A retired Judge of the Federal High Court, Hon. Justice Taiwo O. Taiwo, J. (rtd.), has expressed concern over the ongoing crisis surrounding the Nigerian Bar Association election, saying he had warned as far back as 2022 that the Association needed a more transparent method of electing its officers.
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In a statement titled “Let The Truth Be Told! My Take On The Election Crisis Ongoing In The NBA,” the retired judge said although he was shocked by the current dispute, he was not entirely surprised because he had foreseen the danger before his retirement.
Justice Taiwo said he officially retired on July 31, 2022, while his valedictory court session was held on September 22, 2022, where he advised the NBA to reform its electoral process.
He recalled that he served the NBA as a national officer before his appointment to the Bench, noting that he was the 2nd Vice President of the Association when Austin Alegeh, SAN, was President and Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, the current NBA President, was General Secretary.
The retired judge said he remains passionate about the NBA, adding that aside from the Association, he does not belong to any other association or social club except a church-friendly society.
According to him, the aims and objectives of the NBA have shaped his outlook on life, especially the duty of legal practitioners to stand against injustice and unfairness.
Justice Taiwo said he was disturbed by what he described as the discordant tunes surrounding NBA elections, adding that many lawyers outside the inner circle of those he called the “powers behind the scenes” may not know what truly happens during the electoral process.
He noted that some persons had gone to court in the past over NBA election outcomes, saying those who challenged such elections knew why they did so.
Quoting from his 2022 valedictory speech, Justice Taiwo said he had warned that the NBA needed a democratic and transparent method of electing its officers.
He said, “I want the best for the Association, especially for it to evolve a democratic and transparent method of electing its officers. I am of the firm view that the election of the President of the NBA ought to transcend a situation where the next President is known before a new one is sworn in.”
The retired judge said he saw danger ahead if the method of electing NBA officers was not amended.
He recalled that he was informed before the end of the tenure of former NBA President, Olumide Akpata, that a particular person would take over as the next President.
According to him, he wondered how such prediction could be possible when “star-gazing or clairvoyance are not courses in law.”
Justice Taiwo said he had proposed that on election day, lawyers interested in voting should physically go to their respective branches to cast their votes electronically, similar to the process used by the Independent National Electoral Commission.
He said such a system would help ensure transparency in the NBA electoral process.
Flowing from his earlier warning, Justice Taiwo said he supports every move aimed at ensuring transparency in NBA elections.
He specifically backed the use of the National Identification Number for lawyers who wish to vote in NBA elections.
“Consequently, I support the use of the National Identification Number for lawyers desirous of voting in NBA elections,” he said.
He, however, maintained that the NBA, as an association of legal practitioners, does not need outsiders to monitor its elections.
“We do not need any outsider to monitor the election of an association of legal practitioners,” he added.
Justice Taiwo signed the statement as a former 2nd Vice President of the NBA, former Chairman of NBA Lagos Branch and former Secretary of NBA Lagos Branch.
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