NBA president vows sanctions for lawyers over abusive social media posts

The newly inaugurated President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya, SAN, has vowed to sanction lawyers who use abusive or insulting language against their colleagues on social media.

Badejo-Okusanya, who became the 33rd president of the NBA, said her administration would have little tolerance for professional misconduct, particularly when lawyers engage in offensive exchanges over political differences.

She made this known on Friday in her inaugural address at the just-concluded 66th NBA Annual General Conference in the Rivers State capital, after taking over the leadership of the association from Afam Osigwe, SAN, warning that lawyers who bring the profession into disrepute through their conduct online would face disciplinary action.

The NBA president said such lawyers would be subjected to public proceedings, noting that the conduct of some legal practitioners on social media had become a source of concern to members of the public and the profession.

“Such lawyers will be subjected to public proceedings for bringing us all into disrepute in the eyes of the public, who look up to us and are increasingly aghast, as all right-thinking colleagues are, at the type of language that lawyers employ on social media against other colleagues, all in the name of politics.

“So, we’re coming after you,” she said.

Badejo-Okusanya also pledged to defend the independence of the judiciary while demanding improvements in the justice system.

She said the NBA would not remain silent over delays in court proceedings, conflicting judgments, corruption and other practices capable of weakening public confidence in the judiciary.

“We will defend judicial independence, but we will not be indifferent to delay, conflicting decisions, corruption, or conduct that diminishes public confidence. Respect for institutions does not require silence about their shortcomings. True respect requires the courage to help them,” she said.

The NBA president said the association would support the Bench while also demanding greater integrity and efficiency in the administration of justice.

“We will support the Bench while insisting on the integrity and efficiency of the justice system,” she said.

On the relationship between the NBA and government, Badejo-Okusanya said her administration would engage authorities constructively but would not allow the association to become an instrument of any government, political party, region, religion, interest group or individual.

She said the NBA’s loyalty would remain with the Constitution, justice, the rule of law and its members.

“We will collaborate where collaboration advances the public good. We will challenge where challenge becomes necessary. And above all, we will act with facts, fairness, discipline, and boldness,” she said.

The new NBA president also promised continuity in the leadership of the association, saying her administration would retain initiatives that had worked while addressing those that had not.

She said she had reviewed the manifestos of other candidates in the NBA presidential election and would adopt ideas she considered beneficial to the association.

“Where we adopt them, I will not hesitate to acknowledge their source, and give credit where it’s due,” she said.

Badejo-Okusanya described the NBA as the largest body of legal professionals in Africa, saying its branches, sections, fora and committees had the expertise and influence required to improve the legal profession and contribute to national development.

She pledged to improve opportunities for young lawyers by promoting access to quality learning and professional development across the country.

The NBA president also promised to strengthen the association’s response to members’ concerns, empower branches, promote transparency in appointments and improve the use of technology in the association.

She further vowed to strengthen disciplinary measures against professional misconduct and ensure that members could see tangible benefits from their membership of the NBA.

Badejo-Okusanya announced that the 2027 Annual General Conference of the NBA would be held in Abuja.

She said preparations for the conference would commence immediately, while details including the theme and composition of the Annual General Conference Planning Committee would be announced later.

“The work starts now. We will gather there not merely for another conference, but to take stock of our progress, deepen our knowledge, strengthen our bonds, and prepare us all for the future of legal practice,” she said.

The NBA president also urged members to hold her administration accountable, acknowledging that previous leaderships had made promises that were not always fulfilled.

“I don’t ask you for blind faith. I ask you to hold us to account.

“Our administration will consolidate what works, repair what doesn’t, and build what the future demands,” she said.

Badejo-Okusanya, who said she was called to the Bar in 2002, described her emergence as president as another stage in the succession of leadership within the association.

She thanked past leaders of the NBA and pledged to serve the association faithfully.

“When our tenure ends, may it not be said merely that a woman became president. May it be said that the bar became better; that lawyers became protected and empowered.

“May it be said that we restored faith in what collective professional leadership can achieve. May it be said that we helped our members earn better, live better, and practice better.

“May it be said that we put members first and we delivered. May it be said that we left the association stronger than we met it,” she said.

She ended by calling on lawyers to support the new administration in improving the profession.

“The time for action is now. The work begins today. Let us build it together,” she said.