NBA President Defends Petition Against Lawyer Okutepa

Afam Osigwe, the president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), has defended the petition submitted to the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) against senior lawyer Jibrin Okutepa. Osigwe insists that the petition is rooted in the need for accountability within the legal profession and is not a personal vendetta.

The controversy arises from allegations of misconduct related to Okutepa's involvement in a suit challenging the constitutionality of the NBA Electoral Committee. Osigwe clarified that the issue at hand is not whether Okutepa had the right to accept a legal brief but rather the manner in which he exercised that right, particularly concerning ethical obligations during ex parte proceedings.

He emphasized that the petition was initiated in good faith and is not intended as a personal attack. The NBA's actions are framed as necessary for addressing serious professional concerns, and Osigwe highlighted the importance of full disclosure in legal proceedings, particularly in ex parte applications.