*Revalidates Adoption of Akinboro SAN for NBA Presidency Backs State Police, Demands Immediate Action on Oyo Abductions
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Egbe Amofin O’odua, the foremost association of lawyers of Yoruba extraction in Nigeria, has called for the immediate dissolution of the present Electoral Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association (ECNBA) and the constitution of a new electoral committee capable of commanding the confidence of all stakeholders, citing serious concerns regarding the legitimacy, composition, and perceived neutrality of the current committee and the extent to which its constitution complied with the provisions of the NBA Constitution.
The call was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of the association’s 2026 National Conference held at Ojaja Resort, Ile-Ife, Osun State, from Wednesday, June 17, to Friday, June 19, 2026, attended by over 700 lawyers from Ekiti, Kwara, Kogi, Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, and Oyo States, alongside Senior Advocates of Nigeria, Attorneys-General, judicial officers, academics, public office holders, young lawyers, captains of industry, and other distinguished stakeholders.
The conference, themed “Advancing Constitutional Democracy, Accountability and Responsible Governance: The Role of Law,” also called for the integration of the National Identification Number (NIN) into the NBA voting process, revalidated the adoption of Aare Olumuyiwa Akinboro, SAN, as the sole presidential candidate of Egbe Amofin O’odua for the 2026 NBA election, demanded the immediate release of abducted Oyo State teachers and pupils, supported the establishment of state police, and issued resolutions on judicial integrity, professional ethics, and regional development.
The communiqué was signed by the Chairman of Egbe Amofin O’odua, Aare Isiaka Abiola Olagunju, SAN, and the Secretary, Adetunji Oso, SAN.
“Immediate Dissolution of the Present ECNBA”
The conference’s most significant intervention in NBA affairs was its call for the dissolution of the present ECNBA, a demand that carries considerable weight given the association’s membership of over 700 lawyers and its influence within the Yoruba-speaking states that constitute a significant portion of the NBA’s national membership.
The communiqué stated: “The Conference expressed serious concerns regarding the legitimacy, composition and perceived neutrality of the present Electoral Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association (ECNBA).”
It further observed that “concerns have been raised regarding the process leading to the constitution of the Committee and the extent to which the process complied with the provisions of the NBA Constitution.”
The conference then recommended “the immediate dissolution of the present ECNBA and the constitution of a new Electoral Committee capable of commanding the confidence of all stakeholders.”
The demand goes beyond the specific controversies surrounding Mikrodigital Connect, Thanelinc Nigeria Limited, and the NIN authentication framework that have dominated recent NBA discourse. By questioning the legitimacy and composition of the committee itself, the conference raised a more fundamental challenge: that the process by which the ECNBA was constituted may not have complied with the NBA Constitution, meaning that everything the committee has done, including its procurement decisions, its voter register compilation, and its election preparations, may lack a valid constitutional foundation.
How a New Committee Should Be Constituted
The conference did not merely call for dissolution but proposed specific mechanisms for constituting a replacement committee through processes designed to ensure independence and impartiality.
It recommended that any reconstituted Electoral Committee should be composed through “a transparent, inclusive and impartial process that inspires confidence among members of the Bar.”
Three alternative mechanisms were proposed: constitution through the General Council of the Bar under the leadership of the Attorney General of the Federation; constitution through the Body of Past Presidents of the NBA; or constitution through broad stakeholder consultation involving candidates and relevant interest groups within the Association.
Each proposed mechanism is designed to remove the reconstitution process from the control of the incumbent NBA President, addressing a structural concern that has recurred across multiple NBA election cycles: that the President who constitutes the electoral committee can influence the composition of the body that will conduct the election.
NIN Integration in NBA Voting
The conference’s recommendation on the NBA voting process directly addresses one of the central controversies in the current ECNBA dispute: the abandonment of NIN-based voter authentication.
“The Conference noted persistent concerns regarding the integrity, transparency and reliability of the current electronic voting framework employed in NBA elections,” the communiqué stated.
It recommended that “NBA elections should henceforth incorporate stronger voter authentication mechanisms, including the transmission of voting credentials to registered telephone numbers of eligible voters and the integration of National Identification Number (NIN) verification systems.”
The conference further recommended “the adoption of additional technological safeguards capable of ensuring transparency, accountability and the integrity of the electoral process.”
The NIN recommendation aligns with the positions taken by two of the three NBA presidential candidates, Akangbe SAN and Akinboro SAN, both of whom wrote separate letters to the ECNBA demanding the integration of NIN as an additional authentication layer. The ECNBA had rejected the proposal, declaring its decision “final” and stating that the 2026 election would proceed on the existing Supreme Court Number plus OTP framework.
The Egbe Amofin O’odua recommendation, endorsed by over 700 lawyers at a national conference, adds significant institutional weight to the demand for NIN integration and further isolates the ECNBA’s position.
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Akinboro SAN Adoption Revalidated
The conference revalidated its adoption of Aare Olumuyiwa Akinboro, SAN, as the sole presidential candidate of Egbe Amofin O’odua for the 2026 NBA election, calling on “colleagues from across the country to support the election of Aare Olumuyiwa Akinboro, SAN as the next President of the Nigerian Bar Association in order to promote inclusiveness, equity and fairness within the Bar.”
The conference also adopted candidates of Yoruba extraction for other offices: Lukman Laoye for 1st Vice President, Akinwunmi Samson Laleye for Welfare Secretary, Lukman Oladimeji Jaiyeola for Assistant Publicity Secretary, and Dhikrullah Adewale Balogun and Rotimi Komolafe for the General Council of the Bar.
Release of Abducted Oyo School Children
The conference expressed “grave concern over the continued captivity of the teachers and pupils abducted since 15th May, 2026, by suspected bandits operating within the Old Oyo National Park corridor.”
It called upon the Federal Government and the Oyo State Government to “intensify all lawful efforts and deploy all necessary resources to secure the immediate and unconditional release of the abducted victims.”
The conference further urged the Federal Government to “significantly strengthen the nation’s security architecture generally through improved intelligence gathering, enhanced inter-agency collaboration, adequate funding of security agencies and the deployment of modern security technology to combat insecurity across the Federation.”
State Police
The conference commended the House of Representatives for passing the Constitution Alteration Bill for the establishment of State Police and welcomed the ongoing consideration of similar amendments by the Senate.
It noted that “the prevailing security challenges confronting Nigeria have exposed the limitations of an exclusively centralised policing structure and underscored the need for a more responsive and decentralised policing framework.”
The conference urged the National Assembly to “expedite action on the constitutional amendment process and ensure the speedy passage of legislation empowering states to establish and maintain State Police within a framework that guarantees professionalism, accountability and respect for fundamental rights.”
Compliance with Court Orders
The conference reaffirmed that “obedience to lawful court orders remains a fundamental pillar of constitutional democracy and the rule of law,” a resolution that carries particular significance in light of the recent controversy over Justice Peter Lifu’s delivery of a party deregistration judgment despite a subsisting Court of Appeal stay order, which the appellate court described as “the highest form of judicial impertinence.”
The conference stressed that the NBA, “as the foremost defender of the rule of law in Nigeria, must continue to demonstrate fidelity to judicial authority and respect for decisions of courts of competent jurisdiction.”
It urged “all institutions, public authorities, professional bodies and citizens to cultivate a culture of respect for judicial decisions as an indispensable requirement for democratic governance and constitutional order.”
Strengthening Public Confidence in the Judiciary
The conference reaffirmed that public confidence in the judiciary “remains one of the most valuable assets of any constitutional democracy and an indispensable foundation for the administration of justice.”
It called upon judicial officers “to continue to uphold the highest standards of integrity, independence, impartiality, professionalism and courage in the discharge of their constitutional responsibilities.”
The conference urged all stakeholders within the justice sector to “take deliberate measures to eliminate any perception of bias, favouritism, corruption, undue influence or interference in the administration of justice.”
Professional Ethics
The conference emphasised that the legal profession “occupies a pivotal position in sustaining constitutional democracy, accountability and responsible governance,” and called upon legal practitioners to remain faithful to the highest traditions of the profession.
It urged the NBA and other stakeholders to “intensify efforts towards strengthening professional ethics, continuing legal education and institutional accountability as essential conditions for deepening democracy and good governance in Nigeria.”
Regional Development
The conference recognised the critical role of law in facilitating regional development and called for “stronger collaboration among South-West states in the areas of infrastructure development, security, transportation, economic planning and legal harmonisation in order to accelerate regional prosperity and competitiveness.”
Young Lawyers
The conference underscored the importance of mentorship, continuing legal education, and leadership development for young lawyers, encouraging them to “identify their areas of strength and particular interest for career advancement and professional specialisation” and urging senior members to continue investing in the next generation.
The Dignitaries
The conference was attended by His Imperial Majesty, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, CFR, the Ooni of Ife and Arole Oduduwa, who hosted the event at his resort in Ile-Ife. Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State was represented by Deputy Governor Prince Kola Adewusi. The Attorney General of the Federation, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, was also represented. Attorneys-General of South-West states, Chief Niyi Akintola, CON, SAN, past chairmen and leaders of the association, NBA branch chairmen and secretaries from member states, and distinguished Senior Advocates of Nigeria were among the participants.
The conference expressed “profound gratitude” to the Ooni of Ife for “his exceptional generosity, hospitality and support towards the successful hosting of the event.”
The Significance
The Egbe Amofin O’odua communiqué represents the most significant institutional intervention yet in the ECNBA controversy. While individual presidential candidates and individual lawyers have raised concerns about the committee’s procurement decisions and authentication framework, the call for dissolution from an association of over 700 lawyers, backed by a formal communiqué signed by two Senior Advocates of Nigeria, elevates the demand to a different level.
The conference’s recommendation that a new committee be constituted through the AGF, the Body of Past Presidents, or broad stakeholder consultation, rather than by the incumbent NBA President, reflects a structural critique that goes beyond the current controversies to the institutional design of the NBA’s electoral process.
With the NBA election scheduled for July 20, 2026, approximately 31 days away, the question of whether the demand for dissolution will gain sufficient traction to force action, or whether the ECNBA will proceed with the election as planned despite the growing chorus of opposition, will be one of the defining issues of the current NBA electoral cycle.
The communiqué was dated June 19, 2026, and signed by Aare Isiaka Abiola Olagunju, SAN, Chairman, and Adetunji Oso, SAN, Secretary, Egbe Amofin O’odua.
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