By Chibuike Nwabuko
ABUJA (PRECISE POST) – Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Jibrin Samuel Okutepa, has taken the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to the cleaners following the conclusion of its presidential election, declaring that he has lost faith in the association’s credibility and accusing its leadership of conducting what he described as a “sham coronation.”
In a strongly worded statement posted on his X handle on Sunday, Okutepa alleged that the NBA had abandoned the values of credibility, objectivity, honesty and integrity, claiming the association was now dominated by lawyers who ignored obvious wrongdoing.
“I have lost faith in the Nigerian Bar Association as a professional association of lawyers,” he wrote, arguing that the conduct of the election had eroded confidence in the Bar’s internal democratic processes.
The senior lawyer expressed disappointment that many legal practitioners who regularly criticise government institutions for violating due process allegedly remained silent over what he described as irregularities in the NBA election.
According to him, lawyers who had been vocal in condemning flaws in public elections failed to apply the same standards to the Bar’s electoral process.
Okutepa questioned the composition and independence of the Electoral Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association (ECNBA), alleging that the body lacked impartiality and was manipulated to produce a predetermined outcome.
He further claimed that the electoral process departed from agreed procedures and was instead tailored to favour a preferred candidate.
“The ECNBA was teleguided to produce a pre-determined outcome,” he alleged, insisting that the credibility of any election depends on the integrity of the entire process leading to the declaration of results.
The SAN also argued that more lawyers abstained from voting than those who reportedly participated in the election, contending that the process failed to inspire confidence among members of the association.
He accused influential figures within the NBA of orchestrating the emergence of the association’s new leadership, describing the outcome as a “coronation” rather than a democratic election.
Okutepa also criticised what he described as double standards among some senior lawyers, noting that individuals who had previously condemned technical glitches in the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) election portal were now defending alleged problems experienced on the NBA’s electronic voting platform.
According to him, the election exposed what he called the hypocrisy of some members of the legal profession who, he said, demand accountability from public institutions while allegedly overlooking perceived shortcomings within their own association.
He maintained that the events surrounding the NBA election had diminished his confidence in the association and warned that the legal profession could suffer long-term consequences if concerns about transparency and due process were not addressed.
In a different development, a renowned human rights advocate and legal scholar, Professor Joy Ngozi Ezeilo, has congratulated Mrs. Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya, SAN, on her emergence as the 33rd President-Elect of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), describing her victory as a historic milestone for the legal profession and women in leadership.
In a congratulatory message shared on her social media platforms following the conclusion of the NBA presidential election on Sunday, Ezeilo said Badejo-Okusanya’s emergence represents a defining moment for the association and signals a new era of possibilities for lawyers across the country.
She noted that the election of the senior advocate to lead Africa’s largest Bar Association marks a significant step forward in advancing women’s participation in leadership within the legal profession.
“This is a historic and inspiring moment for the legal profession,” Ezeilo stated.
“Your election marks a significant step forward for women in leadership and ushers in a new season of possibility for the NBA.”
The former United Nations Special Rapporteur on Trafficking in Persons said Badejo-Okusanya’s victory was a remarkable achievement worthy of celebration, expressing confidence in her capacity to provide visionary and transformational leadership for the association.
According to Ezeilo, members of the legal profession now look forward to an administration that will strengthen the Nigerian Bar Association and advance the interests of lawyers nationwide.
She prayed for divine wisdom, strength and guidance for the President-Elect as she prepares to assume office.
“We celebrate this remarkable achievement and look forward to the transformational, visionary leadership you will bring to the Association,” she said.
Ezeilo concluded by wishing Badejo-Okusanya a successful tenure and once again congratulating her on what she described as a landmark victory for the NBA and women in the legal profession.
