Nigerian lawyers want Lesotho Law Society to conduct NBA national officers’ election

Following a lawsuit that is threatening the forthcoming 2026 National Officers’ Election of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, a group of Nigerian lawyers, under the aegis of Nigerian Law Society, NLS, has proposed that the Law Society of Lesotho should conduct the poll.

The Nigerian Law Society made the proposal in a letter dated March 6, 2026, signed by its Executive Director, Dr. Tonye Clinton Jaja, and addressed to NBA President, Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, and Jibrin Samuel Okupeta, SAN, lead counsel to a group of NBA members who have gone to court to stop the election.

The suit stemmed from concerns over the impartiality of the NBA President and members of the electoral committee in the conduct of the election.

At the moment, plans for the election are on hold as an Oyo State High Court had issued an interim order restraining the electoral committee and the NBA President from proceeding with the exercise.

The Nigerian Law Society, in the letter to the NBA President and the plaintiffs, proposed an out-of-court settlement arrangement whereby the Law Society of Lesotho would conduct the election, as an independent, neutral umpire.

Parts of the letter, seen by DAILY POST on Friday, read: “The President of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, which is the umbrella association of all litigation lawyers in Nigeria (registered under the Legal Practitioners Act, 1962) has been sued at one of the High Courts of Nigeria.

“The reason is because there is an alleged doubt about his impartiality in the forthcoming elections for national officers of the said NBA which is due to hold by July 2026.

“We, the Nigerian Law Society, NLS, would like to use this opportunity to propose an intervention for an out-of-court settlement alternative whereby the Law Society of Lesotho is appointed to act as external, independent and neutral umpire during the said NBA elections.”

The NLS urged the NBA and the plaintiffs to confirm acceptance of the proposal, for an out-of-court settlement agreement to be drafted and signed by the parties involved.

The NLS noted that a prompt and positive response would resolve the issue “in the best interests of the entire Nigerian legal profession which comprises both litigation and non-litigation Nigerian lawyers”.

The election, where the NBA President and other national officers are to be elected, is scheduled for July 2026.

But a suit numbered 1/221/2026 is threatening the election as the plaintiffs, who are members of the NBA, have asked an Oyo State High Court to stop the exercise.

The plaintiffs in the suit are 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 capacity 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, are the 1st to 9th defendants, in that order.

Already, the plaintiffs have obtained a court order stopping further action on the election, pending the determination of the suit.

In an exparte order dated March 4, 2026, Justice G. A. Opayinka granted the reliefs sought in an exparte motion moved by the applicants

The judge ordered: “The 5th to 9th defendants/respondents are hereby restrained by themselves, their agents, privies or assigns from parading or holding themselves out as the chairman, secretary or members of the Electoral Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association (ECNBA) or from performing, undertaking or participating in any acts, step or process whatsoever in furtherance of the conduct of the 2026 National Officers’ Election of the Nigerian Bar Association, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice for Interlocutory Injunction dated 19th February, 2026.

“The 2nd defendant (NBA President) is restrained from taking any steps whatsoever towards the constitution and composition of the Electoral Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association, or from participating in, supervising, influencing or otherwise interfering in any manner whatsoever with the conduct of the said 2026 NBA National Officers’ Election, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice for Interlocutory Injunction.”

The suit was adjourned to March 12, 2026, for hearing of the motion for Interlocutory Injunction.

Nigerian lawyers want Lesotho Law Society to conduct NBA national officers’ election