Breaking: Court Issues Injunction Stopping NBA President, Afam Osigwe SAN, ECNBA from Conducting NBA Elections 2026
The build-up to the 2026 National Officers’ Election of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has been thrown into fresh controversy following a dramatic court order restraining the Electoral Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association (ECNBA) and the NBA President, Mazi Afam Josiah Osigwe, SAN, from taking further steps in relation to the election.
In what observers have described as a major judicial intervention capable of disrupting the NBA’s electoral timetable, the Oyo State High Court sitting in Ibadan granted an interim injunction halting the activities of the ECNBA pending further proceedings.
The order was delivered on Wednesday by G. A. Opayinka, Justice of the Oyo State High Court, following a Motion Ex-Parte filed by four lawyers: Ibrahim Lawal, Esq., Raymond Oki, Esq., Omotan Olusola Ogunmodede, Esq., and Chief Gabriel Ojo Adekunle Ijalana, Esq.
The applicants dragged before the court the Nigerian Bar Association, its President Afam Josiah Osigwe, SAN, the Body of Benchers, and the General Council of the Bar through the Attorney General of the Federation.
Also listed as defendants are members of the ECNBA: Aham Ejelam, SAN; Ibrahim Aliyu Nassarawa, Esq.; Muhamad M. Nuhu, Esq.; Uju Okafor, Esq.; and Ume Maduka, Esq.
In the ruling, the court restrained the 5th to 9th defendants from parading themselves as Chairman, Secretary, or members of the ECNBA or performing any act connected with the conduct of the 2026 NBA National Officers’ Election.
The court further ordered that Afam Josiah Osigwe, SAN must not take any step whatsoever toward the constitution or composition of the ECNBA or participate in supervising, influencing, or interfering with the conduct of the election pending the determination of the Motion on Notice for interlocutory injunction.
The application was moved by Tunji Ogunrinde, SAN, alongside R. O. Solahudeen, Esq., counsel for the claimants.
Legal observers say the order could significantly disrupt preparations for the NBA’s 2026 election, which is expected to take place in about four months.
With the ECNBA now restrained and the NBA President barred from further steps relating to the committee’s composition, the decision may trigger serious constitutional and political questions within the NBA about the future of the electoral process.
The court adjourned the matter to 12 March 2026 for the hearing of the Motion on Notice for interlocutory injunction.
