The Petition That Led NBA President To Ask NBA Ikorodu Chair, To Put The Branch Election On Hold | Nairalaw

Crisis seems to be rocking the Ikorodu branch of the NBA
following the rejection of the just concluded election by the NBA
2nd VP, Dr. Foluke Dada.

A member of the branch, Ezekiel Ogbaide Esq., had earlier
petitioned the office of the General Secretary of the NBA asking
the NBA to intervene in what he describes as the ugly situation of
the branch. Following the receipt of the petition, the NBA
instructed the Chairman of the branch to put on hold the intention
to conduct an election for the supposed vacant office of the vice
chairman of the branch. However, contrary to the directive of the
NBA President, the Chairman of the branch conducted the bye-elction
which brought in Gloria Classius Esq., as the VC elect of the
branch. Reacting to the development, Dr. Foluke Dada, NBA 2nd VP,
described the election as a sham, and faulted the attitude of the
chairman for disobeying the directive of the number one National
officer of the Bar, stressing that the election is not
recognized.

Ezekiel Ogbaide Esq., in his petitioned had raised an alarm
claiming that there was a move by some persons in his branch to
steal his mandate. Excerpt of the petition reads:

“The election that produced the current Exco of Ikorodu branch
was characterized by controversies orchestrated by two rivals
factions of the branch. At the end of it all, the NBA National had
to intervene by constituting a care Take Committee to conduct the
election for the branch and I was returned unopposed as the Vice
Chairman having disqualified Gloria Classius Esq., for conflict in
the Affidavits purportedly sworn to by members of her faction in
relation to an alteration on her 2016 branch due receipt which was
also the basis for her disqualification in 2016 Election where no
affidavit were exhibited. In fact, in the history of the branch, it
is only the current Exco that comprise of persons with sworn
affidavits for qualification to contest an election.

The immediate past Chairman, Mr. Levi Adikwaone after failing
apart with our faction that brought him to power unopposed, crossed
to the rival opposing faction on an SOS propaganda of “they want to
impeach me”, constituted an Electoral Committee comprising members
of their faction with whom he held clandestine nocturnal meetings
aimed at installing BAYO AKINLADE and only members of their faction
in the current EXCO which they eventually achieved except myself
who is on the opposing camp. He encouraged other members of the
faction to depose to affidavits in 2018 to resurrect the forgone
issue of the alteration on Gloria Cassius 2016 branch due receipt
(which was the basis for her qualification in 2016) by claiming
responsibility for the alteration and ensure the disqualification
of all over formidable contestants to the office of the Chairman to
pave way for the emergence of BAYO AKINLADE.

Immediately after the election, we attended the 2018 AGC at
Abuja and BAYO AKINLADE encouraged members of his faction that
supported his emergence that NEVER registered for the Annual
General Conference to attend the Conference at the expense of the
branch. I raised an objection to this when they were effectively
bounced back at the entrance gate of the International Conference
Centre (ICC) venue of the Annual Conference and BAYO AKINLADE vowed
to ensure my removal from HIS EXCO which he had attempted
severally. He has refused to print the branch letter headed paper
with the names of the EXCO members because of me as confirmed in
the recently published newsletter of the branch with my name
conspicuously missing even when the proposed Election is yet to be
conducted.

I was therefore surprised when the 2nd Vice president, Dr.
Foluke DADA who was assigned to look into the NBA Ikorodu ELECTION
crisis took side and recommended that fresh election be conducted
to the office of the Vice president which I currently occupy as it
is open secret that BAYO AKINLADE, LEVI ADKWAONE, JULIUS NNAMANI,
GLORIA CASSIUS, DR. FOLUKE DADA and others all being to the OBI
OKAFOR camp during the run off to the last NBA National
Presidential Election.

We have moved on peacefully as a branch since then and I have
presided over our December 2018 monthly meeting in the stead of the
chairman during his absence in line with the Uniform Bye Law. This
issue however re-surfaced recently, when I queried the “two
conflicting branch Accounts” presented by the BAYO AKINLADE led
EXCO where be imported expenses incurred in early 2017 by his
benefactor and predecessor MR. LEVI ADIKWAONE to September 2018
expenditure and a claim of PR Expenses to “process Government
forges of N5. Million” freely given to all branches by the Lagos
State Government which appeared in one of the accounts, and
disappeared in the other after the query.

Angered by my criticism, he hurriedly constituted a branch
Electoral Committee at our last monthly meeting of 4th March, 2019
with a mandate to conduct a Bye-Election within 2 weeks through a
show of hand by members “contrary to the recommendation on the 2nd
Vice President’s report in this regard which is still awaiting to
the NBA President’s action”. I call on your good office to
intervene and correct this ugly situation and save our branch from
unnecessary further crisis.”

After the incidence, some lawyers have reacted to the crisis
rocking the branch.

According to one of the lawyers who spoke, the crisis in the
branch is not what anyone outside Ikorodu should take side.

”Sometimes, I wonder what exactly the National NBA wants. The
crisis in Ikorodu branch is not what anyone outside Ikorodu should
take sides with, without first understanding the dynamics of the
crises.

In Ikorodu, the more you look, the less you see. If only we
understand the dangers of godfatherism, and understand that it
leaves a bitter taste in the mouth of “innocent” people; then we
would watch our every conduct.

Its just sad that Mr. Bayo Akinlade inherited a polarized
branch. Despite all his efforts to rebuild same, certain
individuals have consistently pushed a brick wall to him. I really
admire the guy, he’s got real guts. Are there no pressing needs
that begs for attention that National body should concern itself
with?

Well, whatever has a beginning must have an end. We are
watching.”

Another lawyer who spoke said that in his opinion, he will
advise Mr. Akinlade to remain firm and resolute, if he believes
what he is doing is right even if he needs to stand alone.
According to him, life is a series of battle; we must continue in
the fight against oppression and tyranny until victory is attained,
stressing that nevertheless, we should be cautious of people around
us.

”In my humble opinion, I will advise Mr. Akinlade to remain firm
and resolute, if he believes what he is doing is right even if he
needs to stand alone.

”Life is a series of battle, we must continue in the fight
against oppression and tyranny until victory is attained.
Nevertheless, we should be cautious of people around us, ” he
said.