Two lawyers have filed separate lawsuits against the promoters of the Nigerian Law Society (NLS) over allegations of fraudulent election practices and data privacy violations following the organization's recent national officers' election.
The Nigerian Law Society, established as an alternative to the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), now faces serious legal challenges that could impact its legitimacy and operations.
In the first suit (FHC/ABJ/05/1506/2025), lawyer Timothy Tersugh Ahua named several high-profile NLS promoters as defendants, including Chief Mela Audu Nunghe, SAN, Dr. Ugoji Eze, Chief Bolaji, SAN, Ferguson Chioma Blessing, Chief Emeka Ichoku, and Tejumola Adigun.
Ahua's lawsuit, filed under Order 34 of the Federal High Court Civil Procedure Rules, asks the court to declare that the defendants violated the NLS Constitution. He specifically requests that all unopposed candidates in the list published by Dr. Tonye Clinton Jaja (alternate Chairman of the National Electoral Committee) be declared winners and National Officers of the organization.
The plaintiff alleges that despite being duly nominated for the position of Secretary General, the defendants omitted his name and instead "hand-picked" preferred candidates. This action, according to Ahua, caused him financial loss, wasted time, missed scholarship opportunities, and resulted in embarrassment and reputational damage.
In a separate lawsuit filed at the Federal High Court in Abeokuta, lawyer Oluwadare Thomas named Chief Mela Nunghe, SAN, Dr. Ugoji Eze, the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), and Nigerian Data Protection Commission (NDPC) as respondents.
Thomas's case focuses on data privacy violations, questioning whether the use of his personal data by the NLS promoters without consent violates his rights under Section 37 of the Nigerian Constitution and various sections of the Nigeria Data Protection Act, 2023.
The lawsuit also questions whether the respondents acted in contempt of court by proceeding with elections despite a public notice issued by the CAC and a pending court case regarding the organization's legal status.
Among other reliefs, Thomas is seeking declarations that the use and publication of his personal data without consent is unlawful, an injunction restraining further use of his data, orders directing NITDA and NDPC to investigate and sanction the respondents, and ₦50 million in compensation for the unlawful use and exposure of his personal information.
These legal challenges come at a critical time for the Nigerian Law Society, which has positioned itself as an alternative to the established Nigerian Bar Association. The outcome of these cases could have significant implications for the organization's future and legitimacy within Nigeria's legal community.
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