The lingering dispute surrounding the controversial election of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Okitipupa Branch, returned to the Federal High Court in Akure on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, with the court fixing December 3, 2026, for hearing.
The latest development followed a fresh application by the plaintiffs seeking to amend their originating court processes to properly bring the current President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mrs. Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya, SAN, before the court in place of the former NBA president.
The application represents another development in the legal battle challenging the legality of the processes that culminated in the purported election of the Okitipupa Branch leadership. At the centre of the dispute are allegations that the procedures leading to the election disregarded decisions reached at the branch’s General Meeting and violated provisions of the NBA’s governing laws.
The plaintiffs are challenging the legitimacy of the electoral process, insisting that the internal governance structure of the professional association must be respected and that leadership elections must be conducted in accordance with established rules and procedures.
According to the plaintiffs’ position, the General Meeting occupies a significant place in the internal democratic structure of the branch, and its decisions cannot be disregarded in the process of determining the branch’s leadership.
They further maintain that internal democracy, compliance with the association’s governing laws and respect for established institutional procedures are essential to ensuring the legitimacy of leadership within the NBA.
The suit therefore places the legality of the disputed electoral process before the Federal High Court for judicial consideration, with the plaintiffs seeking to ensure that the association’s internal rules and decisions are given due recognition.
The request to amend the originating processes to reflect the current NBA president also signals an effort by the plaintiffs to properly update the parties before the court as the proceedings continue.
Following the proceedings on Wednesday, the Federal High Court, Akure, adjourned the matter to December 3, 2026, for hearing.
The next court date is expected to provide a further opportunity for the parties to advance their respective positions as the legal dispute over the Okitipupa Branch election continues.
Tope Temokun, Esq., lead counsel to the plaintiffs, issued the press release on October 14, 2026.
The outcome of the case could determine important questions concerning compliance with the Nigerian Bar Association’s internal governance procedures and the extent to which decisions of a branch’s General Meeting must be respected in disputes over leadership and elections.
The allegations and challenges raised by the plaintiffs remain subject to judicial determination, and the court’s eventual decision will be central to resolving the dispute.