Intrigues as lawyers elect new executives
Members of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) are set to elect new national executive officers to pilot the affairs for the union for next two years.
The election has not been without its fair share of controversies, intrigues and drama - from non-verification of the voting members of the association, and the disqualification of candidates to that over the ICT partner for the election.
The election, particularly for the position of president which has been among the most keenly contested in recent memory, was postponed from July 27 and 28 to 30 and 31 for verifications.
However, actual voting is expected to hold on August 2 and 3, while results will be announced on August 4. This makes it the first time the election would not hold in July as provided in Article 2.3(a) of the Second Schedule to the NBA Constitution, 2015.
The list of candidates and positions on the NBA website showed that the presidency, which was zoned to the Eastern Zone has the following candidates: Arthur Obi-Okafor (SAN), Usoro Paul Usoro (SAN) and Professor Ernest Ojukwu (SAN).
For First Vice President, is Stanley Chidozie; for Second Vice President, Benedict Nwosa Oji, Foluke Dada, John Aikpokpo-Martins, Habeeb Adetunji, and Oludare Akande; and for Third Vice President are Abimbola Sunday, Odo Okechukwu, and Theophilus Igba.
Others are: for General Secretary Musa Ya’u, Mas’ud Mobolaji Alabelewe, Ojibara Idris, Rafiu Balogun Oyeyemi and Jonathan Taidi.
Other positions are: Treasurer: Obianuju Okafor, Mercy Agada, Olagbegi Banke; and Financial Secretary Elias Anosike and Dorcas Ngwu, Obasi Nnennaya.
Other positions for the contest are: assistant secretary, second assistant secretary, assistant financial secretary, publicity secretary, assistant publicity secretary, welfare officer and legal adviser.
There was an initial hiccup with the verification of the voters list after only 12,000 lawyers out of 36,000 expected on the list were verified. However, after adjustments by the ICT verification partner, Crenet Techlabs, a total of 31,688 voters in 125 branches of the country were verified.
The latest list, being 86 percent of the NBA voting population, is an improvement on the 35 percent of the voters’ list earlier verified. However, there are over 100,000 practicing lawyers in the country.
Some of the requirements for the verification include: Call to Bar certificate (original or photocopy); means of identification (i.e international passport, drivers’ licence or National Identity card); proof of payment of Bar Practice fees; proof of payment of branch dues; evidence of change of name (if any); and proof of payment of non-refundable administrative fee of N2,000 into the association’s account.
Also, sources told Daily Trust that the appointment of Chams Plc, an ICT company believed to be linked with one of the presidential candidates, Paul Usoro, caused an uproar that threatened the integrity of the electoral process.
To calm frayed nerves, the Electoral Committee of the NBA (ECNBA) led by Prof. Auwalu Yadudu approved the participation of other ICT firms, particularly those of all the candidates for the e-voting platform so as to “conduct the pre-election and postelection verification respectively.”
Perhaps, the disqualification of former chairman, Abuja branch and the General Secretary of the NBA, Mazi Afam Osigwe, is viewed as the sorest point of the election.
Many lawyers including a former president of the association, Austin Alegeh (SAN), have criticized the action saying it is against the principle of fairness in an election.
But the ECNBA chairman, Prof Yadudu, said the disqualification is based on the NBA constitutional provisional. He said the electoral body “holds no ill-will or favour to any of the candidates.”
Osigwe has since gone to court to challenge that decision. It is feared the suit may have some impact in the conduct and tenure of the incoming executive.
Meanwhile, the three remaining presidential candidates have outlined their vision for the NBA. Here are excerpts: and
Arthur Obi-Okafor (SAN)
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He is running on the mantra of #ALLINCLUSIVEBAR to promote an all inclusive, responsive and transparent administration in the Bar, and build sense of ownership for all classes of lawyers. Okafor promises to deepen Bar and Bench symbiosis, promote globalization and specialization, build capacity of young lawyers and create employment opportunities for them.
Usoro Paul Usoro (SAN)
His campaign is focused on three thematic areas: Institutional Development and Regulatory Reforms, Human Capital Development and Welfare Programme, and Promotion of the Rule of Law and Good Governance in Nigeria.
He promises to ensure reforms in the national electoral system, branch administration, and Nigerian Law School (NLS) externship programme. He also promises to run an inclusive Bar with welfare programmes for lawyers, and the promotion of the rule of law and good governance.
Prof. Ernest Ojukwu (SAN)
His campaign is anchored on ‘Setting a New Bar’. He plans to achieve the goal by creating welfare services, ethics and discipline, governance, rule of law, access to justice and protection of human rights, among others.
He promises young lawyers enforcement of minimum wage in private law firms through law and Rules of Professional Conduct. He intends to promote international opportunities for young lawyers and the welfare of disabled lawyers among others.
As Nigerians await the result of the NBA elections, it is hoped that the new executive will perform better than their predecessors led by Abubakar Balarabe Mahmoud (SAN)’s Brave New Bar in chart the right course for the entrenchment of rule of law and democracy in Nigeria.