"NBA Take Your Time": Lawyer Defends Colleague Accused of Misconduct, Gives Reasons | ICB News

A human rights lawyer and activist, Pelumi Olajengbesi has challenged the Nigerian Bar Association's petition served on a member Ms Ifunanya Excel Grant, aka 'Baddest Lawyer' over alleged misconduct.

The NBA had in its petition before the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee sought for disciplinary action against the Abia State-based lawyer and online sensation for posting nude images of herself on social media.

The NBA in the petition revealed that it had filed misconduct charges against Grant and former INEC Resident Electoral Commission in Adamawa State, Mr. Hudu Yunusa-Ari, before the LPDC.

Grant, who was called to Bar in 2021, became an Internet sensation for posting nude images of herself smoking on social media according to a report by Barristerng on Saturday. 

The petition partly read, "Following the resolutions of the National Officers, the NBA has filed petitions at the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee against Hudu Yunusa-Ari, the suspended Adamawa State Resident Electoral Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission and Ifunanya Excel Grant, a young lawyer of Aba Branch widely known as “the baddest lawyer” on social media.

"Yunusa-Ari was petitioned over his role in illegally declaring the result of the supplementary 2023 governorship 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."

Reacting to the petition in a statement on Sunday, Olajengbesi however maintained that the NBA lacks the jurisdiction to take up the matter, noting that it is outside of professional parlance.

"NBA should stop any attempt to discipline this young lady. This is personal and social misconduct not professional misconduct and NBA lacks jurisdiction to take up this matter. 

"It would have been different if she dressed like this in any NBA event. This is lifestyle and she is not the only lawyer with such lifestyle. NBA take your time.", the lawyer said.