NBA condemnation follows the alleged appointment of convicted ex-pension boss Abdulrasheed Maina as patron of NBA Garki Branch, as the Bar orders immediate withdrawal and commences disciplinary action.
Sunday, January 25, 2026 | Abuja
NBA Condemnation of the purported appointment of Abdulrasheed Maina–convicted for stealing over ₦2 billion in pension funds–as “Grand Patron of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Garki Branch” has drawn a stern institutional response, with the Association warning that such actions make a mockery of the legal profession and Nigeria’s fight against corruption.
In NBA Condemnation a strongly worded statement issued by the national leadership of the Association, the NBA described the alleged action, attributed to the Chairman of the NBA Garki Branch, Mr. Anthony Bamidele Ojo, as ethically indefensible and incompatible with the values of the legal profession.
Speaking on behalf of the Association, NBA President, Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, said the purported appointment “paints the legal profession and the Nigerian Bar Association in a bad light” and undermines both public confidence in the justice system and the country’s anti-corruption efforts. NBA Condemnation.
“The purported appointment not only diminishes the standing of the NBA,” Osigwe stated, “but also makes a mockery of the government’s fight against corruption and the Association’s core mandate of promoting the rule of law.”
Institutional Integrity and the Moral Cost to Society
Beyond internal professional misconduct, the NBA warned that honouring individuals convicted of corruption carries grave societal implications, particularly in a country battling entrenched financial crimes and declining public trust in institutions.
According to the Association, celebrating or legitimising convicted persons sends a dangerous message that corruption is excusable once influence, wealth, or notoriety is attained.
“The Bar fails in its duty to society and the cause of justice when it condones, encourages, or remains silent in the face of corrupt practices,” the statement noted.
Globally, respected legal and professional bodies have adopted zero-tolerance standards to preserve institutional credibility. In South Africa, professional associations distanced themselves from figures linked to state capture to rebuild legitimacy. In Brazil, following the Lava Jato corruption scandal, honours and institutional affiliations were withdrawn to signal accountability. In advanced democracies such as the United States and United Kingdom, professional bodies routinely revoke honorary titles once criminal convictions are secured, regardless of pending appeals.
The NBA warned that deviating from this global norm risks normalising impunity and eroding ethical boundaries within society.
Sub Judice Concerns and Ethical Red Lines
The Association also condemned reported public comments made by the NBA Garki Branch Chairman concerning Mr. Maina’s appeal, believed to be pending before the Supreme Court.
While affirming every litigant’s constitutional right to exhaust the appellate process, the NBA stressed that no arm of the Bar must comment on, influence, or appear to prejudice matters that are sub judice.
Osigwe cautioned that any attempt by the Association or its officers to sway public opinion or judicial proceedings amounts to a grave violation of professional ethics and a direct affront to the rule of law.
Directives Issued, Disciplinary Action Triggered
Consequently, the NBA directed the Chairman of the Garki Branch to immediately withdraw any purported appointment of Abdulrasheed Maina as a patron of the Branch and to cease forthwith from issuing statements or representations in support of Mr. Maina or any litigant with pending court cases.
The Association further confirmed that following the NBA condemnation, disciplinary proceedings would be initiated against Mr. Ojo for conduct inconsistent with the Constitution of the NBA, the Rules of Professional Conduct, and the fundamental values of the legal profession.
“Integrity, accountability, respect for the judicial process, and the preservation of public confidence in the legal profession are non-negotiable,” the NBA leadership stated, adding that any conduct undermining these principles would attract firm institutional sanctions.
NBA Disclaims Appointment, Reaffirms Anti-Corruption Stance
The Nigerian Bar Association formally disclaimed the purported appointment of Abdulrasheed Maina as Grand Patron of NBA Garki Branch and reiterated its resolve to use its moral and institutional authority to combat corruption.
The Association stressed that the Bar must never become a vehicle for image laundering or social rehabilitation of individuals convicted of criminal offences, warning that such practices weaken justice systems and damage national credibility in the global community.
Visit GMTNewsng for more on NBA condemnation and other news stories.
