The Chairman of the NBA Garki Branch, Anthony Bamidele Ojo, has formally dissociated the Branch from the controversial award and patronage granted to convicted pension thief Abdulrasheed Maina, following a stinging rebuke and threat of disciplinary action from the national leadership of the Nigerian Bar Association.
![](https://thenigerialawyer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/TheNigerialawyer-WhatsApp-Channel1.jpg")
In a statement released on January 23, 2026, Ojo admitted that he was not privy to the full procedural posture of Maina’s criminal proceedings when the recognition was approved, and stated that appropriate corrective steps would be taken without delay to protect the integrity of the profession.
“The NBA Garki Branch categorically dissociates itself from the award and patronage issued to Dr. Abdulrasheed Maina and from any conduct now attributed to him. The integrity of the Branch and the legal profession remains non-negotiable, and appropriate corrective steps will be taken without delay,” Ojo declared in the statement.
The withdrawal came after NBA President, Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, issued a strongly-worded statement disclaiming the purported appointment of Maina as “Grand Patron of NBA Garki Branch,” describing the action as one that makes a mockery of the legal profession and the fight against corruption.
“The purported appointment not only paints the legal profession and the Association in a bad light but also makes a mockery of the Government’s fight against corruption, as well as the Association’s motto of promoting the rule of law,” the NBA President stated.
Osigwe noted that the Association views with disdain the purported appointment made by the Garki Branch Chairman, adding that the actions portray him, and indeed any person who endorsed his actions, as condoning corrupt practices.
“Equally reprehensible was the decision of the Chairman to make comments about Abdulrasheed Maina’s appeal, currently believed to be pending at the Supreme Court,” the statement read.
The NBA President emphasized that while the Association respects Maina’s right to appeal his conviction, the Bar will NOT under any guise comment on such an appeal or be seen to try to sway public opinion in his favour.
“The Bar fails in her duties to the society and the cause of justice when it condones, encourages, and or fails to take definite actions to eliminate corruption and corrupt practices,” the national body declared.
The NBA directed the Chairman of NBA Garki Branch to immediately withdraw any purported appointment of Maina as a Patron of the Branch, and ordered him to forthwith cease and desist from issuing statements, comments, or representations on behalf of, or in support of, Maina or any other litigant in respect of cases pending in court.
“Accordingly, disciplinary proceedings will be commenced against the Chairman of the NBA Garki Branch for actions inconsistent with the Constitution of the NBA, the Rules of Professional Conduct, and the core values of the legal profession,” the NBA announced.
The Association stated that it will not, under any guise, lend its platform, name, or institutional credibility to influence public opinion or judicial proceedings in respect of cases that are sub judice or take steps that may be perceived as laundering the image of any person convicted of criminal offences.
“Any attempt to do so constitutes a grave violation of professional ethics and a direct affront to the rule of law,” the NBA warned.
In his clarification statement, Ojo explained that representatives of Maina approached the Branch indicating his willingness to support criminal justice reform initiatives, particularly the Branch’s long-standing Duty Solicitors Scheme.
“The recognition extended to Dr. Maina was limited in scope and purpose. It was a patronage acknowledgement premised strictly on representations of support for criminal justice reform and nothing more. It was not, and was never intended to be, an endorsement of personal conduct, past actions, or ongoing legal controversies,” Ojo stated.
He admitted that he was not privy to the full procedural posture of Maina’s criminal proceedings at the time the recognition was approved.
“Had the existence and status of those proceedings been presented in full, the Branch would have exercised greater institutional caution in how it engaged and how any recognition was framed,” the Chairman acknowledged.
Ojo emphasized that the Branch’s engagement was “issue-specific, reform-focused, and undertaken in good faith,” adding that the Branch does not associate itself with criminality, impropriety, or any conduct inconsistent with the values of the Bar.
Maina, former Chairman of the defunct Pension Reform Task Team, was convicted by Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court in Abuja in November 2021 for money laundering involving over N2 billion in pension funds.
He was sentenced to a total of 61 years imprisonment on all 12 counts, though the sentences were to run concurrently as eight years, effective from October 25, 2019—the date of his arraignment by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
In May 2023, the Court of Appeal upheld both the conviction and the eight-year sentence. His appeal is believed to be pending at the Supreme Court.
Maina was recently released from Kuje correctional centre in Abuja, though questions remain about how he was freed in January 2026 when his sentence should not have expired until October 2027.
In his statement, Ojo attempted to balance institutional responsibilities with constitutional principles, noting that Maina “is currently exercising his constitutional right of appeal up to the Supreme Court.”
“The Branch recognizes, without equivocation, the authority of the courts and the supremacy of judicial pronouncements. At the same time, it affirms that the pendency of appellate proceedings is a material legal reality that cannot be ignored or pre-judged,” he stated.
However, he clarified that where any action of the Branch gives rise to misunderstanding or misinterpretation, “it is the duty of leadership to respond decisively and responsibly in order to protect the integrity of the profession.”
The NBA Garki Branch Chairman concluded by reaffirming the Branch’s commitment to criminal justice reform, the presumption of innocence pending final judicial determination, and the supremacy of the courts, while categorically dissociating from the controversial award.
In the wake of the controversy, a United States-based Nigerian lawyer has advised the NBA President to introduce a comprehensive vetting system to prevent future incidents of this nature.
The legal practitioner pointed out that in many jurisdictions, law associations require branch-level awards and patronages to be forwarded to the national body for proper vetting and approval before being conferred. This institutional safeguard ensures that awards given under the association’s name maintain the integrity and reputation of the entire profession.
The lawyer noted that the current practice in Nigeria allows NBA branches to operate with significant autonomy at the local level, often conferring awards and patronages on individuals who provide financial support or assistance to branch activities without adequate background checks or institutional oversight.
“NBA branches are after money, so they give awards to anyone who gives them money or supports what they do at the local level,” the lawyer observed, adding that this practice exposes the Association to reputational risks and compromises its standing as a guardian of the rule of law.
The lawyer’s recommendation to the NBA President emphasized that introducing a mandatory national vetting process would serve as an institutional checkpoint, preventing branches from inadvertently or deliberately honouring individuals whose backgrounds or ongoing legal issues are inconsistent with the values and ethics of the legal profession.
This suggestion has gained traction among legal observers who view the Maina incident as symptomatic of a larger institutional weakness that requires systemic reform rather than just individual disciplinary action.
The NBA reiterated that integrity, accountability, respect for the judicial process, and the preservation of public confidence in the legal profession are foundational values of the Association.
“Any conduct that undermines these principles will attract firm and decisive institutional response. The NBA therefore disclaims the purported appointment of Abdulrasheed Maina as ‘Grand Patron of NBA Garki Branch’ by the Chairman of the Branch, Anthony Bamidele Ojo. The NBA strongly condemns his actions and reiterates that the Bar must use its power to stop corruption,” the national body stated.
Despite the Garki Branch Chairman’s clarification and withdrawal of the award, the NBA’s announcement of disciplinary proceedings against him remains in effect, signaling that the national body views the matter as a serious breach of professional responsibility requiring formal institutional response. The incident has also sparked broader conversations about the need for structural reforms to prevent NBA branches from compromising the Association’s integrity through poorly vetted local decisions.
The promotion, which commenced on January 8 and runs until February 8, 2026, offers five core maritime law books authored by Dr. Emeka Akabogu, SAN, ordinarily valued at N405,000, for just N150,000 — a 63% discount.
Interested buyers can place their orders through the following channels:
Phone: 0704 329 3271
Online Store: https://paystack.shop/aa-bookstore
Website: www.akabogulaw.com
_______________________________________________________________________
The Law And Practice Of Redundancy In Nigeria: A Practitioner’s Guide, Authored By A Labour & Employment Law Expert Bimbo Atilola
_______________________________________________________________________
[A MUST HAVE] Evidence Act Demystified With Recent And Contemporary Cases And Materials
Available now for NGN 40,000 at ASC Publications, 10, Boyle Street, Onikan, Lagos. Beside High Court, TBS. Email publications@ayindesanni.com or WhatsApp +2347056667384. Purchase Link: https://paystack.com/buy/evidence-act-complete-annotation
______________________________________________________________________
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE FOR LAWYERS: A COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE
Reimagine your practice with the power of AI “...this is the only Nigerian book I know of on the topic.” — Ohio Books Ltd
Authored by Ben Ijeoma Adigwe, Esq., ACIArb (UK), LL.M, Dip. in Artificial Intelligence, Director, Delta State Ministry of Justice, Asaba, Nigeria.
Bonus:
Get a FREE eBook titled “How to Use the AI in Legalpedia and Law Pavilion” with every purchase.
How to Order: 📞 Call, Text, or WhatsApp: 08034917063 | 07055285878 📧 Email: benadigwe1@gmail.com 🌐 Website: www.benadigwe.com
Ebook Version: Access directly online at: https://selar.com/prv626
