A group of Nigerian lawyers, led by the Nigerian Law Society (NLS), have suggested that the Law Society of Lesotho oversee the 2026 NBA National Officers’ Election in response to a lawsuit that is jeopardising the event.
The proposal was made in a letter dated March 6, 2026, by the Nigerian Law Society. It was addressed to the NBA President, Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, and Jibrin Samuel Okupeta, SAN, who is lead counsel to a group of NBA members who have gone to court to stop the election. The letter was signed by the society’s Executive Director, Dr. Tonye Clinton Jaja.
Concerns about the NBA president and electoral committee members’ neutrality in running the election gave rise to the lawsuit.
An interim injunction barring the electoral committee and the NBA President from proceeding with the exercise was issued by an Oyo State High Court, putting plans for the election on hold.
The letter from the Nigerian Law Society to the NBA President and the plaintiffs suggested a compromise outside of court, with the Law Society of Lesotho acting as an impartial third party to oversee the election.
“The President of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, which is the umbrella association of all litigation lawyers in Nigeria (registered under the Legal Practitioners Act, 1962) has been sued at one of the High Courts of Nigeria,” reads part of the letter seen by Gistcon on Friday.
The reason for this is that his neutrality is allegedly called into question in the upcoming elections for national offices of the mentioned NBA, which are scheduled to take place by July 2026.
“The Nigerian Law Society (NLS) would like to take this opportunity to suggest an alternative to going to court: having the Law Society of Lesotho serve as an impartial third party throughout the aforementioned NBA elections.”
After the NBA and plaintiffs confirmed their acceptance of the idea, the NLS pushed for the parties to enter into a settlement agreement outside of court.
According to the NLS, “the best interests of the entire Nigerian legal profession, which comprises both litigation and non-litigation Nigerian lawyers,” would be served by a positive and speedy resolution to the problem.
In July of 2026, the National Basketball Association will hold its annual election to choose a president and other national executives.
However, the election is in jeopardy due to a lawsuit numbered 1/221/2026. The plaintiffs, who are NBA members, have requested that an Oyo State High Court halt the process.
Ibrahim Lawal, Esq., Raymond Oki, Esq., Chief Gabriel Ojo Adekunle Ijalana, and Omotan Olusola Ogunmodede are the plaintiffs in this case. First to ninth defendants, in that order, are the Incorporated Trustees of the NBA, NBA President Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, the Body of Benchers, the Attorney General of the Federation (in his role as Chairman, General Council of the Bar), Aham Ejelam, SAN, Ibrahim Aliyu Nasarawa, Esq., Muhamad M. Nuhu, Esq., Uju Okafor, Esq., and Ume Maduka, Esq.
In anticipation of the outcome of their lawsuit, the plaintiffs have already secured a restraining order that will prevent any additional steps related to the election.
An exparte application was filed by the applicants, and Justice G. A. Opayinka granted the reliefs sought in an order dated March 4, 2026.
This is what the judge had to say: “The 5th to 9th defendants/respondents are hereby restrained from parading or holding themselves out as the chairman, secretary or members of the Electoral Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association (ECNBA) or from performing, undertaking or participating in any acts, step or process whatsoever in furtherance of the conduct of the 2026 National Officers’ Election of the Nigerian Bar Association. This is pending the hearing and determination of the motion on noti
“Until the hearing and decision of the motion on notice for Interlocutory Injunction, the 2nd defendant (NBA President) is prohibited from doing anything related to the establishment and membership of the Nigerian Bar Association’s Electoral Committee, as well as from taking part in, overseeing, influencing, or otherwise interfering with the 2026 NBA National Officers’ Election.”
The date set for the hearing of the application for Interlocutory Injunction in the litigation is March 12, 2026.