crucial role of “Technical Support Consultant” (TSC) played the same role in the controversial 2018 NBA Elections.

The ECNBA had in a Public Notice yesterday urged NBA stakeholders to comment on the suitability of two leading ICT firms seeking to fill the role of ECNBA Technical Consultant. The two companies are Finesse Integrated Technologies Limited and Thriveonus Limited, both Abuja based ICT companies.

While reeling out its numerous operations especially in the legal sector, Finesse Integrated Technologies Limited wrote: “NBA – Technical Consultant to the ECNBA for the 2018 NBA general elections.” This is aside from other jobs done for the Supreme Court of Nigeria, Court of Appeal, National Judicial Institute (NJI) and the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) in an otherwise rich resume.

CITY LAWYER investigation however shows that the 2018 NBA Elections remains one of the most controversial in the history of the lawyers’ association. Following a CITY LAWYER exclusive report showing that former NBA President, Mr. Paul Usoro SAN – who was one of the presidential candidates in the election – was equally a non-Executive Director at Access Bank Plc alongside Dr. (Mrs.) Ajoritsedere Josephine Awosika, the pioneer female Chairman of CHAMS hired as ICT Partner to midwife the election, this set off a chain of events that took the election beyond the July deadline stipulated by the NBA Constitution.

Current ECNBA member and former Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Prof. Chidi Odinkalu referred to the debacle when he wrote: “Under the constitution of the association, the ballot was to have concluded before the end of July. A cocktail of implausible cock-ups had conspired to defer the completion of the ballot by three weeks beyond the constitutionally permissible date.”

Passing a judgement on the 2018 NBA Elections, the fiery human rights activist wrote: “The figures announced by the ECNBA suggested a very spirited contest. In reality, the outcome was pre-determined. The ECNBA and the NBA leadership of AB Mahmoud SAN had presided over the most willfully manipulated ballot in the history of the association.” While Usoro emerged victorious with 4,509 votes, Chief Arthur Obi-Okafor SAN and former Deputy Director-General of the Nigerian Law School, Prof. Ernest Ojukwu SAN polled 4, 423 and 3, 313 votes respectively.

Odinkalu observed that the process leading to the engagement of CRENET, a new election data service provider, was shrouded in secrecy, adding: “One phone number in particular, 0807 410 7787 accounted for 41 voters; 0810 642 1702 accounted for 32 voters, while 0806 402 8401 accounted for 18. Between them, these three numbers alone accounted for 91 votes, that is six votes more than the announced margin of 86 votes between the declared winner and the runner up.”

This would later ground prosecution of two lawyers by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) following a petition by Obi-Okafor. In the August 28, 2018 petition presented by the ICT Team Lead for his campaign organization, Mr. Olumuyiwa Olowokure, it said: “The NBA 2018 National Elections which held from August 18 to 20, 2018 has been mired in controversy following complaints of gross irregularities characterised by theft of members’ identities and data, internet fraud, interference/manipulation of the online portal … parties connived to fraudulently manipulate the electoral process to achieve a predetermined outcome.”

The EFCC in the suit marked FHC/L/118c/2020 and signed by its counsel, Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo, alleged that the accused persons altered 1004 eligible voters’ personal details and cast votes for the former NBA president by impersonating voters through fraudulently using the Supreme Court Enrolment Numbers of some lawyers.

While CHAMS and CRENET were in the eye of the storm for the alleged fraud that enveloped the election, Finesse Integrated Technologies Limited seems to have been in the shadows. The process leading to its appointment as ECNBA’s Technical Consultant as well as the exact role it played during the 2018 NBA Election seem to be mired in mystery. Given that the ECNBA was decidedly silent on its involvement in the 2018 Election, it was not until yesterday that it announced its participation in the controversial election.

Said Odinkalu: “In the end, a voting process that was supposed to be seamless suffered at least eight deferrals and one suspension. Every stage in the process was tortured.”

Ojukwu also had only harsh words for the conduct of the election. He denounced the election as having been characterized by “massive vote buying, vote capture, rigging and a skewed process.”

The uproar that greeted the 2018 election as well as the one before and after it compelled the Body of Senior Advocates of Nigeria (BOSAN) to set up a five-man committee to work with the NBA to review the 2018 and 2020 elections. Members of the committee were Chief Joe Kyari-Gadzama, SAN; Mr. Osaro Eghobamien, SAN; Chief Yomi Aliu, SAN; Prof. Offornze Amucheazi, SAN, and Mr. Ebun Olu-Adegboruwa, SAN.

Former NBA President and Chairman of its Board of Trustees, Dr. Olisa Agbakoba, SAN said of the electoral audit: “It is very good to review the electoral process of NBA, which is exactly what we, the Trustees recommended.” The BOSAN Committee soon became troubled itself, with the resignation of some of its members including Gadzama.

Following his commitment in his inaugural address to review the association’s electoral process and bequeath a flawless electoral system to the lawyers’ body, NBA President, Mr. Olumide Akpata on September 30, 2020 set up the Mr. Ayodele Akintunde SAN-led “Electoral Reform and Audit Committee.” One of the committee’s terms of reference was “To audit the elections of National Officers of the NBA of 2016, 2018 and 2020 and recommend reforms (if any) of the electoral process.” Aside from submitting a detailed report on the malfeasance that bedeviled past NBA Elections, the mantle again fell on Akintunde to walk the talk by implementing his committee’s recommendations geared towards a free, fair and credible NBA Election.

Attempts by CITY LAWYER to reach Finesse Integrated Technologies Limited on its role in the 2018 NBA Elections proved abortive. Though one Ruth Isaac told CITY LAWYER that the company’s Managing Director and Chief Executive, Mr. Akintomide Akinwolere would respond timeously to our enquiries, he was yet to do so at press time.

According to the “Request for Proposal For Technical Support Consultant to the ECNBA” dated April 11, 2022 the all-important role of the Technical Support Consultant was spelt out as follows: “The TSC shall be responsible for providing the requisite consulting and advisory services necessary to attain the goal established by the ECNBA for the Project. Specifically, the TSC shall play key roles in the following areas:

1. Member Identity & Database (Technical Assistance):
(a) Collect, review and certify as adequate and fit for purpose, an approximately 50,000– 60,000 member-rich database, and transform same into a Register of Voters in an integration ready format for use with any standard Election Management System (EMS); and

(b) Propose a multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) protocol to govern the identification and verification of members on the EMS to be deployed for the Project.

2. ICT Service Provider (“Service Provider”):
(a) Develop the technical requirements and the ECNBA’s criteria for engaging the Service Provider that will deploy the EMS;

(b) Support the ECNBA in developing the requisite RFP for the selection process and subsequent negotiations between the qualified, experienced, skilled, and selected Service Provider; and

(c) Outline the deliverables that will be incorporated in the Service Level Agreement (SLA) and Operational Level Agreement (OLA) that will govern the performance and operations of the EMS services by the Service Provider.

3. Stakeholder Support:
(a) Support the ECNBA in its voter sensitization and enlightenment outreach by producing materials, including Q&A’s, for publication on the Project website or distribution to members, and to attend the ECNBA branch or regional stakeholder programs physically (or virtually), to respond to technical issues raised by members;

(b) Conduct trainings for members (virtually or physically) on any aspect of the electoral process, including voter registration and certification as well as login and logout protocol of the EMS; and

(c) Set up and operate a Technical Support Centre, including 24/7 Call Centre from the commencement and throughout the election period, to assist members on any technical issues relating to access, login, or logout process on the EMS.

4. Tests, Audits & Reports:
(a) Conduct a system and software testing to ensure that the EMS is implementing the latest, modern technology and solutions;

(b) Conduct functionality testing to ensure that the EMS delivers on all the functional requirements and specifications stipulated by the ECNBA;

(c) Conduct vulnerability testing to identify any vulnerability or threat to which the system might be exposed, assign severity levels to threats found, and propose remediation or mitigation; and

(d) Perform process audit of the EMS, monitor elections real time, and carry out postelection audit and produce all relevant reports required by the ECNBA.

According to the approved ECNBA Budget, the Technical Support Consultant is to earn N15 Million for its services.

It remains to be seen the exact role played by Finesse Integrated Technologies Limited in the NBA 2018 Elections saga.

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HOW GADZAMA STORMED ECNBA, MOURNS PROF. GADZAMA

The Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association Security Agencies Relations Committee (NBA-SARC), Chief Joe-Kyari Gadzama SAN recently submitted his nomination form and accompanying documents for the coveted position of NBA President in the forthcoming NBA National Officers Election.

The former Chairman of the NBA Section on Public Interest and Development Law (NBA-SPIDEL) arrived the Electoral Committee of the NBA (ECNBA) Secretariat at about 3:42 pm last Thursday to submit the form in compliance with the Electoral Guidelines. Many admirers of the leading litigator accompanied him to the ECNBA secretariat.

According to a statement made available to CITY LAWYER, “The Learned Silk giving his final remarks further appreciated the presence of teeming supporters and jokingly closed with a teaser, saying that, although the discussion had ended, just like the Honda Car, the discussion would continue. As usual, the jovial Bar Patriot elicited hearty laughs from all who were present amidst cheers of approval and accolades.

“Whilst exiting the premises, the Learned Silk was excused for an exclusive interview wherein he reiterated the importance of a good, all-inclusive and focused visionary leadership of the Bar.” He added that “We must live up to our roles as the watchdog of the society, the eyes of the blind, the eardrums of the deaf and the mouthpiece of the dumb. Our electoral process must set the pace and trend for the political class of our society to emulate… And this is our dream and vision, because life is not how much you acquire or own but how much impact you’re able to make on the lives of others.”

The submission process is available for download at https://drive.google.com/drive/u/6/folders/1lXqjxGWL4l6vz2ovb_PoZBJiNcQJvlMZ

Meanwhile, the Bar Leader has expressed sadness over the demise last weekend of Prof. Emeritus Njidda Mamadu Gadzama.

Reacting to the passing of the former university administrator, he said: “It is with great pain in my heart that I mourn the death of Prof. Njidda Mamadu Gadzama who doubled as a good friend of my late father and an uncle to myself. Prof. Njidda Mamadu Gadzama was a respectable and renowned academician whose dedication to the advancement of education in Nigeria earned him the right to be referred to as an academic leader.

“The late professor occupied several leadership positions having been the pioneer Pro-Chancellor of the National Open University of Nigeria, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor of my alma mater, University of Maiduguri and the Acting Vice-Chancellor of University of Port Harcourt. I am certain that the Late Professor lived a fulfilled life as his impact through these various positions in the line of academics will forever be ingrained in our hearts. It is worthy to mention that he has also left behind a great legacy which outlives his time with us.

“On behalf of myself, my family and the entire staff of J-K Gadzama LLP, I express my heartfelt condolences to the family of Prof. Njidda Mamadu Gadzama. My solace lies in the fact that ‘the Lord gave and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord (Job 1:21b)’ and ‘If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord (Romans 14:8).’ In light of the foregoing, I implore the family to take solace in the wise words of the Holy Book.”

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ASPIRANTS BEAT DEADLINE, SUBMIT NOMINATION FORMS

Many aspirants have scaled the first hurdle in their quest to clinch positions in the forthcoming Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) elections into the General Council of the Bar and the National Executive Council.

Virtually all the aspirants who CITY LAWYER predicted in its earlier report would join the race confirmed that they had submitted their nomination forms. Aside from Linda Rose Bala and Ede Asenoguan whose close aides confirmed their submission, the other aspirants confirmed the submission of their nomination forms to CITY LAWYER.

There are strong indications that many aspirants submitted their nomination forms yesterday, even as there may be a few new entrants during the elections. Former NBA Welfare Secretary, Mr. Joshua Enemali and longstanding NBA rapporteur Anne Agi told CITY LAWYER that they have submitted nomination forms to vie for a position in the Bar Council, even as Mr. Churchill Aniekwena of NBA Barnawa Branch said he has joined the race for Welfare Secretary. Another new entrant to the race is global President of African Women Lawyers Association (AWLA), Mandy Asagba who is gunning for the post of 3rd Vice President while impeccable sources told CITY LAWYER that Mr. Maximus Ugwuoke of NBA Enugu Branch is also vying for the post of Welfare Secretary.

Below are some of the aspirants who CITY LAWYER had confirmed submission of their nomination forms.

PRESIDENT
The battle for the NBA Presidency remains a three-legged tussle between Chief Joe-Kyari Gadzama SAN, Mr. Yakubu Chonoko Maikyau SAN and Mr. Jonathan Taidi. While Gadzama is the Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association Security Agencies Relations Committee (NBA-SARC), Maikyau is the Chairman of the NBA Welfare Committee. On his part, Taidi is the immediate past NBA General Secretary.

GENERAL SECRETARY
Aside from the presidential race, the election for the post of General Secretary is poised to be between five gladiators. While Messrs Adesina Adegbite, Desmond Yamah, Ewenode William and Collins Ogiegbaen confirmed submission of nomination forms to CITY LAWYER, Ede Asenoguan’s confidante told CITY LAWYER that he submitted his nomination form yesterday.

FIRST VICE PRESIDENT
Zoned to the “Northern Zone,” Idris Doko Muhammad of NBA Lagos Branch confirmed submission of nomination form while an unimpeachable source confirmed that Linda Rose Bala has submitted her nomination form for the race for the pivotal seat of NBA First Vice President. Calls to Messrs Yakubu Saleh Bawa and Liman Salihu received no response. Bala is former NBA Legal Adviser while Bawa is current Chairman of NBA Jos Branch. On his part, Salihu is former Chairman of NBA Lokoja Branch

SECOND VICE PRESIDENT
The post of Second Vice President has been ‘micro-zoned’ to the Core East by the influential Eastern Bar Forum (EBF). Among those who confirmed submission of nomination forms to CITY LAWYER are the immediate past NBA Bwari Branch Chairman, Mr. Clement Chukwuemeka (aka “Democrats”); his NBA Owerri Branch counterpart, Mr. Damian Nosike, and Dr. Gerald Abonyi, pioneer NBA Obollo-Afor Branch Chairman. Mr. Anthony Chukwurah of NBA Gwagwalada Branch and Mr. Finian Eze  Ndukwu of NBA Mbaise Branch also told CITY LAWYER that they have joined the race for Second Vice President.

THIRD VICE PRESIDENT
Zoned to the “Western Zone” comprising Egbe Amofin O’odua and Midwest Bar blocs, CITY LAWYER can confirm that at least three aspirants are now in the race. While former NBA Ota Branch Chairman, Mr. Isaac Omuta Ogbah and Mr. Promise Ademi-Akpeto confirmed submission of their nomination forms to CITY LAWYER, unimpeachable sources told CITY LAWYER that AWLA global President, Mandy Asagba has also joined the race.

TREASURER
Among the aspirants who have confirmed submission of nomination forms to CITY LAWYER are former NBA Assistant Publicity Secretary, Mr. Chuks Mbamala of NBA Enugu Branch; current NBA Epe Branch Vice Chairman and NBA-SPIDEL Committee Treasurer, Funmi Adeogun; former Vice Chairman of NBA Lafia Branch and current Treasurer, NBA Women Forum (NBAWF), Safiya Balarabe as well as Caroline Ladidi Anze-Bishop, former Vice Chairman and former NEC Representative, NBA Bukuru Branch.

WELFARE SECRETARY
Immediate past NBA Assistant Secretary, Chinyere Obasi and former NBA Barnawa Branch Welfare Secretary, Mr. Churchill Aniekwena have confirmed submission of nomination forms for the post of Welfare Secretary. Meanwhile, impeccable sources told CITY LAWYER that Mr. Maximus Ugwuoke of Enugu Branch has now joined the race. CITY LAWYER also reliably gathered that NBA Welfare Committee member and co-opted NEC member, Mr. Auta Nyada has submitted his nomination form. 

PUBLICITY SECRETARY
This is a tripodal race between the immediate past Assistant Publicity Secretary, Mr. Habeeb Akorede Lawal; current NBA Welfare Committee Secretary, Ogaga Emoghanre, and the latest entrant, Mr. Felix Chukwuma Ashimole (aka Che Oyinatumba), a former NBA Bwari Branch Secretary and former Member of NBA Anti-Corruption Committee. All three aspirants have confirmed submission of nomination forms to CITY LAWYER.

ASSISTANT GENERAL SECRETARY
This race may present a crowded field of aspirants. The aspirants who have confirmed to CITY LAWYER that they submitted nomination forms are the current NBA Ikorodu Branch Secretary, Mr. Oluwaseun Aka; incumbent NBA Ilorin Branch Vice Chairman, Mr. Dhikrullah Adewale Balogun; Mr. Daniel Kip of Calabar, and Mr. Oseme Peremene Anthony, former NBA Idemili Branch Chairman.

ASSISTANT PUBLICITY SECRETARY
This may be a straight fight between Mr. Charles Ajiboye who also contested for the position during the last election and Mr. Akachukwu Nwoye, current NBA Gwagwalada Branch Secretary. Both aspirants told CITY LAWYER that they have submitted their nomination forms for the election. 

GENERAL COUNCIL OF THE BAR
Among those itching to represent the Bar at the Bar Council are former NBA Welfare Secretary, Mr. Joshua Enemali and Ms. Anne Agi; current NBA Aba Branch Vice Chairman, Mr. Victor Onweremadu who may have jettisoned his initial quest for the position of Welfare Secretary, and Mr. Femi Onakoya of NBA Lagos Branch.

CITY LAWYER also gathered that many aspirants including some senior advocates have shown serious interest in slugging it out for a place in the General Council of the Bar.

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NBA ELECTIONS 2022: THE CONTENDERS, THE PRETENDERS

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) will on July 16, 2022 conduct an election to fill vacancies in the National Executive Council (NEC) and the General Council of the Bar (GCB).

A frenzy of activities and jostling has attended the run-up to the eagerly awaited elections. In this piece, and against the backdrop of release of the Election Guidelines by the Electoral Committee of the NBA (ECNBA), CITY LAWYER makes a sneak preview of the gladiators that may mount the soap-box to contest the forthcoming elections.

PRESIDENT
Barring any major shifts, the battle for the NBA Presidency will be a three-legged tussle between Chief Joe-Kyari Gadzama SAN, Mr. Yakubu Chonoko Maikyau SAN and Mr. Jonathan Taidi. While Gadzama is the Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association Security Agencies Relations Committee (NBA-SARC), Maikyau is the Chairman of the NBA Welfare Committee. On his part, Taidi is the immediate past NBA General Secretary. The three gladiators have invariably hit the ‘campaign trail’ on “consultations,” attending sundry meetings and events hosted by NBA branches and regional blocs and generally fraternizing with potential voters while seeking the buy-in of especially influential Bar Leaders and young lawyers on their vision for the Bar. A major issue that is bound to impact the presidential race is the debate over “micro-zoning” of the presidential slot. While the ECNBA’s decision on the issue is eagerly awaited, there is no gainsaying that it will invariably impact the presidential election.

GENERAL SECRETARY
Aside from the presidential race, the election for the post of General Secretary is poised to be a fierce dog-fight between five gladiators. These are Messrs Adesina Adegbite, Desmond Yamah, Ede Asenoguan, Ewenode William and Collins Ogiegbaen. While Adegbite is the penultimate NBA Welfare Secretary, Yamah is a former NBA Abuja Branch Chairman. Asenoguan held sway in NBA Benin Branch as its one-time Chairman while William is the immediate past NBA Assistant General Secretary and former NBA Effurun Branch Secretary. On his part, Ogiegbaen is the immediate past NBA Benin Branch Chairman. It is speculated that unless the Midwest Bar is able to reach a rapprochement among its four aspirants, it may hand the initiative to Adegbite who may poll a block vote from the South West bloc, thus dealing the Midwest Bar a similar hand it unleashed on the Egbe Amofin bloc during the 2014 and 2020 elections that led to the emergence of former NBA President, Mr. Augustine Alegeh SAN and current president, Mr. Olumide Akpata. CITY LAWYER gathered that as at this weekend, the talks remained deadlocked, moreso given the factionalization of the Midwest Bar into two strident opposing camps.

FIRST VICE PRESIDENT
Zoned to the “Northern Zone,” the race for the pivotal seat of NBA First Vice President is between Linda Rose Bala and Messrs Yakubu Saleh Bawa, Idris Doko Muhammad and Liman Salihu. While Bala is former NBA Legal Adviser, Bawa is current Chairman of NBA Jos Branch. On his part, Salihu is former Chairman of NBA Lokoja Branch while Muhammad is of NBA Lagos Branch. Although Bala is seen as having a better name recall and a veteran of NBA politics of sorts, analysts told CITY LAWYER that the other aspirants are “working very hard” to upstage her and neutralize any advantage her earlier involvement in NBA national politics may have afforded her.

SECOND VICE PRESIDENT
The post of Second Vice President is zoned to the “Eastern Zone.” CITY LAWYER gathered that while the influential Eastern Bar Forum (EBF) may have ‘micro-zoned’ the slot to the Core East, at least four aspirants may jostle for the position. Among the gladiators are the immediate past NBA Bwari Branch Chairman, Mr. Clement Chukwuemeka (aka “Democrats”); his NBA Owerri Branch counterpart, Mr. Damian Nosike; Dr. Gerald Abonyi, pioneer NBA Obollo-Afor Branch Chairman who was disqualified during the last general election, and Mr. Anthony Chukwurah, former NBA Gwagwalada Branch Secretary. Sources however told CITY LAWYER that three more aspirants – a university teacher from Awka Branch, a former branch chairman from Ezeagu Branch and yet another branch chairman from Mbano or Mbaise branch – may yet join the fray. The EBF has set up a Screening Committee to grill the aspirants and make recommendations to it.

THIRD VICE PRESIDENT
Zoned to the “Western Zone” comprising the eight States in the Egbe Amofin O’odua and Midwest Bar forums, the race is a straight fight between former NBA Ota Branch Chairman, Mr. Isaac Omuta Ogbah and Mr. Promise Ademi-Akpeto, his NBA Sapele Branch counterpart. Ademi-Akpeto is the current Treasurer of Midwest Bar Forum and was recently listed as having expressed interest in being appointed a Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria. Both former NBA Ikorodu Branch Chairman, Mr. Bayo Akinlade and Siyanbola Ganiyat Adetutu who were rumoured to have interest in the position told CITY LAWYER that there is no truth in the speculation. Adetutu lost the race for the position of First Vice President in the last election.

TREASURER
The position of Treasurer is an all-comers affair, as it is not zoned to any particular bloc. Viewed as an influential position in NBA matters – moreso with the wiping off of the post of Financial Secretary – the race is poised to be between four aspirants, including former NBA Assistant Publicity Secretary, Mr. Chuks Mbamala of NBA Enugu Branch; current NBA Epe Branch Vice Chairman and NBA-SPIDEL Committee Treasurer, Funmi Adeogun; Caroline Ladidi Anze-Bishop, former Vice Chairman and former NEC Representative, NBA Bukuru Branch, and Safiya Balarabe of Lafia Branch.

WELFARE SECRETARY
The position of Welfare Secretary is also not zoned to any bloc. Among those said to be jostling for the post former NBA Assistant Secretary, Chinyere Obasi; NBA Welfare Committee member and co-opted NEC member, Mr. Auta Nyada and current NBA Aba Branch Vice Chairman, Mr. Victor Onweremadu. CITY LAWYER reliably gathered that at least four aspirants may eventually make the ballot.

PUBLICITY SECRETARY
The position of Publicity Secretary is not zoned to any bloc. This is a tripodal race between the immediate past Assistant Publicity Secretary, Mr. Habeeb Akorede Lawal; current NBA Welfare Committee Secretary, Ogaga Emoghwanre, and the latest entrant, Mr. Felix Chukwuma Ashimole (aka Che Oyinatumba), a former NBA Bwari Branch Secretary and former Member of NBA Anti-Corruption Committee.

ASSISTANT GENERAL SECRETARY
The position of Assistant General Secretary is also not zoned to any bloc. This race may present a crowded field of aspirants. They include current NBA Ikorodu Branch Secretary, Mr. Oluwaseun Aka; incumbent NBA Ilorin Branch Secretary, Mr. Dhikrullah Adewale Balogun; Mr. Daniel Kip of Calabar; Mr. Oseme Peremene Anthony, former NBA Idemili Branch Chairman; Mr. Ayo Scott, former NBA Ughelli Branch Chairman, and one A. O. Abba of NBA Minna Branch.

ASSISTANT PUBLICITY SECRETARY
The position of Assistant Publicity Secretary is also not zoned to any bloc. While this may be a straight fight between Mr. Charles Ajiboye who also contested for the position during the last election and Mr. Akachukwu Nwoye, current NBA Gwagwalada Branch Secretary, CITY LAWYER gathered that other aspirants are waiting in the wings to join the race.

CITY LAWYER reliably gathered that two former branch chairmen and a former branch secretary are among those gunning to represent the NBA at the General Council of the Bar.

It remains to be seen how the permutations will play out as the elections draw closer.

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