The Abuja branch of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) also known as the Unity Branch now has a new chairman. He is Barrister Ezenwa Anumnu, who was elected unopposed. Other members of the new Executive are Lawrence Erewele as Secretary General, Barnabas Onswald (Treasurer), Amauche Onyedum (Assistant Secretary).

The electoral process that took place at the FCT High Court in Abuja was done in an atmosphere of tranquility.

NBA headquarters had in a letter dated 11th June 2016 addressed to Chief Ola Olanipekun, the Chairman of the NBA Abuja Branch Electoral Committee, and signed by Dafe Akpedeye (SAN) as the Chairman of the NBA Branch election monitoring committee upheld the candidacy of Mr Ezenwa Anumnu but disqualified nine other candidates for various reasons.

The disqualified candidates include Messrs Victor Abasi Ekim, Afam Okeke, R. S. Sadiq, Chinedum Obieru and Prince Adesotoye by virtue of the petition written by Mr Isong and 12 others.

Messrs Dan Nwobodo, Chief Nwaiwu, Ndubuisi Ozokoli and Victor Ekim were disqualified by virtue of the provisions of the NBA Uniform Bye-Laws.

Mr Ezenwa Anumnu, who before his election as Unity Bar Chairman, was the head of Section on Business Law (SBL) of the Branch and oversaw numerous Master Classes geared towards empowering young Lawyers in the FCT. His excellent leadership of SBL made him the most popular candidate during the election campaigns.

Meanwhile, Mr Ekim being urged on by the immediate past Chairman of the Association, Mr Elachi Agada and in disobedience to the National Directive of the NBA has done a parallel election claiming that the National secretariat has no power to direct the branch election committee on what to do as the bye Law provides that the decision of the branch election committee is final.

News Express reports that Abuja NBA had been enmeshed in controversy and serious allegations of financial mismanagement.

NBA will on Thursday (June 16) meet at Benin Edo State to deliberate on events within the Association and indeed the whole Nigeria.

•Photo shows NBA Abuja Chairman, Barrister Ezenwa Anumnu.

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