By Suleiman Anyalewechi
Barely a couple of hours after coming under intense condemnation and rebuke from the national leadership ,the Chairman of the Garki branch of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Anthony Bamidele Ojo, has distanced himself and the branch from the purported appointment of convicted former Chairman of Pension Reforms Commission, Abdulrasheed Maina, as the association’s Grand Patron.
The Source reports that the President of the NBA, Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, had, early on Friday, January 23, 2026, in a statement lashed the leadership of the Garki branch of the umbrella body of legal practitioners in Nigeria for appointing Maina , a convict, as a Grand Patron.
While urging the Garki branch chairman to immediately withdraw the appointment, the NBA President expressed the fears that such a development gravely questions the integrity and core values of the legal profession and NBA as a body.
The National leadership of the NBA added that much as it respects Maina’s right to explore all the available judicial layers in his appeal against his conviction, it
will nevertheless not want to be seen as trying to sway public opinion in his favour, or be acting and commenting on a pending case.
” The Nigerian Bar Association views with disdain the purported appointment of Abdulrasheed Maina who was convicted for stealing over N 2 billion in pension funds, as Grand Patron of NBA Garki branch ,by the chairman of NBA Garki branch Anthony Bamidele Ojo.
“The purported appointment not only paints the legal profession and the NBA in bad light, but also makes a mockery of the Government’s fight against corruption ,as well as the Association’s motto of promoting the rule of law.
“In view of the foregoing, the Chairman of the NBA, Garki branch, Mr Bamidele Ojo, is hereby directed to immediately withdraw the appointment of Abdulrasheed Maina as a Patron and to forthwith desist from issuing statements, comments or representations on behalf of, or in support of Mr Maina or any other litigant in respect of case s pending in court”, Osigwe stated
In a statement on Friday ,in reaction to the marching orders from the national leadership ,Ojo the Garki branch Chairman, while announcing the withdrawal of the said award/appointment, equally distanced the branch from events that led to its conferment.
While expressing regret over the development ,Ojo noted that he, as the Chairman, was not fully informed about the details of the court proceedings involving the convicted pension funds Task Force Chairman before the award .
He assured that all necessary steps will be immediately taken to ensure the reversal of the said controversial award as directed by the national leadership of the NBA.
This is as he reaffirmed the sanctity and non-negotiabilty of the integrity of the NBA as a respected professional body.
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