It was allegation and counter allegation by two factions of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Ikorodu Branch on whether the Electoral Committee set up by the Levi Adikwaone’s administration was just in disqualifying some members of the branch from contesting in their branch election.
While this was going on, a letter was issued by the General Secretary of the NBA Mr. Isiaka Olagunju directing the Ikorodu Branch to desist from holding it’s scheduled election pending the determination of the crisis. The General Secretary noted that his intervention followed a petition by some members of the branch that they were unjustly disqualified from contesting the election.
Subsequently, a Branch Electoral Monitoring Committee (BEMC) an emergency electoral monitoring committee was set up by the NBA National to conduct election in branches where there are electoral crisis. NBA Ikorodu was enlisted as one of such branches.
Challenging the propriety of the General Secretary of the NBA to exercise authority over a branch’s constituted electoral committee, one of the factions of the NBA branch concluded arrangement to ignore the directive of the General Secretary to proceed with its branch election.
The two factional NBA branch held parallel election which produced two Chairmen in Ikorodu Branch.
In a letter from the same General Secretary, the NBA factions were warned to await the schedule of the newly constituted BEMC to conduct the Ikorodu Branch election.
However, in an apparent defiance to the directive of the General Secretary, Mr. Bayo Akinlade the chairman elect of one of the factions issued a notice to members of the bar wherein he addressed himself as the Chairman of Ikorodu Branch.
Shortly after the notice was issued Mr. Isiaka Olagunju issued a stern warning to Mr. Bayo Akinlade directing him to desist from parading himself as the substantive Chairman of the branch or face disciplinary action for misconduct.
The letter captioned: Status Of Nba Ikorodu Branch Election: Stop Parading Yourself As Chairman NBA Ikorodu Branch addressed to Mr. Akinlade read in part:
“Kindly recall that due to the petitions received from the aggrieved members of NBA Ikorodu Branch about the process for the conduct of elections by the NBA Ikorodu Branch Electoral Committee appointed by the immediate Past Branch Chairman, Mr. Levi Adikwone.”
“The NBA’s appointed the Branch Electoral Monitoring Committee (BEMC) to investigate the complaints and make appropriate recommendations to the leadership of the NBA.”
“You are aware that in its recommendations the BEMC indicted some members of the Ikorodu Branch Electoral Committee set up by the past chairman of the Branch and advised that the Branch Electoral Committee be dissolved. Accordingly, the Electoral was dissolved. In fact, the Chairman of the committee honourably resigned his membership. Hence, the Committee was dissolved.”
“You are also aware that on the 30th Day of June 2018, a three (3) member Caretaker Committee led by Prince Bisi Ademuwagun was appointed to conduct fresh elections in Ikorodu Branch on or before the 23rd of July 2018 .”
“It is therefore very disheartening that you have deliberately refused and/or neglected to abide by this directive by continuing to address yourself as the Chairman of NBA Ikorodu Branch.”
“I hereby reiterate by that there IS NO ELECTED CHAIRMAN of NBA Ikorodu Branch until conduct of fresh election by the Caretaker Committee led by Prince Bisi Ademuwagun.”
“You are strongly advised to adhere strictly to this directive as any other action or statement from you which portrays you as the elected chairman of NBA Ikorodu Branch shall be treated as a misconduct from now on.”
Whether or not Mr. Akinlade will adhere to the directives of the General Secretary would be seen in a couple of days.
Crisis everywhere in NBA!
