The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has launched a formal disciplinary probe into the Chairman of its Garki Branch, Anthony Bamidele Ojo, following the controversial appointment of convicted former pension chief Abdulrasheed Maina as a "Grand Patron" of the branch.
In a scathing statement released on Friday, January 23, 2026, NBA President Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, condemned the move as a "reprehensible" act that brings the entire legal profession into disrepute. The national leadership has disclaimed the appointment, describing it as a direct affront to the rule of law and a mockery of Nigeria’s anti-corruption efforts.
The controversy erupted after Maina, the former chairman of the defunct Pension Reform Task Team (PRTT), appeared at an NBA Garki event on Thursday. During the session, he was not only named a patron but was also presented with the "Rule of Law and Courage Award". Maina, who was recently released from prison after serving time for laundering over ₦2 billion in pension funds, was seen wearing an NBA muffler, an emblem typically reserved for distinguished members of the bar.
President Osigwe expressed the national body's "disdain" for the branch's decision to honour a man whose conviction for stealing from vulnerable pensioners was upheld by the Court of Appeal. The NBA leadership asserted that the legal association must never be used as a tool for image laundering or to sway public opinion on cases that remain subject to judicial review.
“The purported appointment not only paints the legal profession and the NBA in a bad light but also makes a mockery of the Government’s fight against corruption,” Osigwe stated. He further criticised the Garki Chairman for making supportive comments regarding Maina's pending appeal at the Supreme Court, calling such conduct a serious breach of professional responsibility.
Abdulrasheed Maina was convicted in November 2021 by Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court for 12 counts of money laundering. The court found that Maina used fictitious bank accounts and the identities of family members to syphon billions of naira. At the time of his sentencing, the trial judge remarked that Maina had treated "hapless pensioners with disdain and levity."
Despite this history, Garki Branch Chairman Anthony Bamidele Ojo defended the honour during the award presentation, reportedly praising Maina for his "dedication to public service" and "perseverance in the face of adversity." Ojo claimed the former pension boss had been targeted by those seeking to destroy his work.
The NBA national headquarters has now issued a directive to Ojo to immediately withdraw the appointment and cease all public representations in support of Maina. Failure to comply is expected to expedite the disciplinary proceedings already initiated against him for actions deemed inconsistent with the NBA Constitution and the Rules of Professional Conduct.
"Integrity, accountability, and the preservation of public confidence in the legal profession are foundational values of the Nigerian Bar Association," the statement concluded. "Any conduct that undermines these principles will attract firm and decisive institutional response."
