By Chibuike Nwabuko
ABUJA (PRECISE POST) – Senior lawyer and constitutional advocate, Jibrin Okutepa, SAN, has raised the alarm over what he described as growing partisanship, emotional bias and erosion of objectivity within the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), warning that the association could face “complete destruction” if lawyers fail to uphold the principles of justice and integrity ahead of its 2026 national elections.
Okutepa made the remarks Friday on his X handle @sanjsokutepa while reflecting on the emergency National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the NBA held on Thursday, July 16, 2026, convened by the association’s President to deliberate on the forthcoming NBA elections scheduled for July 18.
According to him, about 256 lawyers attended the meeting, whose sole agenda was the conduct of the 2026 elections.
The senior advocate said the deliberations were characterised by intense emotions and partisan interests rather than objective consideration of the issues before the association.
He observed that many contributions at the meeting were driven more by sentiments than by reason, arguing that the atmosphere appeared predetermined to endorse the conduct of the elections without adequately addressing concerns affecting the credibility of the process.
“The worst peace is better than the best war,” Okutepa said, lamenting what he described as a lack of maturity, candour and objectivity expected from members of the legal profession.
He warned that the NBA was standing at a critical crossroads where its credibility, unity and moral authority were under serious threat.
According to him, the association’s greatest strength has always been the confidence of its members, the integrity of its electoral processes and the moral authority of its leadership, stressing that those values must never be compromised.
Okutepa maintained that if NBA leaders allowed self-interest and partisan considerations to influence the electoral process, the association could suffer lasting institutional damage.
He declared that institutions are weakened not only by wrongful acts but also by the silence of those entrusted with their leadership, adding that he would continue to speak out despite intimidation or persecution.
The senior lawyer reaffirmed his support for what he described as free, fair and credible elections, insisting that the NBA must remain an institution where principles prevail over personalities, transparency triumphs over expediency and the collective interest of the legal profession takes precedence over individual ambitions.
He called on lawyers across the country to embrace integrity, service and the enduring values of the legal profession instead of pursuing short-term electoral victories.
Expressing deep concern over the current state of affairs within the NBA, Okutepa said objectivity had virtually disappeared, while truth and justice were increasingly being sacrificed for personal and partisan interests.
He also criticised what he described as growing hostility towards one of the candidates in the election, arguing that the candidate’s only perceived offence was accepting the endorsement of a professional ethnic association to which all aspirants had willingly submitted and agreed to abide by its decision.
According to him, many lawyers who once stood firmly for justice and fairness have abandoned those ideals in the ongoing NBA political contest, choosing instead to ignore perceived wrongs because of personal biases and political affiliations.
He concluded by urging members of the legal profession to reflect deeply on the future of the association, warning that unless lawyers choose integrity over partisanship, the NBA risks losing the credibility and values for which it has long been respected.
His full remarks reads:
Yesterday, the 16th day of July 2026, an emergency NEC meeting of the NIgerian Bar Association, NBA, was called by the President of NBA. The sole agenda was the NBA 2026 elections. About 256 lawyers attended the meeting. I attended the meeting.
The delibrations at the meeting were combative, emotionally laddened with partisan dispositions, and in the processes most contributions were not based on issues but on emotions, which becloud the visions of most of those who made contributions to say that NBA should proceed to hold elections on the 18th of July 2026.
Let me say that the worst peace is better than the best war. What struck me and stood out in that meeting was that the meeting as called was emotionally charged and directed to focus at one direction, that did not look at issues affecting NBA, with such maturity of objectivity, candour, honesty and reasonable purposes expected of legal practitioners who ought to be the light of the society.
In my honest and firm view the Nigerian Bar Association stands at a critical juncture. Its strength has always rested on the confidence of its members, the integrity of its processes, and the moral authority of its leadership. Those foundations must never be taken for granted. If our leaders fail to speak with objectivity, fairness, and courage, and instead allow self-interest and partisanship to shape NBA elections, the Association risks suffering damage from which recovery may be exceedingly difficult. Institutions are weakened not only by wrongful acts, but also by the silence of those entrusted with their stewardship. I choose to speak out even in the face of intimidation and persecution. I stand with those who demand free, fair and credible elections in NBA.
The NBA must remain an institution where principle prevails over personalities, where transparency triumphs over expediency, and where the collective interest of the legal profession is placed above individual ambitions. This is the moment for thoughtful reflection, principled leadership, and an unwavering commitment to preserving the credibility, unity, and independence of our Association.The future of the NBA depends on the choices we make today.
Let us choose integrity over partisanship, service over self-interest, and the enduring values of the legal profession over fleeting electoral victories. If we fail as lawyers to do what is right and avoid the current selfishness in NBA, NBA in my view may be destroyed completely. What I see people write and say out of self-serving interests make me weep for NBA. Objectivity is gone. NBA is no more what we know it for. Truth is far from us. Hatred based on self serving partisan analysis has become the stock in trade in the profession.
Many people who I thought always stand for justice and truth have betrayed truth and justice in discussing NBA politics. People see wrongs but they overlooked it because of their hatred for a candidate whose offence is that he was adopted by his professional ethnic association that all the candidates submitted themselves to and to be bound by their decision. Some of the Nigerian lawyers now hate by connections. Sad I must say.
