NBA: “Hypocrisy of the Blind: Senior Advocate Unleashes Scathing Attack on Murray”
A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Musibau Adetunbi, has launched a strongly worded rebuttal against fellow silk Muritala Abdul-Rasheed (popularly known as “Murray”), accusing him of hypocrisy and bias over his recent calls for the resignation or impeachment of the President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Afam Osigwe, SAN.
In a detailed statement titled “Murray and the Hypocrisy of the Blind,” Adetunbi argued that Abdul-Rasheed’s repeated demands for Osigwe’s removal were not driven by genuine concern for the integrity of the Bar, but rather by political motives.
At the centre of the controversy is an allegation that Senior Advocates who attended the NBA National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Maiduguri received $2,000 from the Borno State Government. Abdul-Rasheed had cited the allegation as grounds for Osigwe’s removal, urging even the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation to intervene.
However, Adetunbi faulted the approach, describing it as a “conviction without hearing.” He argued that if the allegation were to be treated as misconduct, it would implicate all Senior Advocates present at the meeting, including prominent NBA presidential aspirants, rather than Osigwe alone.
According to him, there is neither criminal nor moral wrongdoing in accepting voluntary hospitality, suggesting that the funds were reportedly given by Shehu Kaka, SAN, as a gesture to colleagues. He questioned why similar gestures, such as gifts of traditional attire allegedly distributed at the same event, have not attracted equal scrutiny.
On the issue of alleged partisanship, Adetunbi maintained that the integrity of NBA elections rests primarily with the Electoral Committee of the NBA (ECNBA), not solely the NBA President. He referenced the role of past ECNBA leadership, including respected figures like Seun Abimbola, SAN, to argue that the electoral body operates independently.
He further accused Abdul-Rasheed and elements within the Egbe Amofin of inconsistency, noting that similar political alignments and endorsements occurred in previous election cycles without objection from Osigwe or others.
Adetunbi also dismissed allegations that Osigwe described lawyers and judges as “worst bribe takers,” stating that the claim lacks credible evidence. He instead framed Osigwe’s remarks at the NBA Conference in Enugu as a broader critique of systemic issues within the justice sector, echoing concerns earlier raised by the Sultan of Sokoto.
In his conclusion, Adetunbi warned against what he described as a campaign to “destroy” the NBA President for political advantage ahead of future elections. He urged restraint, introspection, and adherence to due process, emphasizing that internal disputes within the Bar should not undermine its institutional integrity.
