NBA PRESIDENT THREATENS SANCTIONS AGAINST LAWYERS OVER ABUSIVE SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS

By:Tajudeen Aminat

The newly inaugurated President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya, SAN, has warned that lawyers who use abusive or offensive language against their colleagues on social media will face disciplinary action.

Badejo-Okusanya, who assumed office as the 33rd President of the NBA, said her administration would adopt a firm stance against professional misconduct, particularly where lawyers engage in abusive exchanges over political disagreements.

She made this known on Friday during her inaugural address at the 66th NBA Annual General Conference in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, after taking over from her predecessor, Afam Osigwe, SAN.

The new NBA president said lawyers whose online conduct damages the reputation of the profession would be subjected to disciplinary proceedings.

According to her, the manner in which some legal practitioners conduct themselves on social media has become increasingly disturbing to both members of the public and the legal profession.

“Such lawyers will be subjected to public proceedings for bringing us all into disrepute in the eyes of the public, who look up to us and are increasingly aghast, as all right-thinking colleagues are, at the type of language that lawyers employ on social media against other colleagues, all in the name of politics.

“So, we’re coming after you,” she said.

Badejo-Okusanya also pledged to protect the independence of the judiciary while advocating reforms aimed at improving the administration of justice.

She said the NBA would speak out against prolonged court proceedings, conflicting judgments, corruption and other practices capable of undermining public confidence in the judiciary.

“We will defend judicial independence, but we will not be indifferent to delay, conflicting decisions, corruption, or conduct that diminishes public confidence. Respect for institutions does not require silence about their shortcomings. True respect requires the courage to help them,” she said.

The NBA president said the association would support the judiciary while demanding greater integrity, efficiency and accountability within the justice system.

“We will support the Bench while insisting on the integrity and efficiency of the justice system,” she said.

On the NBA’s relationship with government, Badejo-Okusanya said her administration would maintain constructive engagement with authorities but would not allow the association to become an instrument of any government, political party, region, religion, interest group or individual.

She stressed that the NBA’s allegiance would remain to the Constitution, justice, the rule of law and its members.

“We will collaborate where collaboration advances the public good. We will challenge where challenge becomes necessary. And above all, we will act with facts, fairness, discipline, and boldness,” she said.

The new NBA president also promised to build on successful initiatives introduced by previous administrations while reviewing programmes that had failed to achieve their objectives.

She said she had examined the manifestos of other candidates who contested the NBA presidential election and would adopt ideas she believed would benefit the association.

“Where we adopt them, I will not hesitate to acknowledge their source, and give credit where it’s due,” she said.

Badejo-Okusanya described the NBA as Africa’s largest professional body of lawyers, noting that its branches, sections, forums and committees possessed the expertise and influence needed to strengthen the legal profession and contribute to national development.

She pledged to create better opportunities for young lawyers by expanding access to quality training, mentorship and professional development across the country.

She also promised to improve the association’s response to members’ concerns, strengthen its branches, promote transparency in appointments and enhance the use of technology in the NBA.

The NBA president further pledged to strengthen disciplinary mechanisms for professional misconduct and ensure that members derive meaningful benefits from belonging to the association.

Badejo-Okusanya announced that Abuja would host the NBA’s 2027 Annual General Conference.

She said preparations for the event would begin immediately, while the theme and members of the Annual General Conference Planning Committee would be announced at a later date.

“The work starts now. We will gather there not merely for another conference, but to take stock of our progress, deepen our knowledge, strengthen our bonds, and prepare us all for the future of legal practice,” she said.

She also called on members of the association to hold her administration accountable, acknowledging that previous leaderships had made commitments that were not always fulfilled.

“I don’t ask you for blind faith. I ask you to hold us to account.

“Our administration will consolidate what works, repair what doesn’t, and build what the future demands,” she said.

Badejo-Okusanya, who was called to the Nigerian Bar in 2002, described her election as another step in the succession of leadership within the NBA.

She expressed appreciation to past leaders of the association and pledged to serve faithfully throughout her tenure.

“When our tenure ends, may it not be said merely that a woman became president. May it be said that the bar became better; that lawyers became protected and empowered.

“May it be said that we restored faith in what collective professional leadership can achieve. May it be said that we helped our members earn better, live better, and practice better.

“May it be said that we put members first and we delivered. May it be said that we left the association stronger than we met it,” she said.

She concluded by urging lawyers to support the new leadership in its efforts to advance the profession.

“The time for action is now. The work begins today. Let us build it together,” she said.