Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya Takes Over as NBA President, Pledges Stronger, Member-Focused Bar

By Victor Idajili

The Nigerian Bar Association has ushered in new leadership with the swearing-in of Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya, SAN, as its 33rd President during the NBA’s 66th Annual General Conference in Port Harcourt on Friday.

In her first speech as president, Badejo-Okusanya promised to lead a “bolder Bar” that will defend democracy, protect judicial independence, and prioritize the welfare of lawyers across the country.

She said the association must be bold enough to hold those in power to account, while also maintaining discipline and credibility.

“The NBA must be independent enough to challenge those in power, disciplined enough to command credibility and courageous enough to act whenever fundamental rights, judicial independence and the rule of law are under threat,” she stated.

Badejo-Okusanya stressed that the Bar will engage government on issues of public interest, but will not align with any political party, region, religion or individual.

“We will engage governments constructively but we will not be captured by any government, party, region, religion, interest or individual. Our loyalty is to the Constitution, to justice, to the rule of law and to you, the members whose mandates we hold in trust,” she said.

  
The new NBA leader said her administration will back the judiciary but will not keep quiet over problems affecting the justice system.

“We will defend judicial independence but we will not be indifferent to delay, conflicting decisions, corruption or conduct that diminishes public confidence,” she noted.  
“Respect for institutions does not require silence about their shortcomings. True respect requires the courage to help them become better.”

Badejo-Okusanya outlined plans to digitize NBA services to make them faster and more transparent. A new members’ portal will allow lawyers to upload credentials for appointments and other opportunities.

She also announced plans for subsidized electronic law reports and a revamped NBA affinity card that will offer discounts on flights, hotels, shopping and healthcare.

On remuneration, she said the NBA will push the Attorney-General of the Federation to enforce the Legal Practitioners’ Remuneration Order. A committee will be set up to find lawful ways to ensure young and vulnerable lawyers earn a living wage.

Healthcare will also get attention. The president disclosed ongoing talks with the African Medical Centre of Excellence and King’s College Hospital, London, to provide discounted health screenings for lawyers, and possible medical outreaches in NBA branches nationwide.

“A healthier Bar is a stronger Bar, and a stronger Bar is a bolder Bar,” she said.

Outgoing NBA President, Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, urged members to rally behind the new administration. He said Badejo-Okusanya’s emergence was based on competence, not gender.

“Today we celebrate that the female president has been elected. We must not see it as tokenism. She won on her merit. She just happens to be a woman,” Osigwe said.  
“A leader has emerged. You may not have supported her, but by winning, all of us are her supporters.”

He advised members to offer constructive criticism rather than make allegations that could harm the association’s image.

Reflecting on his tenure, Osigwe apologized for any missteps and said leading the NBA taught him patience and tolerance. “We made a promise to you to be a proactive Bar. We did our best to do that,” he added.

Female lawyers at the conference said they expect the new leadership to deliver tangible improvements in welfare, job opportunities, and professional growth.