NBA NEC Matters Arising: NEC Ratifies Elections, 750million Naira, For 2018 AGC, As Paul Usoro SAN Receives Certificate Of Return

The National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has in its meeting held on Sunday, the 26th Day of August 2018, unanimously ratified the timing of the recently concluded 2018 NBA National elections and decided other important matters.

The ratification of the election timing became imperative on the NEC as the date for the conduct of the elections are stipulated under the extant 2015 NBA constitution to be conducted in the month of July, except where its conduct on any other date is ratified by the NEC.

Paragraph 2.3 (a) of the Second Schedule to the NBA Constitution 2015 states that “Election of National Officers shall be held in the month of July of the election year of the Association or at such time and place as may be ratified by National Executive Committee.”

The NBA National Elections had earlier been scheduled for July but had to be rescheduled by the Electoral Committee of the NBA (ECNBA) to the 18^th of August 2018, due to challenges with the voter registration process.

The motion for the ratification of the timing of the elections which was dated the 26^th day of August 2018 was moved by Solomon Umoh, SAN and seconded by Ferdinand Orbih, Esq. There was no objection to the call for ratification.

However, one Mr. Odum, the Campaign Director, and a group representative of Mr Arthur Obi Okafor SAN, a contestant for the office of President at the elections, requested that a post-election audit be done before the scheduled swearing-in of the newly elected executives on Thursday.

The President of the NEC, however, requested for parties to accept the result of the election for several reasons, amongst which was the fact that the electoral committee members were persons of high integrity.

After discussions on the issue, the newly elected officers of the NBA were presented with respective certificate of return by the Chairman of the Electoral Committee, Prof. Yadudu. Mr Paul Usoro SAN received a certificate of return as President-elect.

The NEC also considered and ratified a budget of seven hundred and fifty million-naira (N750 million) for the 2018 Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association scheduled to be held this week.

The NEC noted that this year’s Annual General Conference of the NBA will be officially declared Open by the President of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari, in the evening of today being the 26^th day of August 2018.

The President of Ghana, Mr Nana Akufo-Addo and Vice President of Nigeria , Prof Yemi Osibanjo SAN, are also expected to speak at the conference on Monday the 27^th of August 2018.