The Electoral Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association (ECNBA) has responded to an inquiry from a lawyer, Mr. Olasupo Ojo, who sought clarity on the zoning of NBA offices in the upcoming national election later this year.

The Committee’s response was contained in a letter dated February 1, 2022, which was sighted by our correspondent.

Mr. Ojo’s request, according to the Committee, fell beyond the scope of the Committee’s obligations under the NBA Constitution because it currently lacks the authority to issue advisory opinions.

The letter signed by the Chairman and Secretary of the ECNBA, Richard Akintunde SAN and Ms. Mabel Ekeke reads in part; “The duties of the ECNBA are governed by the statutory instruments of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and does not, regrettably at the moment, extend to providing advisory opinions”

Notwithstanding, the Committee in the letter assured Mr Ojo that it would “administer the applicable rules fairly and firmly at all times.”

Earlier, Olasupo Ojo wrote to the ECNBA, responsible for organising and conducting the NBA’s election scheduled to hold this year, seeking clarification on the implication of section 9(3) of the NBA Constitution ad paragraphs 2.2(b) & 2.2(d) of the Second Schedule on the 2022 NBA National Officers’ Election.

It is rumoured amongst NBA political pundits that by the working of the said sections, two leading presidential aspirants for the forthcoming election may be disqualified. This has raised concern and questions from interested lawyers and observers.