The Midwest Bar Forum (MWBF) has replied the Egbe Amofin O’odua on its fiery letter accusing one of MWBF’s leaders and former Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) President, Mr. Augustine Alegeh SAN of attempting to sabotage Egbe’s consensus candidate for the NBA Presidency.
CITY LAWYER recalls that Egbe, an umbrella body of lawyers of Yoruba extraction, berated Alegeh for alleged attempt to sabotage the emergence of its consensus candidate, Mr. Olumuyiwa Akinboro SAN as the next NBA President, saying: “It is therefore baffling and profoundly disappointing that a former President and Trustee of our noble Association, who ought to be the custodian of its traditions and decisions, would now turn around to act in flagrant contradiction to the official and collective decision of his own region.”
CITY LAWYER gathered from unimpeachable sources that Alegeh, a highly influential power broker and king-maker in NBA political circles, may have thrown his weight behind another aspirant.
Continuing, Egbe wrote: “Egbe Amofin cannot, and shall not, fold its arms while such divisive tendencies are foisted upon our Association. We therefore issue a clear caution to all desperate leaders of the Bar to desist from this ethically reprehensible conduct, lest they incur the justified opprobrium of the Egbe Amofin and the right-thinking members of the Bar.”
But the Midwest Bar Forum deflated the accusation, saying that “While, we thank you for affirming the applicable constitutional provisions on sub-zoning of offices and the acceptance of same by the Western Zone, we are unable to agree with you that any member of the Midwest Bar Forum is, has or will dictate or impose on members of the Midwest Bar Forum any candidate for the 2026 NBA General Elections. The Midwest Bar Forum has not adopted any candidate for the NBA 2026 General Elections, as the Forum respects the rights of its members to exercise their franchise freely. Every member of the MWBF has only one vote. Therefore, Mr. Augustine Alegeh, SAN past President of the NBA has only one vote. We wish to also state that the MWBF is aware of four (4) candidates from the South West who have indicated interest in contesting for the office of the NBA President in 2026 and each of the four (4) candidates are still actively canvassing for support till date from NBA members.”
Led by fiery human rights activist, Mr. Kunle Edun SAN, the forum stated that “The MWBF having advised its members to step down their aspiration to contest for the office of the NBA President, 2026, and they have since complied, this leaves the field open only to the South West. The Forum looks forward to the South West producing the President of the Nigerian Bar Association in 2026. The MWBF, in the spirit of bar unity will support the candidate from the South West that emerges as the NBA President.”
Below is the full text of the MBWF response.
September 22, 2025.
The Chairman
Egbe Amofin O’odua
C/o NBA House, Iyanganku GRA
Ibadan, Oyo State.
Attn: Aare Isiaka Abiola Olagunju, SAN
Dear Sir,
RE: NIGERIAN BAR ASSOCIATION GENERAL ELECTIONS 2026: MIDWEST BAR FORUM CONCEDES OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE NIGERIAN BAR ASSOCIATION TO THE SOUTH-WEST.
RE: LET THE EGBE AMOFIN OODUA BREATH: CLARION CALL ON MR. AUGUSTINE ALEGEH, SAN TO STOP ENCOURAGING REBELLION AGAINST EGBE AMOFIN OODUA’S RESOLUTION.
Subject matter above refers.
We confirm receipt of your letter dated 17th September 2024 (year 2024 obviously being a typographical error, as it was received in 2025) which referenced our letter dated August 22, 2026 (should be 2025).
We note the points stated in the said letter, particularly paragraph 12 of your letter, confirming the adoption of the Midwest Bar Forum’s concession by the Nigerian Bar Association National Executive Council meeting held in Enugu on Saturday, the 23rd day of August, 2025 “as part of the fulfilment of the constitutional provisions micro-zoning within the NBA”.
While, we thank you for affirming the applicable constitutional provisions on sub-zoning of offices and the acceptance of same by the Western Zone, we are unable to agree with you that any member of the Midwest Bar Forum is, has or will dictate or impose on members of the Midwest Bar Forum any candidate for the 2026 NBA General Elections. The Midwest Bar Forum has not adopted any candidate for the NBA 2026 General Elections, as the Forum respects the rights of its members to exercise their franchise freely. Every member of the MWBF has only one vote. Therefore, Mr. Augustine Alegeh, SAN past President of the NBA has only one vote. We wish to also state that the MWBF is aware of four (4) candidates from the South West who have indicated interest in contesting for the office of the NBA President in 2026 and each of the four (4) candidates are still actively canvassing for support till date from NBA members.
The MWBF having advised its members to step down their aspiration to contest for the office of the NBA President, 2026, and they have since complied, this leaves the field open only to the South West. The Forum looks forward to the South West producing the President of the Nigerian Bar Association in 2026. The MWBF, in the spirit of bar unity will support the candidate from the South West that emerges as the NBA President.
While we remain committed to the ideals of the NBA, as espoused in the provisions of the NBA Constitution, please do accept our esteemed regards.
Yours Sincerely,
___________________ ______________
Olukunle O. Edun, SAN Mr. Kelly Ogbe
(Chairman) (Secretary)
Cc:
Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN
President, Nigerian Bar Association
National Executive Council
Nigerian Bar Association
Trustees
Nigerian Bar Association
Past Presidents
Nigerian Bar Association.
Past General Secretaries
Nigerian Bar Association
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