Despite the subsisting Order of Court restraining the Caretaker Committee illegally appointed by the AB Mahmoud SAN, by the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory as a consequence of the unlawful steps of Nigerian Bar Association at its meeting held in Aba, Abia State in 2017, regarding the Abuja branch of NBA, which Court Order the National leadership of the Association led by Mr. Abubakar Balarabe Mahmoud, SAN has continued to treat with brazen contempt.


The illegal committee headed by one Princess Frank Chukwuani, a staff of the Ministry of Justice has continued to parade themselves as leaders of the Nigerian Bar Association Abuja branch, otherwise known as Unity Bar, in outright disobedience to subsisting court order.

In a statement signed by the authentic Chairman of the branch, Ezenwa Anumnu Esq and made available to the press, he expressed worry that a major stakeholder in the temple of justice is disparaging, disrespecting, and denigrating the authority of a Court of competent jurisdiction by disobeying a valid Order of Court. One wonders why Mr. Mahmoud, a major beneficiary of the Rule of Law, having been ousted as NBA President by the valid and subsisting judgment of Hon. Justice J. Tsoho of the Federal High Court, siting in Abuja, in April 2017 and is currently on appeal while status quo is currently being maintained in his favour by members of the Bar.

The statement described the 2018 annual law week being organized by the Committee under the Chairmanship of Mr. Mahmoud as an act of illegality.

The statement said,

“It is unfortunate that this kind of thing is coming from the National leadership of Nigerian Bar Association who should lead the way in ensuring that justice is done. Lawyers should serve as examples to the larger society when it comes to obedience to court orders and rule of law in the country.

“If the Leadership of the NBA is selecting which court order to obey and which one to disregard, disparage and disobey; then the nation’s judicial system is in trouble. And, by using underhand tactics to foist helplessness to our judicial processes, they are simply setting bad precedents and saying goodbye to the observance of the rule of law and freedom in our society. The politicians in the country are also watching what is happening in the temple of justice and would follow suit, as we march towards 2019 General elections.

“The Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, who is scheduled to give a keynote address at the event, stands the risk of contempt of court, amongst other distinguished citizens that may not be aware, or who may choose to ignore the legal implication of participating in the said event.”

Recall that the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, in the Abuja Judicial Division holding at Apo, before his lordship, Justice U. P. Kekemeke in the suit with No: FCT/HC/CV/277/16 granted the interlocutory reliefs sought by Ezenwa Anumnu (Plaintiff) against Incorporated Trustees of the Nigerian Bar Association (Defendant).

The order reads in part, “Considering the written argument of Tolu Babaleye, Esq. Counsel to the Plaintiff/Applicant praying the court to grant the reliefs as contained in the motion paper and Defendant’s counsel Mas’ud Mobolaji Alabelewe Esq. Opposing the application and the court being satisfied that there is merit in the reliefs sought do hereby orders as follows:

“An Order of Interlocutory Injunction is hereby issued restraining the Defendant/ Respondent either by itself, agents, officials, and privies or the purported Caretaker Committee or any other Committee by whatever name called and constituted pursuant to the resolution of the National Executive Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association from putting into effect the resolution made at the National Executive Meeting, pending the determination of this suit.”

“The defendant / Respondent is further restrained either by itself, agents, officials, privies and or caretaker committee or any other committee by whatsoever name called and constituted pursuant to the Resolution of the National Executive of the Nigerian Bar Association from conducting any election whatsoever for the offices of Chairman and Secretary of the Nigerian Bar Association, Abuja Branch pending the determination of the substantive suit."

https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/271073-nba-president-flouting-court-order-abuja-bar-chairman.html

This is too bad. If this is true, it is a shame on the whole Nigerian Bar Association for a law maker to become a law breaker...