The widely anticipated NBA national election held today in Abuja with candidates for the Nigeria lawyers body slugging it out at the polls.
Among the top shot candidates seeking to be elected as President of the NBA were Mr. Austin Alegeh (SAN), Deacon Dele Adesina (SAN) and Mrs. Funke Adekoya (SAN). Mrs Funke Adekoya was the only female candidate in the election.
Other candidates at the election were Mr. Niyi Akintola (SAN) and Mr. Osas Erhabor, who is not a Senior Advocate of Nigeria.
The election concluded with Augustine Alegeh coming top to defeat his strongest challenger, Mr. Dele Adeshina.
Mr. Alegeh who was a controversial lawyer that fixed the judgement that freed jailed former Dekta State governor from corruption allegations in Asaba Delta state defeated Mr. Dele Adeshina, a lawyer once linked with former governor of Bayelsa State, DSP Alamieyeseigha, Mr. Adesina also lead a group of lawyers to defend controversial Bishop of the Winners Chapel, David Oyedepo when the bishop was sued for assaulting a teenage girl during a church service.
Adesina had once acted as the Publicity Secretary of the NBA Ikeja Branch. He was also Secretary and Chairman at the progressive bran before his election as NBA Secretary General in 2002. He was a member of the National Political Reform Conference and a long standing NBA NEC member.
He however failed at the polls today.
He polled 370 votes, losing to Austin Alegeh who polled 691.
Mrs. Funke Adekoya came third with 225 votes while Niyi Akintola had 126 votes.