Sir,
The above subject matter refers.
We, the 100 undersigned financial members of the NBA Keffi Branch, wish to clarify that there is no crisis in the Branch. The recent publication titled “Crisis Hits NBA Keffi as Members Seek to Suspend Executive, Demand Interim Committee” is malicious and unfounded.
The Branch Executive Committee has been functioning effectively and overseeing the Branch’s affairs diligently. The purported notice dated February 25, 2026, requesting a meeting to suspend the Executive Committee is a fabrication aimed at bringing the Branch into disrepute.
The only crises contemplated by Section 10 (1) (a), (b) and 11 (4) of the Nigerian Bar Association Uniform Bye-Laws for Branches, as contained in the Third Schedule, are at cross purpose with the demands in the requisition notice.
A General Meeting was duly convened on February 19, 2026, and continued on February 20, 2026, to constitute the members of the Branch Electoral Committee (BEC), in line with the Uniform Bye-Laws for Branches. The Branch Executive Committee acted within its powers under the NBA Constitution to appoint the Electoral Committee.
Assuming, without conceding, that there was a scintilla of irregularity in the appointment of the Branch Electoral Committee (BEC), Article 17 came into force to bring into effect the existence of the BEC, having been appointed at the General Assembly. The Article provides as follows:
Article 17
Validity of proceedings of any Annual General Meeting or any other meeting shall not be affected by any office vacancy or by any defect in the appointment or election of members or officers or by any irregularity in the proceedings.
The Chairman ruled some members out of order for speaking without permission and being disruptive during the meeting. This is in consonance with the power of the Chairman as provided in Article 4 of the First Schedule. It states thus:
Article 4
No member shall rise or commence to speak on any topic until recognized to do so by the Chairman.
The minutes of the meetings held in February are yet to be adopted, and making reference to them is premature and embarrassing. There is no justification for the formation of a caretaker committee, and we, the members of the Branch, reject this attempt to destabilize the Branch.
It is not only doubtless and unequivocal, it is also beyond peradventure that the Chairman’s ruling on any matter or business transacted at the General Assembly is final. See Article 18 of the First Schedule. It states thus:
Article 18
The ruling of the Chairman on all matters shall be final.
We believe the requisition notice is a malicious attempt to destabilize the Branch and undermine the efforts of the Executive Committee.
Signed by the following financial members:
100 Financial Members
Nigerian Bar Association
Keffi Branch
High Court Complex, Keffi
Nasarawa State
Kindly find attached:
REJOINDER TO A NOTICE OF REQUISITION ISSUED BY MEMBERS OF NBA KEFFI BRANCH
“the Purported Notice of Requisition dated 25 February 2026”
Crisis Rocks NBA Keffi as Members Move to Suspend Executive, Demand Caretaker
Committee
A group of members of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Keffi Branch, Nasarawa State, have issued a formal notice of requisition seeking the suspension of the Branch’s Executive Committee and the appointment of a caretaker committee to oversee its affairs.
The notice, dated February 25, 2026, and addressed to the Secretary, NBA Keffi Branch, High Court Complex, Keffi, was issued pursuant to Section 10.3(3)(a) and 11(3) of the NBA Uniform Bye-Laws (2020 as amended) and the Third Schedule of the NBA Constitution.
In the document titled “Notice of Requisition of a Meeting of the NBA Keffi Branch Pursuant to Section 10.3(3)(a) and 11(3) of the Nigerian Bar Association Uniform Bye-Laws (For Branches) 2020 as Amended and the Third Schedule of the Nigerian Bar Association Constitution 2015 (as Amended in 2021)”, the signatories resolved to convene a meeting to deliberate on what they described as irregularities in the conduct of branch affairs.
Grounds for Requisition
The requisitionists cited a series of events surrounding the Branch’s January General Meeting and a subsequent “Emergency Congress Meeting” held on February 20, 2026.
According to the notice, the Branch had earlier convened a General Meeting for January on February 19, 2026, but an invitation was allegedly issued the same day for an emergency congress scheduled for February 20, 2026, at 12 noon to conduct nomination of the Electoral Committee.
The members alleged that the Branch Executive Committee deliberately called the emergency meeting to order far beyond the scheduled time and failed to establish a point of order on the legality of conducting such business at an emergency meeting.
They further claimed that the Branch Chairman ruled on the point of order by invoking powers under the NBA Constitution and proceeded to read names purportedly for nomination into the Electoral Committee, despite what the requisitionists described as protests and resistance by members.
The document also alleged that the Branch Secretary continued to preside over discussions and decisions of the NBA Constitution, Legal and Human Rights Committee, despite being absent from the congress and not being the Assistant Secretary of the Branch.
Alleged Procedural Breaches
The requisitionists contended that the minutes of the February 20 meeting did not reflect the business transacted and were not properly circulated. They also alleged that the purportedly nominated Electoral Committee members were sworn in after the meeting, despite what they described as rejection by Congress.
The notice stated that the Branch Executive Committee cannot function and conduct an election within the time frame provided by law, adding that there was no foreseeable arrangement for an Annual General Meeting by the Executive Committee.
It maintained that, under the NBA Constitution, ultimate authority rests with the General Meeting, stressing the need to protect the sanctity of the General Meeting.
Demands
Among the prayers contained in the requisition are:
- The suspension of the Branch Executive Committee and the appointment of a caretaker committee to oversee the affairs of the Branch.
- Publication of a written apology by the Branch Chairman in two separate newspapers of wide circulation within the Branch.
- Mandating the caretaker committee to conduct elections within three months of its appointment.
- An undertaking by the caretaker committee to perform an audit of Branch books, including minutes and attendance registers.
- Immediate constitution of a new Branch Executive Committee upon compliance with the demands.
The document was endorsed by numerous members of the Branch, whose names and signatures appear on the attached pages.
As of the time of filing this report, there was no official response from the NBA Keffi Branch Executive Committee regarding the allegations and demands contained in the notice.
The development signals heightened tension within the Branch, as members await further action in line with the provisions of the NBA Constitution and Uniform Bye-Laws.
