The newly inaugurated President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya, SAN, has warned lawyers against using abusive and insulting language against their colleagues on social media, particularly in the course of political disagreements.

Badejo-Okusanya, who assumed office as the 33rd president of the association, declared that her administration would take professional misconduct seriously and sanction members whose online conduct damages the reputation of the legal profession.

She issued the warning on Friday during her inaugural address at the 66th NBA Annual General Conference in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, where she formally took over from her predecessor, Afam Osigwe, SAN.

According to her, the conduct of some lawyers on social media had become increasingly disturbing, especially where political differences degenerated into personal attacks and abusive exchanges.

She warned that lawyers found culpable would face disciplinary proceedings, stressing that members of the public were watching the profession and had become increasingly concerned about the language deployed by some legal practitioners online.

“Such lawyers will be subjected to public proceedings for bringing us all into disrepute in the eyes of the public, who look up to us and are increasingly aghast, as all right-thinking colleagues are, at the type of language that lawyers employ on social media against other colleagues, all in the name of politics.

“So, we’re coming after you,” she said.

The NBA president also pledged that her administration would defend the independence of the judiciary while refusing to overlook weaknesses within the justice system.

She identified delays in court proceedings, conflicting judgments, corruption and other practices capable of eroding public confidence in the judiciary as issues the association would confront.

“We will defend judicial independence, but we will not be indifferent to delay, conflicting decisions, corruption, or conduct that diminishes public confidence.

“Respect for institutions does not require silence about their shortcomings. True respect requires the courage to help them,” she said.

Badejo-Okusanya said the NBA would support the Bench while demanding higher standards of integrity, efficiency and accountability in the administration of justice.

“We will support the Bench while insisting on the integrity and efficiency of the justice system,” she added.

On the association’s relationship with government, Badejo-Okusanya promised constructive engagement with authorities but warned that the NBA would not become an instrument of any government, political party, region, religion, interest group or individual.

She said the association’s allegiance would remain with the Constitution, justice, the rule of law and the interests of its members.

“We will collaborate where collaboration advances the public good. We will challenge where challenge becomes necessary. And above all, we will act with facts, fairness, discipline, and boldness,” she stated.

The new NBA president also pledged continuity in the administration of the association, saying initiatives that had delivered results would be retained while those that had failed would be reviewed.

She disclosed that she had studied the manifestos of other candidates who contested the NBA presidential election and would adopt useful ideas where necessary.

“Where we adopt them, I will not hesitate to acknowledge their source, and give credit where it’s due,” she said.

Badejo-Okusanya described the NBA as Africa’s largest association of legal professionals and said its branches, sections, fora and committees possessed the expertise and influence needed to strengthen the profession and contribute to national development.

She promised to expand opportunities for young lawyers through improved access to quality learning, training and professional development across the country.

She further pledged to strengthen the NBA’s response to members’ concerns, empower branches, improve transparency in appointments, deploy technology more effectively and tighten disciplinary measures for professional misconduct.

According to her, the ultimate objective would be to ensure that members derive tangible value from belonging to the association.

Badejo-Okusanya also announced that Abuja would host the NBA’s 2027 Annual General Conference.

She said preparations for the event would begin immediately, while the theme and membership of the conference planning committee would be announced at a later date.

“The work starts now. We will gather there not merely for another conference, but to take stock of our progress, deepen our knowledge, strengthen our bonds, and prepare us all for the future of legal practice,” she said.

Calling on members to scrutinise her administration, the NBA president acknowledged that previous leaderships had made commitments that were not always fulfilled.

“I don’t ask you for blind faith. I ask you to hold us to account.

“Our administration will consolidate what works, repair what doesn’t, and build what the future demands,” she said.

Badejo-Okusanya, who was called to the Nigerian Bar in 2002, described her emergence as president as part of the continuing succession of leadership within the NBA.

She expressed appreciation to past leaders of the association and pledged to serve the Bar faithfully.

She said her ultimate measure of success would not simply be that a woman occupied the presidency but that her tenure produced measurable improvements for lawyers and the association.

“When our tenure ends, may it not be said merely that a woman became president. May it be said that the bar became better; that lawyers became protected and empowered.

“May it be said that we restored faith in what collective professional leadership can achieve. May it be said that we helped our members earn better, live better, and practice better.

“May it be said that we put members first and we delivered. May it be said that we left the association stronger than we met it,” she said.

She concluded by urging lawyers to support the new administration as it begins its programme of reforms.

“The time for action is now. The work begins today. Let us build it together,” Badejo-Okusanya said.