NBA president vows action against lawyers abusing colleagues online

The newly inaugurated President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya, SAN, has warned lawyers against using abusive language on social media, particularly during political disagreements.

Badejo-Okusanya, who assumed office as the 33rd NBA president on Friday, said her administration would not tolerate conduct capable of damaging the reputation of the legal profession.

She issued the warning during her inaugural address at the 66th Annual General Conference of the NBA in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, shortly after taking over from Afam Osigwe, SAN.

The NBA president expressed concern over what she described as the increasing use of insulting and offensive language by lawyers against their colleagues on social media.

She said lawyers found culpable of bringing the profession into disrepute would face disciplinary proceedings.

“Such lawyers will be subjected to public proceedings for bringing us all into disrepute in the eyes of the public,” she said.

“…We’re coming after you.”

Badejo-Okusanya also pledged to defend the independence of the judiciary while calling for greater accountability within the justice system.

She said the NBA would challenge delays in court proceedings, conflicting judgments, corruption and other practices that undermine public confidence in the judiciary.

“We will defend judicial independence, but we will not be indifferent to delay, conflicting decisions, corruption, or conduct that diminishes public confidence,” she said.

According to her, supporting judicial institutions should not prevent the NBA from demanding reforms where necessary.

On the association’s relationship with government, Badejo-Okusanya said the NBA would cooperate with authorities when it served the public interest but would remain independent of political parties, governments and other interest groups.

She pledged to promote the rule of law, constitutionalism and the interests of lawyers while ensuring that the association remained guided by facts, fairness and discipline.

The NBA president further promised to strengthen professional development opportunities for young lawyers, improve transparency in appointments, empower branches and expand the use of technology in the association.

She said her administration would also strengthen disciplinary processes for professional misconduct and ensure that members derive greater value from their membership.

Badejo-Okusanya disclosed that she had reviewed the manifestos of other candidates who contested the NBA presidential election and would incorporate useful proposals into her administration’s programmes, while giving credit to their originators.

She also announced that the 2027 NBA Annual General Conference would be held in Abuja, with preparations expected to begin immediately.

The NBA president, who was called to the Nigerian Bar in 2002, urged members to hold her administration accountable throughout its tenure.

“I don’t ask you for blind faith. I ask you to hold us to account,” she said.

She added that her administration would consolidate successful initiatives, fix areas that were not working and introduce reforms to meet the changing demands of legal practice.

Badejo-Okusanya pledged to leave the association stronger, with improved welfare, protection and professional opportunities for its members.

“The time for action is now. The work begins today. Let us build it together,” she said.