The President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr. Yakubu Chonoko Maikyau, issued a strong disclaimer against an unauthorized group calling itself “NBA Decides,” which announced the conduct of an election poll for the upcoming NBA elections.

Maikyau clarified that the NBA is not conducting any such polls and has not given any mandate to any group or persons to do so on its behalf.

According to the NBA Constitution, the Electoral Committee of the NBA (ECNBA) is solely responsible for conducting elections into the national offices of the Association and the election of the representatives of the Association in the General Council of the Bar. Maikyau emphasized that any entity representing itself as “NBA Decides” does not represent the NBA and lacks the authority to use the name and brand of the NBA to pass off its activities.

The NBA President warned the organizers of “NBA Decides” to cease and desist from using the name of NBA or the Nigerian Bar Association in promoting their advertised polls scheduled for June 12th, 14th, and 16th, 2024. He stressed that the NBA logo, mark, and brand are registered trademarks of the Nigerian Bar Association and can only be lawfully used by the Association, its recognized units, and expressly authorized users.

Maikyau further cautioned that any use of NBA resources, including its Database of Voters, membership data, or protected privacy details, for the proposed polls would be treated as criminal theft and unauthorized use of data, and the organizers would face prosecution.

The NBA President also warned that if the organizers or promoters of the unauthorized “NBA Decides” are members of the legal profession, their actions would be considered professional misconduct, and they would be reported to the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC).

Maikyau reaffirmed the NBA’s confidence in the ECNBA and its execution of its constitutional task in overseeing the 2024 elections. The NBA and its members have given their mandate to the ECNBA, and any unauthorized activities by external groups will not be tolerated.