“New NBA Branches Are Yet To Take-Off Due To Technicality” — Fmr. NBA President, Akpata

*Says Creation Branches Approved by NBA-NEC Subject To Subsequent Creation of Judicial Divisions Around Them

The Erstwhile President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mr. Olumide Akpata has clarified reason why the three branches created by the NBA National Executive Council (NBA-NEC)last June are yet take off, attributing it to technical issues.

The Former President said this in an interview with CITY LAWYER. He established that the creation of these branches had been approved by the NBA-NEC subject to the creation of judicial divisions in the domains by the Judiciary. ” “NEC approved the new branches subject to the creation of judicial divisions in those areas. The Chief Judge of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has delivered on his commitment in that regard. We are now waiting for the Chief Judge of Lagos State to fulfill his commitment, too”, he said.

Thus, according to Akpata these branches wouldn’t take off, until a directive is given by current President of the NBA, Y. C Maikyau SAN for their inauguration after the creation of judicial divisions around their domain by the judiciary.

TheNigeriaLawyer recalls that this was the same situation with former NBA President, Mr. Paul Usoro SAN who had on September 9, 2018 launched the Nyanya Judicial Division of the court, which led to the take-off of the NBA Nyanya/Karu Branch. Though recently, the new “branch” or Nyanya/karu Lawyers Forum has been plagued in a leadership tussle between two factions.

It would seem that five members of the forum had sued its factional Chairman, Mr. Austine Ibolo to the Chief Magistrate Court Karu after a Direct Criminal Complaint application was filed, accusing him of criminal Misappropriation which was contrary to Section 308 of the Penal Code. The application was signed by Mr. Festus Osimhen and was brought pursuant to Section 110(1)C, 88(1) and 89(3) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015. Though findings show that it was unclear whether the matter was arraigned following the complaint.

Same members also accused Ibolo of inadequate leadership capabilities referring to him as a ‘sit-tight leader’. They alleged that while he had been elected as Chairman of the forum for 2019-2021 administration, he has refused to leave the office since then claiming that the tenure of all NBA chairmen ends in September.

It would seem that this incident may have discouraged Akpata from issuing the all-important letter to convoke the new branch during his tenure, as gathered by TheNigeriaLawyer.

Nevertheless, there have been firm commitments by the respective chief judges to create the relevant judicial divisions which led Akpata to canvass establishment of the new branches by NBA-NEC. In fact the Chief Judge of the High Court of FCT has at the moment created the Garki Judicial Division of the court which is set to be unveiled on October 6, 2022, which would pave way for the take-off of NBA Garki Branch.

It expected that the Lagos State Chief Judge, Justice Kazeem Alogba would fulfill his commitment to create the Yaba/Surulere Judicial Division that would enable the take-off of the new NBA Surulere Branch. This will then set the stage for NBA President, Maikyau SAN to issue a directive for the inauguration of the branches.

TheNigeriaLawyer also recalls that the NBA-NEC had during its quarterly meeting held Ilorin, given approval for a split of the erstwhile NBA Abuja Branch aka Unity Bar into two as well as the subsequent creation of a new branch in Surulere. While Abuja Branch was retained, two additional branches were created. Aside from Abuja, Bwari and Gwagwalada branches, the new ‘branches’ are Nyanya/Karu Branch and Garki Branch.

Remarking on the purpose for the creation of the Branches, Akpata stated in the interview thus: “Two more branches were created in addition to Abuja, Bwari and Gwagwalada. The main faction of the old Abuja Branch was retained, as Abuja Branch. The second faction is now Garki, and a third was created to give an NBA forum in Nyanya the status of a Branch.”