Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya has been elected the 33rd President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), making her only the second woman to lead the association in its 66-year history. She succeeded after polling 12,317 votes, defeating fellow SANs Lateef Omoyemi Akangbe and Olumuyiwa Akinboro.
Election results and turnout
Badejo-Okusanya secured 47.18 per cent of the 26,106 ballots cast in the NBA's electronic election. Akangbe received 7,934 votes, while Akinboro polled 5,855 votes. The election saw a lower turnout compared to the previous year and was marred by controversies, including claims of a cyberattack and technical glitches.
Who is Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya?
Badejo-Okusanya was elevated to the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria in September 2025. She first studied English at the University of Lagos before obtaining a law degree from the same institution. Called to the Nigerian Bar in 2002, she began her legal career at Olaniwun Ajayi LP. In 2007, she was appointed Senior Special Assistant on Justice Sector Reform to then-Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola, working under Attorney-General Olasupo Shasore.
In 2017, she co-founded Africa Law Practice NG & Company (ALP NG & Co.), where she serves as Co-Head of Litigation and Dispute Resolution Practice. Her elevation to SAN in 2025 marked a milestone in her career.
Leadership within the NBA
Badejo-Okusanya has held several NBA leadership roles, including Assistant Secretary of the NBA Lagos Branch, chair of the planning committee for the 2024 NBA Annual General Conference, and membership on the NBA National Executive Council. She received the NBA Presidential Medal of Service in 2024. She is also a member of international legal bodies such as the London Court of International Arbitration, International Bar Association, Commonwealth Lawyers Association, and International Federation of Women Lawyers.
Election controversies
The election faced significant disruptions. The Electoral Committee of the NBA (ECNBA) reported a 'deliberate, coordinated and sustained cyberattack' on the voting platform, causing delays. Runner-up Lateef Omoyemi Akangbe protested the process, describing it as a 'catastrophic structural and technical collapse.' He alleged that many lawyers could not vote due to technical issues, questioned the use of email instead of SMS for one-time passwords, and claimed that only Badejo-Okusanya's photograph appeared on the electronic ballot. He called for an independent forensic audit of the voting platform.
Outgoing president and handover
Outgoing NBA President Afam Osigwe (SAN) will hand over leadership to Badejo-Okusanya at the Annual General Conference in Port Harcourt later this month. Badejo-Okusanya is expected to officially assume office during the conference, succeeding Osigwe after his tenure.
