Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), has announced the resolution of the ongoing crisis within the Section on Public Interest and Development Law (SPIDEL).
Speaking at the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Ilorin, Kwara State, Osigwe revealed that the NBA has dissolved SPIDEL’s caretaker committee and appointed an Electoral Committee to conduct elections during the section’s Annual General Meeting in August 2025, aiming to restore peace and unity.
Osigwe noted that reconciliation talks, ongoing since the last NEC meeting in Enugu, have culminated in a decision to address the internal disputes and pending lawsuits plaguing SPIDEL. “I am pleased to announce that we have reached a decision to resolve the crisis by dissolving the caretaker committee and, in its place, appointing an Electoral Committee to conduct elections for SPIDEL,” he stated. The move, he added, has received assurances from stakeholders that it will lead to the withdrawal of all related lawsuits, fostering stability within the section.
The newly constituted Electoral Committee, formed after consultations with past SPIDEL leaders and stakeholders, comprises:
- Prof. Paul C. Ananaba, SAN – Chairman (Ikeja Branch)
- Kunle Edun, SAN – Member (Warri Branch)
- Ibrahim Aliyu – Member (Nasarawa/Kano)
- Okey Ohagba – Secretary
- Mojirayo Ogunlana – Member (Abuja Branch)
- Saadatu Abdullahi Mohammed – Member (Kano)
- Enome Amatey – Member (Calabar Branch)
Osigwe emphasized that the committee’s mandate is to ensure a transparent and fair electoral process, enabling SPIDEL to elect new leadership and resume its critical role in advancing public interest and development law. The resolution reflects the NBA’s commitment to strengthening its sections and promoting unity among members, he said, urging all SPIDEL stakeholders to support the process for a harmonious outcome.
