The High Court of Justice, Oyo State, sitting in Ibadan, has issued a Notice of Consequences of Disobedience to Order of Court (Form 48) against the President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mazi Afam Josiah Osigwe, SAN, and other parties in an ongoing suit concerning the 2026 NBA elections.
The notice, issued in Suit No. I/221/2026, follows an earlier interim order of the court restraining certain individuals from acting in any capacity connected with the Electoral Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association (ECNBA).
The claimants in the suit, Mr. Ibrahim Lawal, Mr. Raymond Oki, Mr. Omotan Olusola Ogunmodede, and Chief Gabriel Ojo Adekunle Ijalana had approached the court challenging the composition and activities of the ECNBA.
Listed as defendants in the suit are the Incorporated Trustees of the NBA, Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, the Body of Benchers, the Attorney General of the Federation (in his capacity as Chairman of the General Council of the Bar), as well as Aham Ejelam, SAN, Ibrahim Aliyu Nassarawa, Esq., Muhamad M. Nuhu, Esq., Uju Okafor, Esq., and Ume Maduka, Esq.
According to the Form 48 notice dated March 18, 2026, the court reiterated its earlier order restraining the 5th to 9th defendants from parading themselves as Chairman, Secretary, or members of the ECNBA, or from participating in any process relating to the conduct of the 2026 NBA National Officers’ Election pending the determination of a motion on notice.
The court also restrained the 2nd defendant, Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, from taking any steps towards the constitution or composition of the ECNBA or interfering in any manner with the conduct of the forthcoming NBA elections.
The notice warned that failure to comply with the court’s directives would amount to contempt of court, punishable by imprisonment.
“Take notice that unless you obey the directions contained in this order… you will be guilty of contempt of court and will be liable to be committed to prison,” the notice stated.