A group of Nigerian lawyers has proposed that the Law Society of Lesotho should oversee the Nigerian Bar Association’s 2026 national officers’ election, as a lawsuit challenging the impartiality of the electoral process continues to threaten the scheduled poll.
The Nigerian Law Society made the suggestion in a letter dated March 6, 2026, addressed to NBA President Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, and Jibrin Samuel Okupeta, SAN, who is representing NBA members seeking to halt the election through the courts.
The lawsuit centers on allegations that the NBA President and the electoral committee cannot conduct the election impartially.
An Oyo State High Court has already issued an interim order preventing the electoral committee and the NBA President from moving forward with the election, effectively placing the process on hold.
In its letter, the Nigerian Law Society, through its Executive Director Dr. Tonye Clinton Jaja, proposed an out-of-court settlement where the Law Society of Lesotho would serve as an external, independent and neutral body to conduct the election.
“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 letter read.
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The Nigerian Law Society called on both the NBA leadership and the plaintiffs to accept the proposal so that an out-of-court settlement agreement could be drafted and signed, saying a quick resolution would serve “the best interests of the entire Nigerian legal profession which comprises both litigation and non-litigation Nigerian lawyers.”
The election, originally scheduled for July 2026, is now uncertain due to suit number 1/221/2026 filed at the Oyo State High Court.
The plaintiffs are Ibrahim Lawal, Esq, Raymond Oki, Esq, Omotan Olusola Ogunmodede, Esq, and Chief Gabriel Ojo Adekunle Ijalana, Esq.
Named as defendants are the Incorporated Trustees of the NBA, NBA President Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, the Body of Benchers, the Attorney General of the Federation (as Chairman of the General Council of the Bar), Aham Ejelam, SAN, Ibrahim Aliyu Nasarawa, Esq, Muhamad M. Nuhu, Esq, Uju Okafor, Esq, and Ume Maduka, Esq.
On March 4, 2026, Justice G. A. Opayinka granted an exparte order in favor of the plaintiffs.
The court also restrained the NBA President from taking any steps toward constituting the electoral committee or interfering in the election process in any way.
The case has been adjourned to March 12, 2026, for hearing of the motion for interlocutory injunction.