Akin to the balkanisation of NBA Abuja on June 9th by NBA NEC holden at Ilorin in 2022; the National Executive Council (NEC) of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) holden at Jos on the 29th day of February, has split NBA Lagos and NBA Ikeja (Tiger Bar) into Eti-Osa and Surulere, respectively.
Prior to this creation, Lagos (Premier Bar), is the largest single NBA Branch in Nigeria, with over 10,137 registered members who paid their BPF ahead of 2022 NBA Election.
With coming onboard of Eti-Osa Branch, NBA watchers believe that about 6,000 members will relocate, reducing the mammoth number Lagos used to enjoy.
Same is believed would be applicable to Ikeja, with Surulere metamorphosis into a full branch. Ikeja prior now, Tiger Bar, had 4,845 eligible voters at last NBA Election. (Note: the figures are not 100% representation as at today; there had been over 2 Call to Bar initiations since after the 2022 NBA Election)
NBA-NEC decision comes after years of agitation and advocacy, that Lagos is too big to take care of welfare of swelling number of members.
With the creation of High/Magistrate Court jurisdiction in Ajah, Eti-Osa Local Government Area further made it imperative that another Branch be created from Lagos Bar.
Against this backdrop, NEC set up a caretaker committee to oversee the election process for these new branches.
