In exercise of which legal power has BOSAN chosen to set up a parallel Audit Committee?

The Body of Senior Advocates of Nigeria (BOSAN) is a highly reverred group in the legal profession comprised of highly distinguished, refined, and accomplished gentlemen of the Bar.

The body, like other groups exercising their rights under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is an interest group indubitably aimed at protecting and promoting the interests of its members.

Similarly, like any other affiliate or interest group operating under or within the context of a larger body (and carrying on activities under different nomenclatures such as “Forum”, “Association”, “Initiative”, “Network”, “Advocacy group”, “Caucus”, and the likes), BOSAN eminently enjoys the right to come together as a body that is subject to the laws of the land and the Constitution of the Umbrella body, in this case, the Nigerian Bar Association.

It is also beyond contention that as sub-sets, these distinct groups also exist to complement each other in a mutually progressive fashion.

It is common knowledge that the BOSAN at its virtual meeting of 5th September, 2020 constituted a Committee headed by Chief J-K Gadzama SAN, to audit the 2018 and 2020 national election of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA). This decision was contained in a communique issued by the Body and signed by its Chairman, Chief Folake Solanke, SAN, and Secretary, Seyi Sowemimo, SAN.

It is against the backdrop of the foregoing and given the gravity and sensitivity of an issue as the audit of an electoral process, and also against the fact of the existence of an already constituted Committee by NBA President headed by a member of BOSAN for the same purpose, that we seek an answer to the question: in exercise of which legal power has BOSAN chosen to set up the aforesaid parallel Audit Committee?

The above clarification is necessary and stems from a collective will, utmost faith and unbriddled commitment and adherence to the supremacy of the Rule of Law which we are enjoined to imbibe whilst also not shy of the overall efforts to build a united, strong and virile Bar.

While the decision of the BOSAN to undertake the task of finding answers to the nagging questions on our profession’s electoral process must be appreciated, we are concerned that its actions, particularly in this respect, may run fowl of established laws and thus lend validation to the suspicion of many Lawyers that the said decision is informed by mischief. Hence, a reply to the above question on the legality of BOSAN’s decision will help calm frayed nerves within the NBA on this very sensitive subject.

_LAWYERS FOR WELFARE ADVOCACY (LAWFWA), a foremost lawyers’ advocacy group writes from Abuja.