The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) don elect Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), as its next president. She poll 12,317 votes when voting finish on Sunday morning, July 19, 2026.
Mrs Badejo-Okusanya be the only woman among the three presidential candidates. She defeat Lateef Omoyemi Akangbe and Olumuyiwa Akinboro, both Senior Advocates of Nigeria, for the election wey dem do through electronic voting for 24 hours.
With her victory, Badejo-Okusanya go become the 33rd President of the legal association. She go re-enact a 34-year-old history as the second woman to lead the NBA since dem form am in 1933. The first woman wey lead the association na Priscilla Kuye, wey serve between 1991 and 1992.
Afam Okeke win election as General Secretary of the legal body. He poll 8,478 votes to defeat his opponents. All the elected officials go hold office for two years, from 2026 to 2028.
Although the President-elect no dey present when dem announce the results at the NBA headquarters in Abuja, a member of her campaign team, Aminu Gadanya, SAN, say she get flight delay. He declare her resolve to extend a handshake of friendship to all the aggrieved candidates.
Badejo-Okusanya first earn a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in English from the University of Lagos before pursuing a degree in Law at the same institution. Dem call her to the Nigerian Bar in 2002, wey mark the beginning of her legal career wey span over two decades.
She begin legal practice at the commercial law firm Olaniwun Ajayi LP, where she build experience in litigation and commercial legal practice. For 2007, dem appoint her as Senior Special Assistant on Justice Sector Reform to then Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola. She work for the office of the then Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Olasupo Shasore, and contribute to justice sector reforms for Lagos State.
For 2017, Badejo-Okusanya become a founding partner of Africa Law Practice NG & Company (ALP NG & Co.), where she serve as Co-Head of the Litigation and Dispute Resolution Practice. The firm don grow to become one of Nigeria’s leading commercial law firms with affiliations across Africa.
Her excellence for legal practice earn her the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) on September 29, 2025, one of the highest honours for the Nigerian legal profession.
Beyond courtroom practice, Badejo-Okusanya don build an impressive record within the NBA. She serve as Assistant Secretary of the NBA Lagos Branch, Delegate to the 2006 NBA elections, member of several national committees including the Future of the Legal Profession Committee and the Conference Investigation Committee. She be Alternate Chair of the 2023 NBA Annual General Conference Planning Committee before chairing the committee for the 2024 conference.
Her contributions earn her co-option into the NBA National Executive Council in 2022. She receive the NBA Presidential Medal of Service in August 2024 for her outstanding service.
Badejo-Okusanya also be an accomplished arbitration practitioner. She get membership for several respected international organisations, including the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA), the International Council for Commercial Arbitration (ICCA), the International Bar Association (IBA), the Commonwealth Lawyers Association (CLA), the African Arbitration Association, ArbitralWomen, the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), and the African Women Lawyers Association (AWLA), where she be life member. She also serve on the Board of the Lagos Court of Arbitration (LCA).
With her election, Badejo-Okusanya now prepare to succeed Afam Osigwe (SAN) as NBA president. Dem expect to inaugurate her alongside other newly elected national officers during the association’s Annual General Conference for Port Harcourt later this month.
Her emergence dey widely see as a significant milestone for gender representation inside the legal profession. She dey at the forefront to shape the future direction of Nigeria’s largest professional association.
