THE new Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) President, Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya (SAN), has vowed to take decisive action against lawyers who use abusive and insulting language against colleagues on social media, warning that lawyers found guilty would face public proceedings, saying such conducts damage the profession’s reputation.
According to her: “Such lawyers will be subjected to public proceedings for bringing us all into disrepute in the eyes of the public, who look up to us and are increasingly aghast, as all right-thinking colleagues are, at the type of language that lawyers employ on social media against other colleagues, all in the name of politics.
“So, we’re coming after you.”
Badejo-Okusanya, who was sworn in as the 33rd president during the Association’s 66th Annual General Conference in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, said her administration would have “scant tolerance” for professional misconduct, particularly the use of offensive language by lawyers in political disputes.
In her inaugural address after taking over from Mazi Afam Osigwe (SAN), Badejo-Okusanya pledged to defend judicial independence, while speaking out against delays, conflicting judgments, corruption and other practices capable of undermining public confidence in the justice system.
She said respect for the judiciary did not require the NBA to remain silent about its shortcomings, noting: “We will support the Bench while insisting on the integrity and efficiency of 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.
“Respect for institutions does not require silence about their shortcomings. True respect requires the courage to help them.”
She promised to engage government constructively, but warned that NBA would not become an instrument of any administration, political party, region, religion, interest group or individual.
Noting that NBA’s loyalty would remain with the Constitution, justice, the rule of law and its members, she said: “We will collaborate where collaboration advances the public good. We will challenge where challenge becomes necessary. And above all, we will act with facts, fairness, discipline, and boldness.”
Badejo-Okusanya promised continuity in NBA leadership, saying she would retain and build on initiatives that worked, while repairing those that did not, noting that having studied the manifestos of her co-contestants and identified ideas worthy of implementation: “Where we adopt them, I will not hesitate to acknowledge their source, and give credit where it’s due.”
The new NBA president stressed that the Association, which described as the largest body of legal professionals in Africa, with branches, sections, fora and committees, possess the knowledge, influence, creativity and courage needed to transform the profession and the country, was bigger than individual leaders; hence its progress must be cumulative and sustained.
She pledged to work towards a Bar where young lawyers across the country could access quality learning and professional opportunities, members could receive prompt responses to their concerns, branches are empowered, appointments transparent and technology works effectively.
She, however, vowed stronger consequences for professional misconduct, saying every lawyer should be able to see tangible value in belonging to the Association.
Badejo-Okusanya announced that next year’s Annual General Conference of the Association would be held in Abuja and preparations would begin immediately, with further details, including the theme and constitution of the planning committee, to be announced later.
She urged members to hold her administration accountable, saying: “I don’t ask you for blind faith; I ask you to hold us to account.
“Our administration will consolidate what works, repair what doesn’t, and build what the future demands.
“When our tenure ends, may it not be said merely that a woman became president. May it be said that the bar became better; that lawyers became protected and empowered.
“May it be said that we restored faith in what collective professional leadership can achieve. May it be said that we helped our members earn better, live better, and practice better.
“May it be said that we put members first and we delivered. May it be said that we left the association stronger than we met it.”
