*Vice Chairman Seeks NBA President’s Intervention After No Response From VPs, Institute

The Nigerian Bar Association Ikorodu Branch has formally protested the recently published NBA Human Rights Monitoring Committee Report, which credited the branch with only six (6) human rights activities for January–October 2025, despite submitting records showing at least 120 distinct activities.

Olajide Akinola Abiodun, Notary Public, Vice Chairman of NBA Ikorodu Branch and Chairman of the Human Rights Committee (2024–2026), raised the issue in a letter to the NBA President, Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, seeking his intervention.

Abiodun disclosed that he had reached out to multiple NBA national officers without success.

“I have messaged the 1st vice. No response. I messaged the 2nd vice, no response. I messaged the president no reply. I also called, no one picked. I have emailed the human rights institute days ago,” he stated.

He added: “When I shared my concerns with Mr. Akinlade, I was informed that in house at the human rights institute, they were not even aware about how the monitoring committee came about it etc.”

In his letter to the NBA President, Abiodun stated: “I respectfully seek your kind intervention regarding the recently published NBA Human Rights Monitoring Committee Report on branch activities for January–October 2025, which credited the NBA Ikorodu Branch with only six (6) activities.”

“This figure is grossly inaccurate and does not reflect the reality of our work. As formally documented and submitted within time, the Human Rights Committee of the NBA Ikorodu Branch carried out not less than 120 distinct human rights activities within the period under review.”

According to Abiodun, the 120+ activities spanned:

  • Legal aid clinics
  • PDSS interventions
  • Police station visits
  • Domestic violence and child rights case management
  • Anti-human trafficking and anti-cultism campaigns
  • Community outreaches
  • Capacity-building programmes
  • Participation in national and regional human rights engagements

“I formally wrote to the NBA Human Rights Monitoring Committee and the NBA Human Rights Institute Governing Board seeking clarification and review. I also followed up by email to the Institute, reached out to the 1st Vice President and 2nd Vice President, regrettably, without any response. Only Mr. Bayo Akinlade acknowledged my private message to him and informed me that the matter had been escalated.”

Abiodun highlighted a critical discrepancy: “What makes this more concerning is that the Monitoring Committee’s own publication acknowledges that Ikorodu Branch submitted its report within time, yet the Branch was credited with just six activities, while the total activities recorded across branches were stated as 185. This creates a clear disconnect between the submitted records and the published outcome.”

He emphasized: “Sir, the NBA Ikorodu Branch is not driven by competition, but accuracy, fairness, and institutional integrity are essential, especially where verified work and service to the community are concerned. Leaving this unaddressed would unjustly diminish the efforts of members who worked tirelessly throughout the year.”

“I respectfully request your intervention to direct a review and correction of the record, in the interest of fairness, transparency, and confidence in the NBA’s human rights monitoring process,” Abiodun stated.

In an earlier formal letter to the NBA Human Rights Monitoring Committee and NBA Human Rights Institute Governing Board, the Ikorodu Branch provided detailed clarification.

“First, we wish to congratulate the branches that emerged as winners in their respective zones, particularly the Ikeja Branch in the Western Bar. Their dedication to human rights advocacy is commendable, and we celebrate their achievements,” the letter stated.

“However, we respectfully wish to clarify that the figure attributed to Ikorodu Branch does not reflect the breadth and depth of our activities during the period under review. Our records, as submitted and documented in our compendium, show that the Ikorodu Branch Human Rights Committee undertook at least 120 distinct activities between January and October 2025.”

The letter provided a detailed breakdown:

  • “Weekly committee sittings addressing complaints, domestic violence, and child rights cases.
  • Regular legal aid clinics and pro bono court representations, with dozens of cases handled monthly.
  • Continuous police station visits and interventions under the Police Duty Solicitors Scheme.
  • Anti-human trafficking and anti-cultism campaigns in schools and communities, reaching thousands.
  • Monthly capacity-building sessions, community outreach, and strategic partnerships with government agencies and NGOs.
  • Participation in regional and national human rights summits and forums.”

“The detailed breakdown of our activities for each month, supported by case files, attendance records, and reports from our subcommittees, was submitted within the stipulated timeframe. We are confident that a careful review of our report will reveal that the mention of only six activities is a significant understatement.”

Meanwhile, efforts to obtain a response from the NBA First Vice President were unsuccessful, as he failed to reply to messages, while calls and WhatsApp messages were not returned as of the time of filing this report.

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