The Electoral Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association (ECNBA) has described the allegations fraud levelled against it by President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Mr. Yakubu C. Maikyau as baseless.

The Commitee in a letter addressed to the National Executive Committee of the NBA through the Bar President disclosed that: “during the NBA National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting held on Saturday, 26 August 2023 either alleged or insinuated that the ECNBA and/or service providers are involved or intend to defraud the NBA.”

The ECNBA in the 28 August 2023, letter signed by its Chair, Ayodele Akintunde, SAN, Secretary, Mabel Ekeke Secretary and other members — Aisha Ado Abdullahi and Basil Udotai said: “The fundamental principle of natural justice is expressed in the Latin maxim audi alteram
partem. The ECNBA notes that at no time did Mr. President formally raise his allegations of fraud nor provide any particulars, let alone request for clarifications from the ECNBA regarding his fraud allegations.”

Stressing that “[T]he continued unjustifiable refusal of the NBA President to pay the sums requested by the ECNBA or table the matter for discussion and resolution by NEC will cause the NBA enormous reputational damage within a small community of expertise that provide the ICT services required for online elections. We know all the convincing we had to do before the service providers agreed to work with us because of their past experiences,” the Committee added: “It is not in doubt that NEC approved $15,000 USD for the services of the ECNBA’s ICT service provider. Moreso, as this information was within the public domain. It is also not in doubt that the NBA failed, refused and or neglected to disburse the approved $15,000.00 USD till this day.”

According to the Commitee: “If the President had any reasonable request regarding the decisions made by the ECNBA in accepting to procure the services of its ICT provider, then he should have engaged the ECNBA directly, instead of attacking the ECNBA at the last NEC meeting without any justification and without giving the opportunity respond. The issues are so simple and straightforward, and it is unbelievable the way the NBA President has spined it.

“The financial activities of the ECNBA have been open and transparent and if the NBA President or the NBA Secretariat had any question or query, we would have gladly provided them with clarifications. Clearly, the NBA President was out of order with the unguarded statements and
allegations he made at the last NBA NEC meeting against the ECNBA and sincerely, he should apologise to members of the ECNBA…”