The Petition That Led NBA President To Ask NBA Ikorodu Chair, To Put The Branch Election On Hold

Crisis seems to be rocking the Ikorodu branch of the NBA following the rejection of the just concluded election by the NBA 2nd VP, Dr. Foluke Dada.

A member of the branch, Ezekiel Ogbaide Esq., had earlier petitioned the office of the General Secretary of the NBA asking the NBA to intervene in what he describes as the ugly situation of the branch. Following the receipt of the petition, the NBA instructed the Chairman of the branch to put on hold the intention to conduct an election for the supposed vacant office of the vice chairman of the branch. However, contrary to the directive of the NBA President, the Chairman of the branch conducted the bye-elction which brought in Gloria Classius Esq., as the VC elect of the branch. Reacting to the development, Dr. Foluke Dada, NBA 2nd VP, described the election as a sham, and faulted the attitude of the chairman for disobeying the directive of the number one National officer of the Bar, stressing that the election is not recognized.

Ezekiel Ogbaide Esq., in his petitioned had raised an alarm claiming that there was a move by some persons in his branch to steal his mandate. Excerpt of the petition reads:

“The election that produced the current Exco of Ikorodu branch was characterized by controversies orchestrated by two rivals factions of the branch. At the end of it all, the NBA National had to intervene by constituting a care Take Committee to conduct the election for the branch and I was returned unopposed as the Vice Chairman having disqualified Gloria Classius Esq., for conflict in the Affidavits purportedly sworn to by members of her faction in relation to an alteration on her 2016 branch due receipt which was also the basis for her disqualification in 2016 Election where no affidavit were exhibited. In fact, in the history of the branch, it is only the current Exco that comprise of persons with sworn affidavits for qualification to contest an election.

The immediate past Chairman, Mr. Levi Adikwaone after failing apart with our faction that brought him to power unopposed, crossed to the rival opposing faction on an SOS propaganda of “they want to impeach me”, constituted an Electoral Committee comprising members of their faction with whom he held clandestine nocturnal meetings aimed at installing BAYO AKINLADE and only members of their faction in the current EXCO which they eventually achieved except myself who is on the opposing camp. He encouraged other members of the faction to depose to affidavits in 2018 to resurrect the forgone issue of the alteration on Gloria Cassius 2016 branch due receipt (which was the basis for her qualification in 2016) by claiming responsibility for the alteration and ensure the disqualification of all over formidable contestants to the office of the Chairman to pave way for the emergence of BAYO AKINLADE.

Immediately after the election, we attended the 2018 AGC at Abuja and BAYO AKINLADE encouraged members of his faction that supported his emergence that NEVER registered for the Annual General Conference to attend the Conference at the expense of the branch. I raised an objection to this when they were effectively bounced back at the entrance gate of the International Conference Centre (ICC) venue of the Annual Conference and BAYO AKINLADE vowed to ensure my removal from HIS EXCO which he had attempted severally. He has refused to print the branch letter headed paper with the names of the EXCO members because of me as confirmed in the recently published newsletter of the branch with my name conspicuously missing even when the proposed Election is yet to be conducted.

I was therefore surprised when the 2nd Vice president, Dr. Foluke DADA who was assigned to look into the NBA Ikorodu ELECTION crisis took side and recommended that fresh election be conducted to the office of the Vice president which I currently occupy as it is open secret that BAYO AKINLADE, LEVI ADKWAONE, JULIUS NNAMANI, GLORIA CASSIUS, DR. FOLUKE DADA and others all being to the OBI OKAFOR camp during the run off to the last NBA National Presidential Election.

We have moved on peacefully as a branch since then and I have presided over our December 2018 monthly meeting in the stead of the chairman during his absence in line with the Uniform Bye Law. This issue however re-surfaced recently, when I queried the “two conflicting branch Accounts” presented by the BAYO AKINLADE led EXCO where be imported expenses incurred in early 2017 by his benefactor and predecessor MR. LEVI ADIKWAONE to September 2018 expenditure and a claim of PR Expenses to “process Government forges of N5. Million” freely given to all branches by the Lagos State Government which appeared in one of the accounts, and disappeared in the other after the query.

Angered by my criticism, he hurriedly constituted a branch Electoral Committee at our last monthly meeting of 4th March, 2019 with a mandate to conduct a Bye-Election within 2 weeks through a show of hand by members “contrary to the recommendation on the 2nd Vice President’s report in this regard which is still awaiting to the NBA President’s action”. I call on your good office to intervene and correct this ugly situation and save our branch from unnecessary further crisis.”

After the incidence, some lawyers have reacted to the crisis rocking the branch.

According to one of the lawyers who spoke, the crisis in the branch is not what anyone outside Ikorodu should take side.

”Sometimes, I wonder what exactly the National NBA wants. The crisis in Ikorodu branch is not what anyone outside Ikorodu should take sides with, without first understanding the dynamics of the crises.

In Ikorodu, the more you look, the less you see. If only we understand the dangers of godfatherism, and understand that it leaves a bitter taste in the mouth of “innocent” people; then we would watch our every conduct.

Its just sad that Mr. Bayo Akinlade inherited a polarized branch. Despite all his efforts to rebuild same, certain individuals have consistently pushed a brick wall to him. I really admire the guy, he’s got real guts. Are there no pressing needs that begs for attention that National body should concern itself with?

Well, whatever has a beginning must have an end. We are watching.”

Another lawyer who spoke said that in his opinion, he will advise Mr. Akinlade to remain firm and resolute, if he believes what he is doing is right even if he needs to stand alone. According to him, life is a series of battle; we must continue in the fight against oppression and tyranny until victory is attained, stressing that nevertheless, we should be cautious of people around us.

”In my humble opinion, I will advise Mr. Akinlade to remain firm and resolute, if he believes what he is doing is right even if he needs to stand alone.

”Life is a series of battle, we must continue in the fight against oppression and tyranny until victory is attained. Nevertheless, we should be cautious of people around us, ” he said.