Chief Josiah Offor Ugwuka has written to the President of the Nigerian Bar Association, petitioning against the Chairman of the NBA Warri Branch, Mr. F. C. Okala, Esq., over a judgment debt arising from a landlord-and-tenant dispute determined by the Magistrates’ Court of Delta State.
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In the petition titled, “Petition Against Mr. F. C. Okala, Esq., Chairman, NBA Warri Branch, For Failure To Satisfy A Judgment Debt And The Resulting Conduct,” Ugwuka asked the NBA leadership to examine whether the circumstances surrounding the judgment and its enforcement raise any professional or ethical concerns warranting investigation.
According to the petitioner, Okala had occupied premises belonging to him as a tenant and became indebted in respect of accumulated rent. He said several opportunities were given to the NBA Chairman to settle the outstanding rent and regularise the tenancy before he eventually approached the court.
The dispute was instituted as Suit No. MW/37/2020: Chief Josiah Offor Ugwuka v. F. C. Okala before the Magistrates’ Court in Warri.
The court, presided over by Chief Magistrate E.H. Diejomaoh (Mrs.), delivered judgment on February 22, 2023.
The Enrolment of Judgment accompanying the petition shows that Ugwuka sought possession of the office premises, ₦440,000 representing rent arrears for 40 months from August 2018 to May 2020, mesne profits of ₦11,000 monthly from June 2020 until possession was delivered, and ₦200,000 as costs.
The court entered judgment in favour of Ugwuka on the first three reliefs but refused the claim for ₦200,000 costs.
The petition similarly states that the court ordered Okala to vacate the premises and pay the judgment debt arising from the accumulated rent, together with mesne profits.
Rather than immediately satisfying the judgment, according to the petition, Okala appealed to the High Court of Delta State, Warri, and sought a stay of execution.
That application for stay of execution was dismissed on March 27, 2026.
Okala subsequently filed a Motion for Instalmental Payment dated March 30, 2026, before the Chief Magistrate who delivered the original judgment. The petition states that the application remained pending.
Ugwuka told the NBA President that he recognised that enforcement of a judgment ordinarily remains a matter for the courts and that the pending instalmental-payment application must be determined judicially.
He nevertheless argued that the matter deserved the attention of the NBA because Okala is both a legal practitioner and the serving Chairman of its Warri Branch.
“I am not asking the NBA to determine the merits of the pending application before the Magistrates’ Court, nor am I asking the Association to interfere with the judicial process,” the petition states.
“Rather, I respectfully ask that the NBA, as the professional body representing Nigerian lawyers, take note of the circumstances and consider whether the conduct complained of raises any professional or ethical concerns requiring appropriate investigation.”
Ugwuka maintained that the issue went beyond the monetary value of the judgment and concerned the example expected from a person occupying leadership office in the legal profession.
He argued that the NBA is founded on principles including the rule of law, professional responsibility, integrity and respect for the administration of justice.
“In my respectful view, it does not serve the good image of the Association when a person occupying the office of Chairman of the NBA Warri Branch remains indebted pursuant to a judgment of a competent court, particularly where an application for stay of execution has already been dismissed,” he stated.
The petitioner said the concern was “not merely the amount involved,” but the principle and the example such circumstances could present to members of the public and younger lawyers.
Ugwuka consequently asked the NBA President to take cognisance of the petition and the circumstances surrounding the judgment; cause the matter to be reviewed or investigated to determine whether any professional or ethical issue arises; invite Okala to respond; and take any appropriate administrative or professional steps if a breach of professional obligations is eventually established.
He also requested that the Association encourage Okala to take appropriate steps towards satisfying the judgment debt, subject to the proceedings still pending before the competent court.
The petitioner said he attached Certified True Copies of the February 22, 2023 judgment and Enrolment of Judgment, the March 27, 2026 High Court ruling dismissing the stay application, the March 30, 2026 Motion for Instalmental Payment and other relevant court documents to enable the NBA verify his claims.
However, an additional document accompanying the materials shows that a part payment has since been made towards the judgment debt.
A FirstBank transaction receipt dated October 15, 2026 shows a successful transfer of ₦650,000 from Francis C. Okala & Co Law Firm to Offor Josiah, with the narration “Part Judgement Debt.”
The receipt therefore indicates that ₦650,000 had been paid as part of the judgment debt by October 15, 2026.
The payment also does not, by itself, establish that the entire judgment obligation has been discharged, particularly because the underlying judgment included ₦440,000 in rent arrears as well as continuing mesne profits of ₦20,000 per month from June 2020 until possession was delivered.
Ugwuka, in concluding his petition, stressed that he was not seeking to interfere with the pending court proceedings or pre-empt the Magistrate’s decision on the application for instalmental payment.
He said his concern was to bring the circumstances to the attention of the NBA leadership and ask it to consider whether any professional issue arose from them.
“I respectfully emphasise that this petition is made in good faith and is intended to draw the attention of the leadership of the Nigerian Bar Association to circumstances which, in my respectful view, warrant appropriate attention, particularly having regard to the office presently occupied by the Respondent,” he stated.
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