Pinheiro To New NBA Leadership: A Divided Bar Cannot Fight for Justice And Good Governance

MICHAEL AKINOLA 

Prominent legal luminary ‘Kemi Pinheiro, SAN, has challenged the newly elected President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mrs. Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya, SAN, to make organizational unity her immediate priority as she takes the helm of Africa’s largest legal body.

Mrs. Badejo-Okusanya, affectionately called “Mrs. B” by colleagues, made history by becoming the first female president directly elected by the association’s membership.

In a powerful congratulatory statement, Pinheiro praised the President-elect’s proven excellence, inclusiveness, and boldness.

However, he quickly paired his praise with a candid assessment of the steep challenges awaiting her, explicitly warning that the prestigious association is currently fractured.

“The Bar is currently polarised along several lines; generational, ideological, and sometimes personal,” Pinheiro stated. “Healing these divisions and building a truly cohesive, inclusive, and purpose-driven Bar must be at the heart of your agenda.”

Pinheiro emphasised that internal unity is more than just an organizational goal, it is a national necessity.

He argued that a fractured NBA cannot effectively fulfill its public duty, noting that a unified Bar is vital to protect the rule of law, advance the welfare of lawyers, and serve as a strong voice for justice and good governance across Nigeria.

Badejo-Okusanya’s election marks a major institutional milestone. While Dame Priscilla Kuye served as NBA president in 1991, she did so by stepping up from the vice presidency following a resignation.

Badejo-Okusanya’s victory is the first time the general electorate of the Bar has voted a woman into the top seat.

Pledging his full backing to the incoming administration, Pinheiro concluded by offering his complete support to help realize a bolder, more united, and more effective Nigerian Bar Association.