The President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Yakubu C. Maikyau, OON, SAN, has been served with a Form 48 Notice, which outlines the consequences of disobedience to a court order.

The notice was issued by the High Court of Justice, Delta State of Nigeria, Warri Judicial Division, in relation to Suit No. W/128/2024.
The case stems from an ongoing leadership dispute within the Nigerian Bar Association Section on Public Interest and Development Law (NBA-SPIDEL). On July 9th, 2024, Justice Anthony Olotu Akpovi of the Delta State High Court granted an interim injunction restraining the defendants from organizing and holding any conference or conducting elections on behalf of NBA-SPIDEL pending the hearing of the motion on notice for interlocutory injunction.

The claimant, John Aikpokpo-Martins Esq., filed the suit on behalf of himself and members of the NBA-SPIDEL Executive Committee, with the exception of any members opposed to the action. The defendants are Ben Oji, representing himself and members of a purported NBA-SPIDEL caretaker committee, and the Incorporated Trustees of the Nigerian Bar Association.

During the ex parte hearing on July 6th, the court ordered that the status quo remain and the NBA-SPIDEL conference be postponed until further notice.

The court also granted accelerated hearing and scheduled the motion on notice and originating summons for July 16th and 30th, with additional hearing dates during the court vacation in August.

The issuance of the Form 48 Notice to Yakubu C. Maikyau, OON, SAN, is a consequence of the court order made on July 9th, 2024.
According to the notice, failure to comply with the directions contained in the court order will result in Maikyau being found guilty of contempt of court and potentially facing imprisonment.