The Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, has rejected alleged directive by the Attorney General of the Federation, AGF, and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, describing them as unconstitutional and insisting that the association is not under the control of the Federal Government.
In a statement issued on Monday, NBA President, Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, said only the National Executive Council, NEC, of the association has the constitutional authority to direct the postponement of the 2026 NBA national officers’ election.
The NBA was reacting to a purported report of a sub-committee and comments attributed to the AGF, which allegedly ordered the disbandment of the Electoral Committee of the NBA, ECNBA, the postponement of the election, the appointment of a new election service provider, the constitution of a caretaker committee, the inclusion of the National Identification Number, NIN, in the voting process, and a review of the NBA Constitution to end universal suffrage.
Osigwe said the AGF lacked the constitutional powers to issue such directives, stressing that the NBA is an independent professional body governed by its own constitution and the Legal Practitioners Act.
“The Nigerian Bar Association is an independent body not under the control of the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation,” the statement said.
He argued that Section 10(2) of the Legal Practitioners Act does not empower the Attorney General to interfere in the affairs of the association under the prevailing circumstances.
The NBA also questioned the authenticity of the purported report, noting that it was not issued on the
