STATEMENT OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE NIGERIAN BAR ASSOCIATION ON THE RESIGNATION OF MEMBERS OF THE NBA NATIONAL ELECTION APPEALS COMMITTEE

Dear Colleagues,

1. You would recall that elections into the National Offices of the Nigerian Bar Association (“NBA”) held on Saturday, 16 July, 2022 after which the Electoral
   Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association (“ECNBA”) returned winners into the
   various national offices.
2. Also, in line with the provisions of Section 14(1)(L) of the NBA Constitution 2015
   (as amended in 2021), we had constituted a National Elections Appeal-Committee
   (the “Appeals Committee”) which had the mandate of receiving and resolving
   complaints and disputes arising from the elections.
3. It bears stating that at the time of constitution of membership of the Appeals
   Committee, the political inclination of its members to any of the aspirants for the
   National Offices was not known to the leadership of the NBA. Indeed, the
   announcement of members of the Appeals Committee on 21 May 2022 predated
   the release of the list of qualified candidates by the ECNBA on 27 May 2022, as well
   as the official flag-off of campaigns by the ECNBA.
4. Since after the election, however, it has come to the knowledge of the leadership of
   the NBA that there have been some protest against the membership of the Appeals
   Committee bordering on allegations of possible partiality. Indeed, at least, one of
   the candidates at the election has petitioned the office of the President of the NBA
   suggesting that some members of the Appeals Committee are, or may be,
   compromised having allegedly supported the campaigns of some candidates who
   were returned at the election, and whose victory could be the subject of an electoral
   challenge.
5. In reaction to the above allegation, I received a letter dated 29 July 2022 and signed
   by all the members of the Appeals Committee, communicating their resignation of
   membership of the Appeals Committee on moral grounds and in order to pave the
   way for the constitution of a new Committee that would enjoy the confidence of
   any petitioners.
6. One of the promises that I made upon assumption of office, was to ensure a free,
   fair and transparent electoral process; one that inspires confidence in both
   winners and losers. It goes without saying that the electoral process which opens
   with the nomination of candidates extends beyond the actual casting of ballot, to
   post-election issues such as determination of petitions arising from the election. Ensuring the impartiality of members of the Appeals Committee therefore cannot
   be overemphasized.
7. Against the backdrop of the allegation of bias, or likelihood of bias against members
   of the Appeals Committee by some interested parties, and the consequential
   resignation of the entire members of the Appeals Committee, the leadership of the
   NBA, wishes to announce as follows:
   A. A new Appeals Committee is hereby set up with the following members:
   Kanu Agabi, SAN, CON – Chairman
   Olisa Agbakoba, SAN, OFR – Member
   Cecilia Madueke – Secretary
   B. The new Appeals Committee will have Mr. Rotimi Ogunyemi as its Resident
   Expert on IT and Mr. Olumide Babalola as Counsel.
   C. Considering the lapse of the period of 10 days (from the date of
   announcement of the election results) allowed by the defunct Appeals
   Committee for the filing of election petitions, the new Appeals Committee,
   shall indicate the time within which petitions may be filed following this
   announcement.
   D. The new Appeals Committee is empowered to direct, at the request of a
   petitioner, or in its discretion, an independent audit of the July 2022
   Elections, if the justice of the matter requires it, or if it would be necessary
   to further entrench confidence in the process.
8. On behalf of the National Officers of the NBA, let me register my unalloyed gratitude
   to members of the Mrs. ‘Funmi Roberts-led Committee for accepting the NBA’s
   invitation to serve. The circumstances leading to their resignation is no doubt, a
   most unfortunate one yet, the moral high ground that they have taken will forever
   be remembered and appreciated.

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