The High Court of Oyo State sitting in Ibadan has suspended proceedings in Suit No. I/221/2026: Ibrahim Lawal & Ors v. Nigerian Bar Association & Ors, and adjourned the matter sine die following the filing and transmission of an appeal by the Defendants to the Court of Appeal.
Justice Gabriel Opayinka delivered the ruling on April 15, 2026, holding that the court would not proceed further in the matter until the appellate court determines the issues arising from the appeal.
The suit challenges the constitutionality of the procedure used by the President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mazi Afam Josiah Osigwe, SAN, in constituting the Electoral Committee of the NBA (ECNBA) ahead of the 2026 National Officers’ Election.
At the resumed sitting, the court considered pending applications, including processes filed on April 10, 2026, and affidavits from the 2nd and 3rd Defendants. The court noted that the issues raised had largely been addressed in earlier filings before it.
The court then directed parties to address it on the appropriate course of action where an appeal has been entered and transmitted to the Court of Appeal, alongside a pending application for stay of proceedings.
Counsel for the Claimants, led by Chief Yomi Aliyu, SAN, and others, were present in court, while several Senior Advocates appeared for the Defendants, including Babatunde Ogala, SAN; S.A. Somiari, SAN; Jonathan Gunu Taidi, SAN; and A.A. Malik, SAN, among others.
The Defendants argued that the appeal raised fundamental jurisdictional issues and urged the court to stay proceedings, stressing the need for judicial restraint to avoid conflict with the appellate court.
The Claimants opposed the request, arguing that the appeal was limited to an interlocutory order and did not affect the substantive suit. They urged the court to continue hearing the matter in order to preserve the subject matter, the forthcoming NBA elections.
After taking submissions from all parties, the court held that it would not proceed further in view of the already entered appeal and the transmission of records to the Court of Appeal. The matter was accordingly adjourned sine die pending the determination of the appeal.
The court, however, maintained its earlier interim order of March 4, 2026, which restrained the 5th to 9th Defendants from parading themselves as members of the ECNBA or taking any steps towards conducting the NBA 2026 elections. It also restrained the NBA President from further actions relating to the constitution and composition of the Electoral Committee pending determination of the motion on notice.
The dispute arose from challenges to the legality and constitutionality of the ECNBA formation process. The 5th to 9th Defendants had earlier filed a notice of appeal contesting the jurisdiction of the trial court.
The ruling effectively places the substantive suit on hold indefinitely, while preserving the interim injunction and awaiting the decision of the Court of Appeal.