Akinboro Petitions EFCC, DSS Over Alleged Cyber Attack in NBA Presidential Election
By Nafiu Muhammad Lema
One of the presidential candidates in the recently concluded Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) national election, Olumuyiwa Akinboro (SAN), has petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Department of State Services (DSS), calling for a thorough investigation into alleged irregularities surrounding the conduct of the poll.
Akinboro, who secured 5,855 votes to finish third in the July 18–19, 2026 election, alleged that the electoral process may have violated the Cybercrimes Act, the Nigeria Data Protection Act, and other relevant laws. Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya (SAN) won the election with 12,317 votes, while Lateef Akangbe (SAN) came second with 7,934 votes.
In a letter titled “A Call for Urgent Intervention and Redress,” the senior advocate urged the anti-graft agency and security service to investigate the alleged cyber attack on the NBA’s electronic voting platform and other issues affecting the credibility of the election.
Copies of the petition were also sent to the Chairman of the Body of Benchers, Albert Akpomudje (SAN), the General Council of the Bar, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), NBA President Afam Osigwe (SAN), past NBA presidents, and the Chairman of the Electoral Committee of the NBA (ECNBA), Aham Ejelam (SAN).
Among his demands, Akinboro called for an independent forensic audit of the entire electoral process by a reputable audit firm. He also questioned the circumstances surrounding the use of multiple voting links and the level of compliance with the NBA’s election guidelines.
The senior lawyer further challenged the NBA leadership to release reports from election observers, including the European Union, the United States, the United Kingdom, Yiaga Africa, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), all of whom were reportedly invited to monitor the exercise.
Akinboro explained that he did not file a petition before the NBA National Officers Election Appeal Committee because, in his view, the events of July 18 and 19 did not amount to an election recognized under the NBA Constitution.
He therefore called for the immediate reconstitution of the Electoral Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association (ECNBA) and the conduct of a fresh national officers’ election in line with the provisions of the NBA Constitution.
