NBA Lagos Branch Disowns Eti-Osa Bar Forum, Recognizes Eti-Osa Lawyers’ Forum As The Authentic Forum

… Takes Over NBA Office At Christopher Segun Court House Eti-Osa.

In the latest disclaimer after a similar one by NBA Epe last year, the Lagos Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has distanced itself from the activities of the Eti-Osa Bar Forum, saying that the Forum is neither recognized by the national body of NBA nor the Lagos Branch.

This is contained in a letter addressed to the Chief Judge of Lagos State, headed  “Disclaimer on the activities of Eti-Osa Bar Forum” signed by the Branch Chairman, Yemi Akangbe, and Assistant Secretary, Ifeoma Ben and sighted by TheNigeriaLawyer (TNL)

The  Lagos Branch alleged that “The forum has been carrying out activities and misleading the general public into believing that it is a recognized group or forum existing within the NBA and that it’s activities are duly recognized. Such activities include issuing Press Releases, Visits to Principal members of the Lagos Judiciary, holding meetings at the NBA office to mention but a few, as a forum within the NBA

“The Forum has also at different times sought audience with the leadership of the Lagos State Judiciary under the guise of being a Forum within the NBA”

The Branch noted that the NBA has at its National Executive Committee meeting held on the 12th of March, 2020, resolved  that it does not recognize any forum that is not functioning in accordance with the approval or consent of a branch.

“We hereby state categorically that the Eti-Osa Bar Forum is not recognized by either the Nigerian Bar Association or the Lagos Branch or any other branch within the Nigerian Bar Association.” the letter further reads in part

The Branch requests the Chief Judge not to recognize the existence of the Etiosa Bar Forum or even allow the Forum to be in the NBA room office at the Christopher Segun Courthouse in Etiosa. The letter further threatened to report the forum to the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee if it does not desist from its current act of deception.

In another separate letter, the Lagos Branch commended the Chief Judge of the State for commissioning the Christopher Segun Courthouse Etiosa. It indicated an interest in taking over the NBA office in the Courthouse and accordingly nominated the Etiosa Lawyers Forum to take over the office on its behalf.

The second letter reads in part:

“We hereby nominate Etiosa Lawyers Forum, a Forum recognized by the Lagos Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (under the leadership of M.M.A. Sanni) to take over the keys and management of the NBA office in the Courthouse on behalf of the Lagos Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association. The recognition was said to be predicated on an earlier motion at one of the general meetings of  the Lagos Branch recognising the Eti-Osa Lawyers’ Forum as the only Forum of the Branch within the area

In a related development, sources close to the Bar Forum revealed that the disclaimer letters have started taking its toll on the Forum as institutions and individuals have been reacting to the disclaimer by distancing themselves from the Forum. The source opined that the abrupt cancellation of the Forum’s Webinar earlier scheduled for 22nd September, 2020 a day before the event was not unconnected with the latest disclaimer from the Lagos Branch, as the attention of the proposed sponsors and participants appeared to have been drawn to the illegitimacy of the forum.

A member of the Lagos Branch and an erstwhile member of the Bar Forum, Mr. Ajibola Samuel stated that he was unaware of the illegitimacy of the group until he sighted the disclaimers, he further stated that when he raised the issue of the disclaimers and the implications with the leadership of the Platform, he was unilaterally removed from the Platform by one Joan Ohwaguono. He urged the Chairman of the Lagos Branch and the National body to take more decisive action on the promoters of the illegitimate Forum to avoid future occurrence stating that freedom of association should not be an alibi for promoting desperation, illegitimacy and illegality especially by Lawyers.

For him, anybody may form and run an association, but where that purports to be under the umbrella of the NBA, it must be according to the rules and regulations governing the NBA.