Mrs Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya (SAN) was over the weekend elected president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) becoming the first female to be elected into the position and just the second female to hold the position in the association’s 67 year history.
Mrs Badejo-Okusanya (SAN), affectionately called “Mrs B” by colleagues is the first woman to hold the position since Dame Priscilla Kuye in 1991, who stepped up from the vice presidency following a resignation.
She is the sister of Nigeria’s minister of industry, Trade and investment Jumoke Oduwole and daughter of the first substantive Vice-Chancellor of the Lagos State University (LASU), Professor Olufolabi Olumide,
Professional and Academic Background
She currently serves as partner at ALP NG & Co where she undertakes dispute resolution (Litigation, Arbitration & ADR), Mediation, Public Policy, Government Relations
She has also served as General Counsel to the Governor of Lagos state between 2011 and 2015 as well as Senior Special Assistant to the Governor of Lagos State between 2007 and 2011. in this role, she contributed to justice sector initiatives, legislative reforms and institutional strengthening programmes aimed at improving access to justice and protecting vulnerable Lagos state citizens.
She started out as Counsel at Olaniwun Ajayi LP between 2004 – August 2007.
Mrs Badejo-Okusanya (SAN) initially studied English at the University of Lagos graduating in 1987 before returning seven years later to study Law between 1994 and 2000.
Major Court Cases
Mrs. Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya, SAN has appeared as counsel in a number of reported cases spanning commercial, corporate, criminal and family law. Although much of her practice has been in confidential commercial arbitration and high-value corporate disputes, the following are among her verifiable reported court appearances.
In The State v. Aliyu Abdullahi & Aliyu Umar (Suit No. SS/100C/2022), decided by the High Court of Justice, Sokoto State on 21 March 2024, Badejo-Okusanya served as Lead Prosecuting Counsel under a fiat granted by the Sokoto State Attorney-General. The defendants were prosecuted for criminal conspiracy and kidnapping under the Sokoto State Penal Code Law, 2019.
In Inter Ocean Oil Development Company (Nigeria) Ltd. & 3 Ors. v. Dr. Festus Alani Fadeyi & Anor., a corporate dispute that reached the Supreme Court of Nigeria, Badejo-Okusanya appeared as counsel for the appellants alongside Ibukun Fasuro, Halima Shuaibu and Emmanuel Bulus. The appeal concerned whether indirect shareholders and beneficiaries of an estate possessed the legal standing (locus standi) to challenge the affairs of Pan Ocean Oil Corporation and related corporate transactions. The Supreme Court ultimately allowed the appeal in part, set aside portions of the lower court’s decision and remitted the matter to the Federal High Court for a fresh hearing before another judge.
In Ikpea v. Ikpea (2022) LCN, a matrimonial appeal before the Court of Appeal, Badejo-Okusanya represented the appellant together with Orji D. Uka. The appeal addressed issues arising from matrimonial proceedings, including the trial court’s evaluation of evidence and the application of family law principles.
In Abubakar v. Bolori, heard by the Court of Appeal, Badejo-Okusanya also appeared as counsel for the appellant. The appeal raised significant questions concerning child custody, fair hearing and the constitutional right of a litigant to counsel of choice. The judgment specifically references the legal submissions contained in the appellant’s brief settled by her, particularly her arguments on the constitutional guarantees of legal representation and procedural fairness during judicial proceedings.
Pressing NBA Issues to Address
Restoring unity and confidence within the NBA
Badejo-Okusanya’s first and perhaps most urgent responsibility will be to heal divisions within the association. The 2026 NBA election exposed deep fissures among members after technical glitches, allegations of irregularities and a cyberattack disrupted the electronic voting process.
The controversy surrounding the elections left sections of the Bar questioning the credibility of the process, she would therefore need to restore trust across branches, caucuses and generations of lawyers to forge a stronger NBA.
The new administration is expected to review the association’s electronic voting system, strengthen cybersecurity protocols, improve election transparency and enhance accountability within the association’s decision-making structures.
Improve Lawyers’ Welfare, particularly Young Practitioners
Lawyers’ welfare remains one of the profession’s most pressing concerns. Many young lawyers continue to work under poor conditions, earning salaries that are often below the national minimum wage while facing limited opportunities for mentorship and career advancement.
During her acceptance speech, Badejo-Okusanya pledged to build an association where lawyers can “earn better, live better and practise better,” signalling that welfare will be a central pillar of her administration.
Strengthening Judicial Independence
Under Badejo-Okusanya’s leadership, the NBA will be expected to maintain a principled stance against executive overreach, disregard for court orders, unlawful detention, attacks on judicial independence and other threats to democratic governance. Equally important will be preserving the NBA’s independence from political influence so that it can continue to speak with credibility on issues affecting the rule of law.
Justice Sector Reforms
Nigeria’s justice system continues to struggle with prolonged delays, congested court dockets, inconsistent case management and limited access to justice. Many expect Badejo-Okusanya’s administration to champion reforms that improve judicial efficiency.
These include greater adoption of technology in court administration, wider use of alternative dispute resolution, automation of court registries, improved judicial funding and policies that accelerate the resolution of civil and criminal cases.
Preparing the Profession for Technological Transformation
The rapid emergence of artificial intelligence, legal technology, electronic evidence, virtual hearings and online dispute resolution is reshaping legal practice globally. The NBA is expected to provide strategic leadership in helping Nigerian lawyers adapt to these changes through professional training, digital skills development and ethical guidelines governing the use of emerging technologies.
