“Judicial Showdown: ALDRAP and NLS Push for Witness Testimonies in Bold Lawsuit Against NBA Leadership”
An Oyo State High Court, overseen by Justice G. A. Opayinka, has been requested to summon essential parties to testify against the President of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Afam Osigwe, SAN, in a case aimed at halting the bar election set for July 2026.
In case number 1/221/2026, the claimants, who are members of the NBA, have implored the court to suspend all actions related to the execution of the election until the resolution of the case.
The claimants in this case include Ibrahim Lawal, Esq, Raymond Oki, Esq, Omotan Olusola Ogunmodede, Esq, and Chief Gabriel Ojo Adekunle Ijalana, Esq. The Incorporated Trustees of the NBA, NBA President Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, the Body of Benchers, the Attorney General of the Federation (in his role as Chairman, General Council of the Bar), Aham Ejelam, SAN, Ibrahim Aliyu Nasarawa, Esq, Muhamad M. Nuhu, Esq, Uju Okafor, Esq, and Ume Maduka, Esq, serve as the 1st to 9th defendants, respectively.
In a temporary order dated March 4, 2026, Justice Opayinka granted the requests made in an exparte motion presented by the applicants.
The judge instructed: “The 5th to 9th defendants/respondents are hereby prohibited by themselves, their agents, privies, or assigns from presenting or declaring themselves as the chairman, secretary, or members of the Electoral Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association (ECNBA) or from engaging in, undertaking, or participating in any actions, steps, or processes in furtherance of the conduct of the 2026 National Officers’ Election of the Nigerian Bar Association, pending the hearing and resolution of the motion on notice for Interlocutory Injunction dated February 19, 2026.
“The 2nd defendant (NBA President) is prohibited from taking any actions regarding the formation and composition of the Electoral Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association, or from participating in, overseeing, influencing, or otherwise intervening in any capacity with the conduct of the 2026 NBA National Officers’ Election, until the hearing and resolution of the motion on notice for Interlocutory Injunction.”
This case remains active before the court, which, following the ex-parte order, has postponed the matter to March 12, 2026, for the hearing of the motion for interlocutory injunction.
Nonetheless, in a new development in the case, attorneys, under the Nigerian Law Society, NLS, and the Association of Legislative Drafting and Advocacy Practitioners, ALDRAP, through their attorney, Adetoun S. Akwarandu, have requested Justice Opayinka to compel certain individuals to “testify against the NBA President and his media team’s pattern of refusal to adhere to Rule 33 of the Rules of Professional Conduct for Legal Practitioners, 2023.”
Rule 33 of the Rules of Professional Conduct for Legal Practitioners, 2023, prohibits attorneys involved in ongoing or anticipated litigation from making out-of-court statements that could jeopardize or interfere with a fair trial, judgment, or sentence, ensuring the sub-judice principle is upheld.
Akwarandu, in an amicus curiae brief submitted to Justice Opayinka, dated March 17, 2026, identified the individuals to be summoned for testimony as Rasheed Murtala Abdul-Rasheed, SAN, former NBA publicity secretary, Niko El-Farlo, Dr. Clinton Tonye Jaja, and Jimoh Hammed, Esq, Convener of the Advocacy for Bar License Freedom, ABLIF.
Parts of the amicus curiae brief state, “Our client, representing several Nigerian lawyers, both individually and collectively, respectfully requests Your Lordship to invoke Order 41 Rule 16 of the Oyo State High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules, 2022, along with sections 20 and 83(3) of the Evidence Act, 2011, as amended, to issue a subpoena for the listed essential parties.
“Our client has informed us that the testimonies of the aforementioned attorneys are vital to demonstrate that both the President of the NBA and his associates consistently breach the rule concerning sub-judice matters.
“Our client seeks this intervention, considering that if your Honourable Court does not apply the relevant laws and impose necessary penalties and sanctions, the esteem and reputation of your Honourable Court will be diminished indefinitely.
“Our client makes this appeal on behalf of over 2,500 conscientious lawyers, who are members of the Nigerian Law Society, NLS, and the Association of Legislative Drafting and Advocacy Practitioners, ALDRAP.”
In an addendum to the amicus curiae brief, dated April 7, 2026, ALDRAP requested the inclusion of a public statement purportedly made by the NBA President “which is relevant to the resolution of the current lawsuit.”
Referring to the mentioned public statement, ALDRAP indicated that the NBA President had acknowledged nominating both the chairman and secretary of the NBA electoral committee as NBA representatives for positions on the Body of Benchers.
Claiming that this could sway the NBA election in favor of preferred candidates, ALDRAP observed that among more than 200,000 NBA members, individuals not responsible for conducting the election should have been nominated for the roles. The association emphasized that the task of conducting the election necessitates neutrality and impartiality.
ALDRAP further noted that the ongoing lawsuit against the NBA election is seeking a court order for the chairman and secretary of the electoral committee to recuse themselves.
