Persons suspected to be operatives of the State Security Service have allegedly picked up the Managing Director of the service provider engaged for the 2026 Nigerian Bar Association National Officers’ Election, deepening the controversy surrounding the poll scheduled for Saturday, July 18, 2026.
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A source familiar with the development alleged that the incident occurred at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, while the service provider’s Managing Director was reportedly on his way to Abuja.
According to the source, the suspected SSS operatives allegedly confiscated the MD’s laptop and phones and took him into custody.
The source further alleged that the development was instigated by persons sympathetic to a particular candidate in the election, claiming that the alleged action was designed to frustrate the conduct of NBADecides2026.
As of the time of filing this report, there was no official confirmation from the SSS, the NBA, the Electoral Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association, or the service provider regarding the alleged incident.
TheNigeriaLawyer could not independently verify the claim, and the allegation remains based on information from a source.
The development comes at a sensitive time for the NBA, whose 2026 national election has been surrounded by disputes over the composition of the ECNBA, the credibility of the voting process, the role of the electronic voting service provider and allegations of partisanship.
Amid the widening crisis, the NBA has summoned an emergency meeting of its National Executive Council to deliberate on the 2026 National Officers’ Election.
The virtual emergency meeting is scheduled to hold on Thursday, July 16, 2026, at 2 p.m., barely two days before the electronic election.
A notice dated July 15, 2026, issued by the NBA General Secretary, Dr Mobolaji Ojibara, stated that the meeting would be held virtually, with the participation link to be circulated to eligible NEC members before the commencement of proceedings.
The notice listed the 2026 National Officers’ Election as the only substantive item on the agenda after the opening prayer, underscoring the urgency of the crisis confronting the Association’s electoral process.
Attendance is restricted to statutory NEC members, including national officers, past NBA presidents, past general secretaries, branch chairmen, branch secretaries, chairmen and secretaries of NBA sections and fora, and co-opted NEC members.
The emergency meeting also comes against the background of the “Directions and Outcomes” issued by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, on the report of a three-member committee set up to examine disputes within the NBA.
The committee was headed by former NBA President, Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN, with former NBA President Paul Usoro, SAN, and Prince Lanke Odogiyon as members.
The AGF’s directions reportedly raised issues concerning the continued operation of the ECNBA, the election timetable, the electronic voting service provider, the use of National Identification Number in voter verification and the future structure of the NBA’s electoral system.
However, the NBA leadership and ECNBA rejected any suggestion that the Attorney-General could unilaterally suspend or postpone the Association’s national election.
The NBA maintained that only its National Executive Council could authorise the postponement of the election, while the ECNBA directed lawyers to disregard any document purporting to suspend the poll.
The controversy has divided senior lawyers and regional Bar organisations.
The Eastern Bar Forum and Midwest Bar Forum rejected what they described as interference in the internal affairs of the NBA, insisting that the Association’s independence and constitutional processes must be respected.
Egbe Amofin O’odua, however, defended the Attorney-General’s intervention, arguing that critics had focused on personalities rather than the concerns raised about the electoral process.
The crisis has also generated multiple court proceedings.
The Oyo State High Court had earlier issued orders affecting the NBA’s recognition and processing of presidential nominations and restraining members of the ECNBA from taking steps towards conducting the election.
However, the Court of Appeal sitting in Ibadan recently set aside the Oyo High Court proceedings and orders, holding that the lower court lacked subject-matter, personal and territorial jurisdiction.
The appellate court held that the proceedings, including the ex parte orders made against the NBA and ECNBA, were a nullity.
That decision removed the legal obstacle created by the Oyo High Court orders and restored the ECNBA’s authority to continue preparations for the election.
Beyond the court cases, concerns have persisted over the composition and independence of the ECNBA, the engagement of the electronic voting service provider and the transparency of the electoral process.
The ECNBA, chaired by Aham Ejelam, SAN, was approved at the NBA National Executive Council meeting held in Edo State on November 20, 2025, to conduct the 2026 national election.
Other members of the committee include Ibrahim Aliyu Nasarawa, Secretary; Muhammad M. Nuhu; Uju Okafor; and Ume Maduka.
The committee has maintained that preparations are continuing in line with the NBA Constitution, revised election guidelines and timetable.
It released a final voters’ register containing 82,213 eligible lawyers across 139 branches, while also listing an additional 671 lawyers whose branch membership had not been established and who were required to regularise their records before being confirmed as eligible voters.
The emergency NEC meeting is expected to provide the NBA’s highest decision-making body between annual general conferences with an opportunity to formally consider the crisis and determine the Association’s institutional position ahead of the election.
With the poll only days away, the outcome of the meeting may determine whether the NBA proceeds with the July 18 election under the existing arrangements or adopts further measures to address concerns over the voting platform, the service provider, the legal effect of the AGF’s directions and the continuing disputes within the Bar.
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