Court restrains NBA from suspending Bayo Akinlade, chairman Ikorodu branch

IKEJA, Nigeria – A Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja has granted an injunction restraining the national body of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) from suspending Mr Bayo Akinlade, the Chairman of the Ikorodu Branch of the NBA. 

Justice Adebowale Candide-Johnson granted the injunction on Friday, following a motion exparte filed by Mr Femi Falana (SAN),  counsel to Akinlade. Joined as the defendants are the registered trustees of the NBA and Ezekiel Ogbaide, the Acting Chairman of the Ikorodu Branch of the NBA. 

The application sought an Order of interim injunction restraining the defendants from acting on the purported suspension of Akinlade as the Chairman of the Ikorodu branch of the NBA on March 28 pending the determination of the motion on notice. An Order restraining the defendants from preventing Akinlade from performing his duties as the Chairman Ikorodu branch of the NBA pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice. 

The motion exparte also sought  Order of interim injunction restraining Ogbaide from parading himself as Acting Chairman of the Ikorodu Branch of the NBA pending the determination of the motion on notice. Justice Candide-Johnson in the ruling said “I hold that this present case is covered by the case law of 7up Bottling Company vs Abiola and Sons Nigeria Limited. 

“The motion exparte dated April 2 succeeds, the interim injunction is hereby granted as order as prayed. The life span of the interim injunction granted this Friday shall operate until midnight of April 12, 2019. Substantial hearing of the motion on notice is fixed for Tuesday April 16 2019.”

Akinlade, was suspended on March 28 during the National Executive Council  (NEC) Meeting of the NBA. He was suspended for allegedly flouting an an order from the national body of the NBA to halt the bye-election of the NBA Ikorodu branch which eventually held on March 15.Following Akinlade’s suspension for allegedly going against the directive,  Ogbaide was appointed as the acting Chairman of the NBA Ikorodu branch. 

According to the claimant,  his suspension is unconstitutional. He claimed he was not given an opportunity to defend himself and respond the allegations contained in a report presented by the second vice-president of the NBA during the NEC meeting.