A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Joe-Kyari Gadzama, has called for an immediate end to the growing rift between the President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Afam Osigwe, SAN and brother Silk, Jibrin Okutepa, over a dispute that has unsettled the legal profession.
Gadzama, who is the pioneer Chairman of the NBA Section on Public Interest and Development Law (NBA-SPIDEL), expressed concern that the public exchanges between the two senior Lawyers have deepened the division within the Bar at a critical time.
The dispute, which has played out through letters and court processes, is linked to ex-parte orders issued by the Oyo State High Court, and a petition filed before the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) against Okutepa by the NBA President.
Describing the situation as “unfortunate and avoidable”, Gadzama warned that the rising tension could damage the unity and public image of the legal profession, especially as the NBA prepares for its 2026 national elections.
He urged both parties to exercise restraint and embrace dialogue, stressing that the matter requires statesmanship rather than escalation, while calling on senior members of the Bar to intervene quietly and broker peace.
On the legal issues at the centre of the dispute, Gadzama noted that disagreements over zoning, micro-zoning and constitutional provisions of the NBA could be resolved internally, but added that, parties must respect ongoing judicial proceedings if the matter remains in court.
He also cautioned against turning disciplinary processes into tools for political battles, insisting that any petition before the LPDC should be handled professionally and without media interference, while expressing hope that a judicial interpretation of the crisis could provide lasting clarity for future NBA elections.
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