Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Chief Yomi Alliyu, SAN, has called on his Law School classmate, Sir Aham Eke Ejelam, SAN, to resign as Chairman of the Electoral Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association for the 2026 election, warning that the appointment may expose him to reputational damage.
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In an open letter dated July 11, 2026, Alliyu described Ejelam as a respected lawyer, knight, traditional title holder and former Chairman of the Ethics and Disciplinary Committee of the South-South region of the NBA.
He said Ejelam deserved recognition in the legal profession, but maintained that his appointment as ECNBA Chairman came at what he described as “a wrong time.”
According to Alliyu, both of them attended the Nigerian Law School in 1985 and were taught professional ethics by notable law teachers. He said it was because of Ejelam’s Christian background, professional antecedents and ethical reputation that he was appealing to his conscience to step down.
Alliyu alleged that the NBA had been held “in the jugular” by a cabal since 2018, adding that Ejelam should not allow himself to be used in a process that could damage the reputation he had built over 42 years.
He also accused the NBA President, Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, of allegedly denigrating the office of NBA President, saying Ejelam should not allow himself to become a willing tool in the process.
The senior lawyer asked Ejelam to consider whether his nomination as ECNBA Chairman complied with the NBA Constitution, questioning whether he was properly nominated by NBA members at the NEC meeting in Benin or merely pronounced by the NBA President from a prepared list for ratification.
Alliyu also raised concerns over the appointment of the election service provider, asking who suggested the provider to the ECNBA and whether the committee was aware of allegations surrounding the provider’s corporate filings and previous involvement in NBA elections.
He further asked whether the provider admitted during interview that he had participated in past NBA elections and possessed data of over 70,000 members.
On the controversy surrounding the use of National Identification Number for the NBA election, Alliyu questioned whether Egbe Amofin O’odua requested the use of NIN in its court processes, contrary to what he said had been suggested by the NBA President.
He argued that, given what he described as controversial NBA election outcomes since 2018, the Bar should consider a different method, including the use of NIN, to prevent alleged recurring electoral fraud.
Alliyu also defended the intervention of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, insisting that the AGF gave “directions” and not “directives” in relation to the NBA election dispute.
According to him, directions are advisory in nature and were aimed at promoting amicable settlement of the crisis.
He also questioned allegations of bias against the AGF and Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN, who chaired the three-man committee set up to look into the NBA election dispute.
Alliyu said former Presidents and Secretaries of the Bar prevailed on Olanipekun to accept the assignment, adding that the committee’s purpose was to help rescue the NBA from further internal crisis.
He further argued that the reports of the committee criticised the conduct of the NBA President and questioned whether it was proper for the same NBA leadership to continue to supervise the election process.
Alliyu also faulted the appointment of Ejelam and other ECNBA members to the Body of Benchers at this period, describing it as morally questionable.
He alleged that Osigwe removed Sam Okutepa, SAN, and himself from the Body of Benchers to pave the way for the appointments because they are lead counsel in the Egbe Amofin O’odua matters.
The senior lawyer also accused the NBA President of charging Okutepa before the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee for accepting Egbe Amofin O’odua’s case.
Concluding the letter, Alliyu told Ejelam that he was “in the eye of history,” saying he could either be remembered negatively over the 2026 NBA election process or as a principled lawyer, knight and Bar leader who acted according to conscience.
“The choice is yours,” he said.
Alliyu signed the letter as Chief Yomi Alliyu, SAN, FCIArb, member of the Body of Benchers 2023–2026, Jagunmolu of Edeland and Elder Statesman of Egbe Amofin O’odua.
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