NBA Election: Judgment of FCT Abuja High Court Today!

NBA Lawsuit on the election Judgment delivered Friday afternoon 29^th July instant His Lordship held that contrary to the submissions of Mr Alegeh’s counsel, he has jurisdiction to hear and determine this matter but not minded to stopping the election though. What this implies is Lawyers will vote tomorrow 30^th and 31^st July instant as scheduled but bearing in mind many NBA members having been disenfranchised due to the shoddiness of NBA ICT Partner, once NBA voters (who evidently have locus) show evidence of payment of branch dues and practicing fees, wrongful exclusion from the process and failure to include their names on the e-voters register. The court could scrutinize Grace InfoTech’s e-conduct. Yes!.

In NBA Lagos premier branch for example 4,800 paid up and submitted to the national body who then fails to issue accreditation e-tags on a database that was in existence before now that could challenge the election results.

You want to know about Plaintiff’s disqualification for the office sought. The court has held that anyone disqualified from NBA election has the right to contest it and or to challenge the cabal’s unlawful and wrongful acts. Unfortunately the plaintiff had filed and signed his NBA forms for the office of National Publicity Secretary in a name distinct from the name entered in the Supreme Court enrollment thus: 

JOHN UNACHUKWU AUSTIN

Name on call to bar certificate and upon which he filed the suit:

JOHN ECHEZONA UNACHUKWU 

The court cited the Supreme Court authority we had seen Esenowo vs Ukpong (1999) 6 NWLR part 608, p.611 and held that they are not the same names that the person disqualified is different from the person who invoked his jurisdiction.

On e-voting in NBA Constitution and distinguishing it from i-voting, the court dealt the issue of locus standi and held that the plaintiff ought to show he had a special interest over and above other Lawyers to claim this  particular relief.

Yours Sincerely,

Carol Ajie

PS: You want to know the faith of our learned ladies who change enrollment names some of the time?

Bola Kufuriji

Bola Kufuriju – Olubi