A Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) presidential candidate Arthur Obi-Okafor (SAN) has sued the newly elected president Paul Usoro (SAN) and 13 other new national officers of the association over alleged election malpractice.
The concurrent originating summons was filed before an FCT High Court by Obi-Okafor’s counsel, Ikechukwu Ezechukwu (SAN) and would be served outside of the jurisdictions of the court and the High Courts of Lagos.
Obi-Okafor was the second runner-up in the election, which held electronically between August 2 and 4, with 4, 423 votes behind Usoro, who polled 4, 509 votes. Prof. Ernest Ojukwu got 3,313 votes.
In the suit, Obi-Okafor is seeking an order of court appointing either Price Waterhouse Coopers or Akintola Williams and Deloitte both in Lagos State being internationally acclaimed forensic audit firms to conduct verification of voters or audit the electoral process leading to the declaration of results by the Electoral Committee of the NBA (ECNBA).
Obi-Okafor also demands and order directing the Body of Benchers to supervise and give effect to the outcome of the post-election audit as ordered by court.
Those joined as defendants in the suit include: the NBA, outgoing NBA President, Abubakar Mahmoud (SAN); Chairman of the ECNBA, Prof Auwalu Yadudu and other members of the committee; the two ICT partners for the election, Crenet Techlabs Ltd and CHAMS PLC; and Paul Usoro and other members of the new executive.
No date has been fixed for hearing.
