Women Lawyers Hail Badejo-Okusanya’s Emergence As NBA’s 2nd Female President

BY OLUGBENGA SOYELE, Lagos and OLAKUNLE OLASANMI, Abuja

Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya (SAN) made history yesterday as the second female president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), 35 years after Dame Priscilla Kuye assumed the role in 1991.

Mrs Kuye became president from her position as First Vice President after the then president of the association, Chief Clement Akpamgbo (SAN), was appointed Attorney-General and Minister of Justice by the military government of General Ibrahim Babangida.

Badejo-Okusanya’s victory followed a fiercely contested three-way election in which she defeated fellow Senior Advocates of Nigeria, Lateef Omoyemi Akangbe and Aare Olumuyiwa Akinboro.

She secured 12,317 votes out of the 26,106 ballots cast, representing 47.18 per cent. Akangbe came second with 7,934 votes, while Akinboro received 5,855 votes.

The NBA president-elect, a founding partner of Africa Law Practice NG & Company, has built a legal career spanning litigation, arbitration, and alternative dispute resolution. She is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and serves on the board of the Lagos Court of Arbitration.

She earned a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) degree in English from the University of Lagos before pursuing a law degree at the same institution. She was called to the Nigerian Bar in 2002.

The senior lawyer was appointed Senior Special Assistant on Justice Sector Reform to then Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola, whom she also served as General Counsel.

But her victory cannot be explained by gender alone, as one perceived advantage she held over her opponents was her relative distance from the NBA’s traditional national political establishment.

Unlike some past NBA presidents and her opponents in the election, she had not previously held a major national elective position within the association.

Her campaign also appeared to resonate strongly with lawyers who wanted the NBA to focus more directly on the economic and professional welfare of its members.

Her message, “A Bolder Bar That Works for Everyone,” was built around the promise that lawyers should “earn better, live better and practise better.”

She also signalled her intention to make the NBA more responsive to the realities faced by lawyers outside traditional centres of influence.

This could be significant in a profession whose members operate across private practice, government, academia, corporate organisations, and other specialised fields of law.

In her acceptance speech, Badejo-Okusanya pledged to lead with “integrity, courage, humility, fairness, and accountability.”

She also promised to work with her former opponents, saying the election was over and that members remained united by their commitment to advancing the profession, justice, and the rule of law.

Before the election, Badejo-Okusanya received significant support from prominent women in the legal sector.

Senior female lawyers, including Senior Advocates Funke Adekoya, Yinka Omorogbe, Ronke Adeyemi, Funke Agbor, and former Education Minister, Dr Oby Ezekwesili, publicly endorsed her candidacy.

Their support reflected both confidence in her professional credentials and the symbolic importance of a woman returning to the presidency of the NBA after more than three decades.

In her endorsement, Mrs Adekoya argued that the NBA had historically achieved some of its most significant reforms under presidents who emerged from outside the traditional circle of national NBA politics.

“She is open to refreshing the NBA and the legal profession, absent preconceived views from holding a national office previously.”

Omorogbe described her as a lawyer with the experience, courage, and temperament required to lead the Bar at a critical period, while also highlighting her commitment to mentoring younger lawyers.

Adeyemi said her record reflected competence, consistency, and dedication to institutional development.

“I have every confidence that Mrs Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya (SAN) will lead with wisdom, integrity, and an abiding commitment to the continued growth of our Association.”

Ezekwesili, who endorsed her candidacy before the election, described her as a lawyer whose engagements frequently focused on professional ethics, arbitration, governance, and improving conditions for young practitioners.

Her election has therefore raised expectations beyond the symbolic fact that a woman is leading the NBA for only the second time.

Her victory followed an election delayed by several hours after the NBA Electoral Committee announced that its electronic voting platform had been hacked.

The process was subsequently moved to a new domain, and lawyers also reported technical and authentication issues.

Her two defeated opponents rejected the result and raised concerns about the conduct of the election.

Consequently, one of Badejo-Okusanya’s immediate tasks will be to unify a Bar that has emerged from a highly polarised electoral process.

The main challenge will be whether she can turn her promise of a “Bolder Bar That Works for Everyone” into tangible improvements in lawyers’ professional and financial prospects while also uniting a profession emerging from a deeply divisive election.

 

What To Know About the New NBA President

Mrs Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya, SAN, made history by becoming the second female elected president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA). She was declared the winner of the election at about 7:30 am by the chairman of the Electoral Committee of the NBA, Aham Ejelam, SAN.

With her emergence as the winner of the election, she has become the 33rd president of the association.

Mrs Priscilla Kuye served as president of the association between 1991 and 1992 after the then Head of State, General Ibrahim Babangida, appointed the elected president of the association, late Chief Clement Akpamgbo, SAN, as Attorney-General and Minister of Justice.

Badejo-Okusanya secured 12,317 votes, representing 47.18 per cent of the 26,106 ballots cast in the NBA’s electronic election, defeating fellow Senior Advocates of Nigeria, Lateef Omoyemi Akangbe and Olumuyiwa Akinboro.

 

Academics

Mrs Badejo-Okusanya holds two degrees from the University of Lagos. She earned a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) degree in English and a Bachelor of Laws degree from the institution before being called to the Nigerian Bar in 2002.

Since her call to the Bar in 2002, she has distinguished herself in the legal profession.

 

Career

She began her legal practice at Olaniwun Ajayi LP, where she gained experience in litigation and commercial law.

In 2007, she was appointed Senior Special Assistant on Justice Sector Reform to then Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola. She contributed significantly to justice-sector reforms in Lagos State.

She later became a founding partner of Africa Law Practice NG & Company (ALP NG & Co.). In 2017, she served as Co-Head of the Litigation and Dispute Resolution Practice. The firm has grown into one of Nigeria’s leading commercial law firms, with affiliations across Africa.

Having contributed to the development of law in the country, she was conferred with the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) in 2025.

Before she was elected president of the association, she served as assistant secretary of the NBA Lagos Branch, a delegate to the 2006 NBA elections, and a member of several national committees, including the Future of the Legal Profession Committee and the Conference Investigation Committee.

She was Alternate Chair of the 2023 NBA Annual General Conference Planning Committee before serving as Chair of the 2024 conference.

Her contributions to the association also led to her co-option into the NBA National Executive Council in 2022. She received the NBA Presidential Medal of Service in August 2024 in recognition of her outstanding service.

Badejo-Okusanya is also an accomplished arbitration practitioner with memberships in several respected international organisations, including the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA), International Council for Commercial Arbitration (ICCA), International Bar Association (IBA), Commonwealth Lawyers Association (CLA), African Arbitration Association, ArbitralWomen, International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), and African Women Lawyers Association (AWLA), where she is a life member.

She also serves on the Board of the Lagos Court of Arbitration (LCA).

 

Advantage Over Other Contestants

Apart from her impressive qualifications, Badejo-Okusanya appeared to have an advantage over other contestants because one of her opponents was perceived by some lawyers as a government-backed candidate.

The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, and the outgoing president of the association, Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, had disagreed over issues surrounding the conduct of the election.

Many lawyers believed the government was interested in who would emerge as the association’s president.

There were reports that the Attorney-General called for the suspension or postponement of the election.

Following the perceived interest of the government in who would lead the association, some lawyers decided to take their destinies into their own hands.

Shortly after the election results were announced, Mazi Osigwe revealed that some individuals had planned to truncate the process.

According to him, the story of how the election was nearly sabotaged would be told.

He said: “Our colleagues planned to truncate the election, but we stood firm. Every effort to derail this process failed. This is a trying time for the Bar. In the buildup to this election, many went to great lengths to rubbish the association.

“To those who won, be magnanimous in victory; for those who lost, there is always another day. The cyberattack shows that we must do more to protect data. Let us collectively do things properly.

“Someday, the story will be told of how this election was almost sabotaged.

“We must be able to promote the rule of law, and the NBA, made up of lawyers, should be able to determine the course of its electoral process. Where we made mistakes, my successor will correct them.

“Winners should extend the hand of fellowship to those who lost and have a united front to move the Bar forward.

“The unity of the Bar cannot and should never be negotiated. As I bow out, I wish the new EXCO all the very best in office.

“May we never see that day when those who lead us will be elected by people other than lawyers.”

 

Promise to Unite the Bar and New Dawn for Lawyers

At a time when the Nigerian Bar is in dire need of unity, the newly elected president has promised an all-inclusive Bar. According to her, the Bar needs to come together to forge a common front.

She expressed gratitude to lawyers across the country for entrusting her with the responsibility of leading the NBA, describing her victory as a mandate to build “A Bolder Bar That Works for Everyone.”

“I am truly humbled by the confidence that members of the Nigerian Bar Association have reposed in me by electing me to serve as your President. Thank you for believing in our shared vision of A Bolder Bar That Works for Everyone,” she said.

Badejo-Okusanya said the campaign period provided an opportunity to engage legal practitioners across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, noting that the concerns and aspirations expressed by members would shape the direction of her administration.

“I listened to your hopes, your concerns, your aspirations, and your ideas. Those conversations shaped this campaign, and they will continue to guide my leadership,” she stated.

Calling for unity after the keenly contested election, the president-elect urged members to put the contest behind them and work together to strengthen the association and uphold the legal profession.

“The election is over. We are one Bar, united by a common commitment to the advancement of our profession and the defence of justice and the rule of law,” she said.

“Together, we will build an Association where every lawyer has the opportunity to earn better, live better, and practise better. The work begins now,” she added.

 

FIDA and the New NBA President

The new NBA president is expected to work closely with the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) Nigeria to advance the interests of women lawyers in Nigeria.

As a member of FIDA, she is already familiar with the challenges facing women lawyers.

Shortly after the election, FIDA Nigeria described her as one of its own.

“FIDA Nigeria proudly celebrates Mrs Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya, one of our own, on her elevation to the prestigious rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN); a crowning achievement born of brilliance, resilience, and unshakable dedication to the legal profession.

“This milestone is far more than a personal triumph; it is a beacon of inspiration to women in law and beyond. It reaffirms that with courage, excellence, and determination, women can shatter barriers and rise to the very pinnacle of the Bar, making history along the way.

“As she steps into this new chapter, adorned in silk, we are confident that Mrs Badejo-Okusanya will continue to embody the values of FIDA — justice, service, and dignity for women and children — while blazing a trail for the next generation of female advocates.

“FIDA Nigeria celebrates her as a trailblazer, a torchbearer, and a shining example for all,” FIDA said.

 

Controversy Trails NBA Election as Akinboro, Akangbe Reject Badejo-Okusanya’s Victory

The 2026 Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) national election has ignited fresh controversy, as two of the three presidential candidates, Aare Olumuyiwa Akinboro (SAN) and Lateef Akangbe (SAN), challenged the legitimacy of Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya (SAN) as the winner of the highly contested poll.

Badejo-Okusanya was declared the winner of the election by the Electoral Committee of the NBA (ECNBA) after securing 12,317 votes, accounting for 47.18 per cent of the total votes.

Akangbe secured second place with 7,934 votes, representing 30.39 per cent, while Akinboro garnered 5,855 votes, representing 22.43 per cent.

Nonetheless, the announcement of the results has not resolved the controversy surrounding the election, with the two defeated candidates continuing to object to the conduct and outcome of the voting.

Akinboro, a former NBA General Secretary, dismissed the process as a “charade,” citing irregularities in the electronic voting system, including alleged ballot manipulation and failures in the delivery of one-time passwords (OTPs).

He also alleged ballot errors, OTP delivery failures, and other irregularities which, according to him, prevented him from effectively participating in the election and undermined its credibility.

The former NBA General Secretary said he was consulting his team on the next course of action.

Akangbe, who finished second, also rejected the outcome and expressed doubts over the credibility and transparency of the voting process.

This development has cast a shadow over Badejo-Okusanya’s historic victory, making her only the second woman to lead the NBA after Dame Priscilla Kuye, who served as president between 1991 and 1992.

However, in her acceptance speech, Badejo-Okusanya called for unity within the legal profession and urged members to move beyond the bitterly fought election.

She stated: “Today, I stand before you with a heart filled with profound gratitude and a deep sense of responsibility.”

Badejo-Okusanya also stated that her victory was not hers alone but belonged to members who believed that the NBA could become “stronger, more inclusive, more responsive, and better positioned to serve the interests of all lawyers.”

The NBA president-elect further maintained that her nationwide consultations during the campaign enabled her to listen to the hopes, concerns, aspirations, and ideas of lawyers, and vowed that those conversations would inform her leadership.

She also extended her thanks to all members who participated in the election, regardless of which candidate they supported.

“The election is over. We are one Bar, united by a shared commitment to advancing our profession and defending justice and the rule of law,” Badejo-Okusanya stated.

She pledged to lead with “integrity, courage, humility, fairness, and accountability,” vowing to serve as president for all members of the association.

 

 

Election Controversies, Cyberattack and Voting Process

The post-election dispute is the latest in a series of controversies trailing the 2026 NBA election.

The poll was delayed for several hours after the ECNBA announced what it described as a coordinated cyberattack on its electronic voting platform.

Voting, originally scheduled to commence at midnight on July 18, began at 7:35 am after the committee moved the process to a new domain and introduced additional security measures.

The disruption was followed by complaints of technical difficulties, including alleged OTP failures, voter authentication issues, and concerns over the integrity of the electronic voting system.

The election had also been preceded by disputes over alleged attempts to postpone the poll, dissolve the ECNBA, and introduce changes to the voting and authentication process.

The NBA leadership rejected what it described as purported directives linked to the Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), insisting that the association was autonomous and that only its constitutional organs could determine the conduct or postponement of its elections.

There were also calls from some stakeholders for the use of the National Identification Number (NIN) and registered telephone numbers to authenticate voters, amid concerns over the security of email-based verification and the possible interception of OTPs.

The NBA’s National Executive Council eventually voted overwhelmingly to proceed with the election as scheduled, with 127 members supporting the July 18 poll, while 15 favoured a one-week postponement.