Why I Sent Okutepa SAN to LPDC, Exercised my Powers to Remove Him from Body of Benchers- NBA President Osigwe admits accusations as ECNBA Chairman and Secretary may be rewarded with Benchers position
The crisis within the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has escalated further, following a bold admission by NBA President, Afam Josiah Osigwe, that he personally initiated a petition against Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Jibrin Sam Okutepa, before the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee.
In a strongly worded response to Okutepa’s earlier allegations, Osigwe dismissed claims of victimisation, abuse of office, and political vendetta, insisting that his actions were rooted in professional accountability rather than personal conflict. He stated that while Okutepa has sought to frame himself as a victim of oppression, the issues raised in the petition are strictly ethical and fall within the purview of the disciplinary process.
According to the NBA President, the petition is not about Okutepa’s right to accept legal briefs or challenge the Electoral Committee of the NBA (ECNBA), which he acknowledged as fundamental within the adversarial system. Rather, he said the concern lies in how that right was exercised, particularly in relation to ex parte proceedings that resulted in far-reaching orders affecting the NBA’s electoral process.
Osigwe pointed to Suit No. I/221/2026, noting that the circumstances surrounding the procurement of interim orders in the case raised serious questions about whether all material facts were disclosed to the court. He emphasized that the duty of candour is heightened in ex parte applications, where the court relies solely on the good faith of counsel, and any omission—whether deliberate or inadvertent—could undermine the integrity of judicial proceedings.
He further anchored his argument on events at the NBA National Executive Committee meeting held in Benin, where the ECNBA was constituted. Osigwe maintained that the process followed established procedure, including the formal moving and adoption of a motion, and was reflected in an official communiqué that circulated widely without objection. He noted that Okutepa was present throughout the meeting and actively participated in its proceedings, a fact he argued ought to have been disclosed when seeking orders restraining the committee.
The NBA President also addressed allegations that he orchestrated moves to remove Okutepa from the Body of Benchers, describing such claims as misconceived. He explained that the Association merely exercised its discretion not to recommend Okutepa’s renewal in light of the pending disciplinary petition, adding that it would be inconsistent to endorse for reappointment an individual whose conduct is under review.
Insisting that the matter is neither personal nor political, Osigwe stressed that the LPDC remains the appropriate forum to determine whether any professional misconduct occurred. He rejected suggestions that the petition was intended to intimidate or silence Okutepa, maintaining instead that it represents a legitimate invocation of institutional mechanisms designed to uphold ethical standards within the legal profession.
ECNBA CHAIRMAN AND SECRETARY MAY REPLACE OKUTEPA SAN AT THE BoB
A senior advocate of Nigeria, who spoke to LawblogNG.com on condition of anonymity, disclosed that the Chairman of the ECNBA, Aham Ejelam, SAN, and the Committee’s Secretary, Aliyu Nasarawa, are being quietly positioned by the NBA President as possible replacements for Okutepa SAN at the Body of Benchers.
According to the source the move is deeply political and tied to Okutepa SAN’s opposition of the President, Afam Osigwe’s support for an NBA presidential candidate.
The senior lawyer claimed that the NBA President is confident of successfully pushing through the change, citing what he described as a “friendly alignment” between the new leadership of the Body of Benchers and his camp.
