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Senior Advocate Calls for Truce in NBA Leadership Dispute

From ThisDay · (2d ago) English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Joe-Kyari Gadzama, has called for an end to a dispute between the Nigerian Bar Association President, Afam Osigwe, and Jibrin Okutepa.
  • The rift, stemming from ex-parte orders and a petition to the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee, has caused division within the legal profession.
  • Gadzama urged restraint, dialogue, and internal resolution of issues like zoning, warning against using disciplinary processes for political battles ahead of the 2026 NBA elections.

The Nigerian legal landscape is currently grappling with a significant internal dispute, prompting calls for reconciliation from prominent figures like Joe-Kyari Gadzama, SAN. The public exchanges between the President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Afam Osigwe, SAN, and fellow Senior Advocate, Jibrin Okutepa, have cast a shadow over the profession at a critical juncture. Gadzama, a respected figure and pioneer Chairman of the NBA Section on Public Interest and Development Law (NBA-SPIDEL), has voiced deep concern over the escalating rift, emphasizing its potential to fracture the unity and tarnish the public image of the legal community.

The public exchanges between the two senior Lawyers have deepened the division within the Bar at a critical time.

— Joe-Kyari GadzamaExpressing concern about the impact of the dispute on the unity of the legal profession.

The core of the disagreement appears to involve ex-parte orders issued by the Oyo State High Court and a petition lodged with the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) against Okutepa by the NBA President. Gadzama has characterized the situation as 'unfortunate and avoidable,' highlighting that such public confrontations are detrimental, particularly as the NBA gears up for its national elections in 2026. The timing amplifies the concern, as internal squabbles can easily be exploited or misconstrued, impacting the Bar's collective strength and credibility.

Describing the situation as “unfortunate and avoidable”

— Joe-Kyari GadzamaCommenting on the nature of the rift between the NBA President and Jibrin Okutepa.

From a Nigerian perspective, the NBA is more than just a professional body; it is a vital institution that often plays a role in national discourse and advocacy. Internal divisions weaken this crucial voice. Gadzama's plea for statesmanship, dialogue, and quiet intervention by senior members underscores a desire to protect the Bar's integrity. He rightly points out that issues like zoning and constitutional interpretations, while contentious, should ideally be resolved through internal mechanisms. Furthermore, his caution against weaponizing disciplinary proceedings for political ends is a critical reminder of the need for due process and fairness, ensuring that such committees remain impartial arbiters rather than instruments of factional conflict. The hope for judicial clarity offers a path forward, but the immediate need is for peace and unity within the Bar.

the rising tension could damage the unity and public image of the legal profession, especially as the NBA prepares for its 2026 national elections.

— Joe-Kyari GadzamaWarning about the consequences of the dispute on the NBA's reputation and upcoming elections.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ThisDay in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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