ICYMI: NBA files petition against Adamawa REC, lawyer who ‘posts semi-nude photos’ online

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has filed a petition against Ifunanya Excel Grant, an Abia-based lawyer, over her “notoriety” on social media.

In a statement issued on Saturday, Akorede Lawal, NBA spokesperson, said Grant, who is popularly known as “baddest lawyer”, often posts pictures and videos of herself unclad and smoking marijuana.

The NBA also said a petition has been lodged before the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) against Hudu Yunusa-Ari, the suspended Adamawa state resident electoral commissioner (REC).

Yunusa-Ari had stirred controversy when he declared Binani as the winner of the Adamawa governorship election when the collation of the results was yet to be completed.

However, INEC declared the announcement null and void.

Yunusa-Ari was later suspended and INEC announced that a six-count charge has been filed against him before a high court in Yola, the capital of Adamawa.

“The NBA has filed petitions at the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) against Mr Hudu Yunusa-Ari, the suspended Adamawa State Resident Electoral Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and Ifunanya Excel Grant, a young lawyer of Aba Branch wildly known as ‘the baddest lawyer’ on social media,” the statement reads.

“Mr Yunusa-Ari was petitioned over his role in illegally declaring the result of the supplementary 2023 gubernatorial election in Adamawa state while votes were still being counted. While the complaints against Miss Ifunanya centred on her social media notoriety of posting pictures and videos of herself unclad and smoking marijuana.

“While it is important to underscore the fact that none of the lawyers petitioned or being investigated is deemed guilty of professional misconduct until the LPDC hands down its decisions after fair trial, the NBA president has emphasised the need for lawyers to continue to be of best conduct wherever they find themselves, and he reiterated that the present NBA leadership will not relent in ridding the profession of the very few bad eggs that may be found.”

KANO TRIBUNAL BRIBERY ALLEGATION

The NBA also said it would probe an alleged attempt to bribe Flora Azinge, chairperson of the election petitions tribunal in Kano.

Azinge had on Tuesday raised the alarm over an alleged attempt by some lawyers to compromise the integrity of judges on her panel.

“A senior advocate of Nigeria who has a pending case before me is attempting to bribe me,” the judge said.

“Money has been flowing into this tribunal since yesterday. Whoever accepts money on my behalf, God will punish that person and their descendants up to the fourth generation.

“They continue to vilify judges, insulting us every day in the newspapers, in the media, claiming that we are corrupt.

“Let me reiterate once again that no one should approach me with money. I am content with what God has provided for me, and I have a roof over my head.”

According to the NBA, a letter has been sent to the judge requesting further details that would help the investigation.