The President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, has declared that the NBA will resist any attempt to undermine the independence of the Bar or interfere with the Association’s internal affairs.
Osigwe made the declaration at the Eastern Bar Forum Quarterly Meeting held in Owerri, Imo State, where he addressed recent developments surrounding the forthcoming NBA National Officers’ Election, including alleged external interference, court actions relating to the election, and the debate over the proposed use of National Identification Number for voter authentication.
The NBA President said his administration remains committed to ensuring that the election is conducted in a free, fair, transparent and credible manner.
He insisted that the NBA must remain autonomous and self-regulating, stressing that no institution or government official has the legal authority to dictate how the Association conducts its internal affairs.
“It can never be under my watch that anybody attempts to take over the Bar,” Osigwe said. “No institution, and no government official, has the legal authority to dictate how the Nigerian Bar Association conducts its internal affairs.”
Referring to the recent statement by the Attorney-General of the Federation on the NBA election dispute, Osigwe said his administration would continue to defend the constitutional independence of the Bar.
He also reacted to the communiqué issued by the Body of Attorneys-General, saying while he welcomed calls for peace and dialogue, such engagement must not be mistaken for statutory authority over the NBA.
According to him, the affairs of the Association are governed by law and the NBA Constitution.
Osigwe said Section 12(4) of the Legal Practitioners Act vests power to make rules of professional conduct in the General Council of the Bar, but does not give the GCB authority to administer the NBA or conduct its elections.
He maintained that the power to conduct NBA elections resides in the Electoral Committee of the NBA and the National Executive Council under the NBA Constitution.
The NBA President said anyone seeking to lead the Association must earn the mandate of lawyers through democratic engagement.
He acknowledged that election periods are usually competitive, but warned that the integrity of the Bar must not be sacrificed for personal ambition.
“We will ensure a free, fair and transparent electoral process. The will of lawyers must prevail,” he said.
Osigwe also cautioned against the use of ex parte orders from remote jurisdictions to disrupt the election process, urging members of the judiciary not to allow the courts to be used to undermine the NBA’s internal democracy.
On the proposal to make NIN compulsory for voting, Osigwe said although the ECNBA has the mandate to conduct the elections, a technical review showed that mandatory NIN could expose the process to external control through the National Identity Management Commission.
He said lawyers are already securely identified through their Supreme Court enrolment numbers and one-time password verification.
According to him, if the Bar decides in future to adopt NIN for its elections, such a decision must come through constitutional amendment by members and not by administrative directive.
The NBA President disclosed that he would hand over the leadership of the Association to a duly elected National Executive Committee on August 28, 2026.
He thanked the Eastern Bar Forum for its support over the last two years, describing it as a privilege to serve the NBA and to represent the Forum as a son.
Osigwe also congratulated the Acting Chief Judge of Imo State, Justice Ijeoma Agugua, on her reappointment by the National Judicial Council, and urged lawyers to continue to respect judicial institutions and uphold the rule of law.
He commended the Eastern Bar Forum for hosting the quarterly meeting and called on members of the Bar to remain united in defending the independence, autonomy and constitutional order of the NBA.
