A legal enthusiast, Bayonle Beyioku, has defended the intervention of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, in the controversy surrounding the forthcoming Nigerian Bar Association National Officers’ Election.
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In a statement titled “Lead Your Sheep Not Into Perdition, Dear Osigwe,” Beyioku faulted the position of the NBA President, Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, over his rejection of the AGF’s intervention, insisting that the directives issued after the mediation process are binding on all stakeholders in the election.
The statement comes amid ongoing disputes over the NBA election scheduled for July 18, 2026.
According to Beyioku, the AGF convened a meeting of past NBA presidents and other stakeholders on June 11, 2026, to prevent the disagreements over the electoral process from degenerating into a major institutional crisis.
He said the meeting led to the constitution of a three-member committee comprising Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN; Prince Lanke Odogiyan; and Paul Usoro, SAN, to investigate the causes of the crisis and recommend solutions.
Beyioku stated that the committee invited memoranda from interested parties, including the three presidential candidates, the Chairman of the Electoral Committee of the NBA, the NBA President and other stakeholders.
He claimed that apart from the NBA President and the Mid-West Bar Forum, all those invited submitted memoranda and appeared before the committee either physically or virtually.
According to him, the committee submitted its majority report to the AGF on June 26, while a minority report was submitted on July 1.
He said the AGF subsequently issued directives on July 6 based on the committee’s recommendations.
Beyioku criticised the NBA leadership’s rejection of the directives, particularly Osigwe’s public position that the AGF lacked authority to interfere in the internal affairs of the Association.
He also referred to Osigwe’s appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today on July 8, where the NBA President questioned the AGF’s powers in relation to the election.
Beyioku argued that the AGF occupies a constitutionally recognised office as the Chief Law Officer of the Federation and Chairman of the General Council of the Bar.
He maintained that Fagbemi acted within his official capacity when he convened the stakeholders’ meeting, received the committee’s report and issued directives aimed at resolving the election dispute.
He further argued that NBA leaders and stakeholders who participated in the June 11 meeting could not turn around to challenge the AGF’s authority after submitting to the process.
According to him, their participation amounted to acceptance of the mediation process and its outcome.
Beyioku also maintained that the AGF effectively acted as mediator during the stakeholders’ engagement and that parties who voluntarily submitted to the process are bound by the result.
Rejecting the argument that the NBA is merely a non-governmental organisation beyond governmental oversight, he said the Association is an incorporated trustee established under Nigerian law and performs statutory responsibilities that make its affairs matters of public interest.
He also raised concerns about the credibility of the NBA electoral process, citing alleged findings of the committee on shortcomings in previous and proposed elections.
He referred to concerns reportedly expressed by some presidential candidates over the integrity of the process and said those issues should not be dismissed.
Beyioku also criticised the decision of the NBA President to invite international and local observers, including the European Union, the United States Embassy, the British High Commission, Yiaga Africa and the Transition Monitoring Group, to observe the July 18 election.
He questioned whether similar professional bodies, including the International Bar Association, invite foreign missions and election monitoring groups to observe their internal elections.
He urged the NBA leadership to treat the AGF’s recommendations as an opportunity to reform the Association’s electoral system and restore confidence in the process.
According to him, proceeding with the election without addressing the concerns identified by the committee could further undermine the credibility of the Bar.
Beyioku insisted that the AGF’s directives remain binding on the NBA leadership, the ECNBA, candidates, voters, service providers and all participants in the electoral process.
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