NBA Ikeja Treasurer, Basil Owolabi, Resigns, Cites Chairman’s Continued Intransigence

The treasurer of Ikeja branch of the Nigerian Bar Association(NBA), Basil Owolabi, has resigned his position.

This was disclosed in a letter signed by Basil T. Owolabl, Esq, titled: “Notice of Resignation as Branch Treasurer”.

Mr Owolabi letter reads “I have undertaken a careful but emphatic review of the now well-documented concatenation of events which played out over the past couple of months; which said events took a rather unfortunate, curious but hardly surprising turn at the monthly General Meeting of the Branch, which held on Monday, May 10, 2021.

“The aftermath realization rising from said meeting is that you, as Chairman, are hell-bent on continuing with the barefaced, unrestrained leadership charade under guise of a nonexistent Executive Committee. I have therefore also invoked my corresponding responsibility to make a bold exit by disengaging myself from such perilous grip; seeing, as it were, that I can no longer continue to serve – in good and clear conscience – under such fractious, tenuous, and toxic circumstances brought about by your intransigent refusal to play by the established rules.” Owolabi wrote.

“In the premises, I hereby by this correspondence contemporaneously convey my decision to resign my position as Branch. Treasurer, NBA Ikeja and, by giving this notice, elect to make the resignation effective from 1st day of June 2021 -in keeping faith with the provisions of Article 14 (4) of the Uniform Bye-Law (UBL), 2015.

“Please be assured that in furtherance of the enlarged provisions of Article 14 (4) UBL 2015, I have commenced the process of properly cataloging an inventory of all the Branch’s checkbooks tinder By care/possession, in addition to my handover note – which shall all be properly handed over to you at your earliest convenience, from Wednesday this week.

The letter concluded that “Whilst wishing you and the rest of your team greater strength in piloting the affairs of the Branch for remainder of your collective tenure, I would be grateful if you could convey to all excellent members of the Branch, my deepest appreciation of the wonderful opportunity that they provided for me to serve at this and previous capacities.”

As at the time of filing this report, we are yet to get the authenticity of the letter as some of the people contacted said they can’t ascertain the authenticity. However, one of the members of the executive said he only saw the letter on social media.