The Ohafia Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association, popularly known as “The Warriors Bar,” has formally distanced itself from a recent communique issued by a body styling itself as the “Body of Chairmen of NBA Branches in Abia State,” describing the document as one issued without due consultation and therefore lacking the collective backing of all the lawfully created branches in the state.
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In a Press Statement signed by the Branch Chairman, K. O. K. Ojike, Esq., and the Branch Secretary, Odiba Eke Kalu, Esq., dated 1st May, 2026, the Ohafia Branch made it clear that the communique dated 29th April, 2026 was signed by branch chairmen of only five out of the six lawfully created and existing branches in Abia State, with no mention whatsoever made of the Ohafia Branch in the said document, an omission the branch described as “an anomaly.”
Tracing the historical legitimacy of the branch, the statement recalled that the Ohafia Branch of the NBA was created in the year 2002 under the leadership of Chief O. C. J. Okocha, SAN, then President of the NBA, and has since the date of its creation been participating in every activity of the Bar in Abia State, the Eastern Bar Forum (EBF), and the National body of the NBA.
According to the Branch, “We consider it wrong and unbecoming for the other branches of the Bar in Abia State to meet and issue a communique in the name of the Branches of the NBA in Abia State without inviting us to participate or seek our views and position on the issues raised in the communique.”
The Branch was unequivocal in its repudiation of the document, declaring: “To the extent that we were neither consulted nor invited before the decisions contained in the communique, we disassociate ourselves from the content of the said Communique.”
The Press Statement also went to considerable lengths to defend the Honourable Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice of Abia State, Mr. Ikechukwu Uwanna, SAN, against allegations contained in the disowned communique. The Branch maintained that contrary to the claim that the AGF refused to meet with the Branch Chairmen, the available exchanges showed otherwise.
According to the Branch, the Attorney General “courteously indicated his inability to attend a physical meeting on the proposed dates, went ahead to propose a virtual meeting and further advised that in view of the urgency of the matter and its direct connection to the Judiciary cum labour issues, the Chairmen could engage the Honourable Chief Judge and/or the Honourable Commissioner for Labour.”
The Branch lamented that “there is no indication that any effort was made to explore or exhaust any of the aforementioned options; rather, the very next development brought to our attention was the issuance of a purported communique.”
Notwithstanding its rejection of the communique, the Ohafia Branch took a clear position on the substantive issue of the JUSUN strike that has continued to cripple judicial activities in the state. The Branch acknowledged the legitimacy of JUSUN’s demands, recognising “the right of JUSUN to demand for enhanced working conditions, as well as the responsibility of Government in meeting corresponding demands of other sectors.”
It accordingly advocated for “a sincere and honest dialogue between the Abia State Government and JUSUN, to save lawyers especially those in private practice who are now bearing the burden of not being able to earn their daily living due to the prolonged closure of the courts in the state.”
The Branch further appealed to both the government team of negotiators and officials of JUSUN to ensure that the issues in contention are speedily resolved in the overall interest of the State. It commended the conduct of the Attorney General throughout the dispute, asserting that “the Honourable the Attorney General of Abia State, Mr. Ikechukwu Uwanna, SAN, has not done anything or taken steps to frustrate the resolution of the trade dispute.”
Rounding off its position, the Ohafia Branch appealed to the Chief Law Officer of the State “to continue to do all within his lawful powers to ensure an immediate and lasting resolution of the issues at stake.”
NBA Ohafia BranchThe Press Statement, dated at Ohafia on 1st May, 2026, was duly signed by the Branch Chairman, K. O. K. Ojike, Esq., and the Branch Secretary, Odiba Eke Kalu, Esq., bringing to the public domain a fresh dimension to the unfolding controversy surrounding the prolonged JUSUN strike and the unity of purpose — or lack of it — among the various branches of the Nigerian Bar Association in Abia State.
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