By John Azu
The African Bar Association (AFBA) has criticised Amnesty International over its reaction to the intervention of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), in the ongoing dispute surrounding the Nigerian Bar Association’s (NBA) 2026 national officers’ election.
The disagreement stems from Fagbemi’s directive urging the NBA to shift its election from July to August to allow time for the resolution of several contentious issues. These include the compulsory use of the National Identification Number (NIN) for electronic voting, the withdrawal of pending court cases, and concerns over the Electoral Committee of the NBA’s engagement of service providers whose platforms have not been tested.
The Attorney General’s position drew criticism from the NBA President, Mazi Afam Osigwe (SAN), who argued that the intervention contravened Section 10(2) of the Legal Practitioners Act, which safeguards the association’s independence in conducting its affairs.
However, AFBA said Amnesty International’s statement condemning the Attorney General’s involvement was misplaced.
In a statement signed by its Director of Publicity and Protocol, Nicholas Sumba, the association maintained that Fagbemi’s intervention was advisory and aimed at fostering a lawful and peaceful resolution of the dispute.
“Such efforts neither constituted coercion nor usurpation of the NBA’s autonomy, but reflected the legitimate interest of the Chief Law Officer of the Federation in promoting respect for the rule of law and institutional stability,” the statement said.
AFBA urged Amnesty International to focus on its core mandate of promoting and protecting human rights rather than intervening in matters relating to the governance of professional bodies.
“AFBA respectfully calls upon Amnesty International to exercise institutional restraint and to remain focused on its globally acknowledged mandate of protecting and promoting human rights.
“Preserving the clarity of that mandate strengthens the credibility and effectiveness of the organization in addressing the grave human rights challenges confronting Nigeria, Africa, and the wider international community.”
The association reaffirmed its commitment to constructive engagement with institutions working to advance justice, democracy and the rule of law, while stressing the need for respect for institutional boundaries.
“The African Bar Association remains committed to constructive engagement with all institutions dedicated to justice, democracy, and the rule of law, while affirming that interventions in matters of professional governance should be guided by competence, legal principle, and respect for institutional boundaries.”