*Says Absence of Letter of Good Standing, No Fault Of His

Mr. Ogunlana Adesina, Esq., has said that he shall appeal the verdict of the Electoral Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association, (ECNBA) disqualifying him from contesting for the office of the NBA President.

Mr. Ogunlana made this statement via a Press Statement titled, “Do Not Be Dismayed. We Shall Overcome,” which he tagged as a preliminary response to the decision of the Committee.

LEGALDESKNG learnt that, this was in the statement which was dated the 13th day of June, 2020, and made available to TheNigerialawyer (TNL), Mr. Ogunlana said that the absence of the Letter of Good Standing was not due to any fault of his, but a malicious act of the incumbent Chairman of NBA Ikeja branch.

“Good morning, all. May I respectfully inform you that I have this day, the 3rd day of June 2020, at about 6 10 am, become aware of a mail from the Electoral Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association (ECNBA) stating my disqualification from participating in the election for the office of the president of our great association.

The ECNBA gave a singular reason – absence of LETTER OF GOOD STANDING (LOGS) from my Branch Chairman. ECNBA also stated my right to appeal their verdict within 7 days of receipt of their mail. We thank ECNBA

“May I further state that I shall appeal the verdict. Let me assure everyone that my dues for 2018, 2019 and 2020 were duly and fully paid as at when due as stipulated in the Constitution of the association and which automatically entitles me to the LOGS.

“The absence of the LOGS was not due to any fault of mine but to the malicious act of the incumbent, but now out going branch Chairman of the NBA Ikeja branch, Dele Oloke, Esq. Of course, the poisoned antecedents of Oloke as a factional leader of the Ikeja bar and who eventually lost out to me in the extremely intense intra-bar leadership struggle of 2016-2017 is well known,” he said.

Speaking further he said that, the issue for determination is: Can a branch Chairman decline to issue a Letter of Good Standing to an applicant, where the applicant to the notice of the Chairman, has complied with the provisions and stipulates of the constitution in that regard?

He added that, he is appealing to all his supporters not to be dismayed but to remain not only calm, but cheerful, always trusting in the faithfulness and mercies of God and the consistently triumphant forces of good over evil.