Chief Yomi Alliyu SAN Questions ECNBA, Election Provider, Body of Benchers Appointments in Explosive Open Letter asking Ejelam SAN to Resign
Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Chief Yomi Alliyu, SAN, has launched a scathing attack on the preparations for the 2026 Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) national elections, questioning the composition of the Electoral Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association (ECNBA), the appointment of the election service provider and recent nominations to the Body of Benchers.
In a strongly worded open letter dated July 11, 2026, and addressed to the Chairman of the ECNBA, Sir Aham Eke Ejelam, SAN, Alliyu urged his former Nigerian Law School classmate to resign from the committee, warning that remaining in office could expose him to lasting reputational damage.
Describing Ejelam as a respected lawyer, knight, traditional title holder and former Chairman of the Ethics and Disciplinary Committee of the South-South region of the NBA, Alliyu said he was making the appeal because of Ejelam’s integrity and professional standing.
According to him, both men attended the Nigerian Law School in 1985, where they were taught the ethics and traditions of the legal profession by distinguished lecturers. He argued that Ejelam’s long-standing reputation should not be placed at risk by presiding over what he described as a controversial electoral process.
Alliyu alleged that the NBA had remained under the influence of a “cabal” since 2018 and cautioned Ejelam against allowing himself to become associated with what he claimed were persistent controversies surrounding the Association’s elections.
The senior advocate also criticised NBA President, Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, accusing him of diminishing the dignity of the office of the President of the Association. He argued that Ejelam should not permit himself to become “a willing tool” in a process that could ultimately tarnish his legacy.
Raising constitutional concerns, Alliyu questioned whether Ejelam’s appointment as ECNBA Chairman complied with the provisions of the NBA Constitution. He asked whether the appointment was the product of nominations made by members of the National Executive Council (NEC) during its Benin meeting or whether the names were simply presented by the NBA President for ratification.
The letter also cast doubt on the appointment of the service provider engaged to conduct the electronic election. Alliyu questioned who recommended the company to the ECNBA and whether members of the committee were aware of allegations relating to its corporate filings and previous involvement in NBA elections.
He further asked whether the service provider admitted during its interview with the ECNBA that it had participated in previous NBA elections and possessed the personal data of more than 70,000 members of the Association.
On the controversy surrounding the proposed use of the National Identification Number (NIN) as part of the electoral process, Alliyu disputed claims that Egbe Amofin O’odua had requested the adoption of NIN in court proceedings. Instead, he argued that, in view of what he described as recurring controversies over NBA elections since 2018, the Association should seriously consider introducing stronger verification measures, including NIN, to enhance the credibility of the voting process.
The SAN also defended the intervention of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, insisting that the Attorney-General merely issued “directions” rather than “directives” concerning the NBA electoral dispute.
According to him, those directions were advisory in nature and intended to encourage an amicable resolution of the disagreement. He also questioned allegations of bias levelled against the Attorney-General and former NBA President Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN, who chaired the three-member committee established to address the crisis.
Alliyu disclosed that several former NBA Presidents and former General Secretaries persuaded Olanipekun to accept the assignment, maintaining that the committee was constituted to help restore confidence in the Association’s electoral process.
He further argued that because the committee’s report was critical of the conduct of the current NBA leadership, questions naturally arose as to whether that same leadership should continue to supervise the conduct of the 2026 elections.
The senior lawyer also criticised the recent appointments of Ejelam and other ECNBA members to the Body of Benchers, describing the timing as morally questionable in view of their roles in the forthcoming election.
He alleged that the NBA President removed himself and Sam Okutepa, SAN, from the Body of Benchers to create vacancies for the new appointments because both are lead counsel in the legal proceedings instituted by Egbe Amofin O’odua.
Alliyu further alleged that the NBA President initiated disciplinary proceedings against Okutepa before the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee over his decision to represent Egbe Amofin O’odua in the ongoing litigation.
Concluding the letter, Alliyu urged Ejelam to reflect carefully on the significance of his role, warning that history would ultimately judge his actions during the 2026 NBA election.
“You are in the eye of history,” Alliyu wrote, adding that Ejelam could either be remembered for presiding over another controversial election or celebrated as a principled Bar leader who chose to act in accordance with his conscience.
The letter was signed by Chief Yomi Alliyu, SAN, FCIArb, Member of the Body of Benchers (2023–2026), Jagunmolu of Edeland and Elder Statesman of Egbe Amofin O’odua.
The report is written in a straight-news style and attributes the allegations and opinions to Chief Yomi Alliyu, SAN, rather than presenting them as established facts.
