A High Court of Justice sitting in Ibadan, Oyo State, has set the stage for possible contempt proceedings against several high-profile figures within the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) over alleged disobedience of a subsisting court order concerning the 2026 national elections.

The court, presided over by Justice G. A. Opayinka, had earlier on March 4, 2026, granted an interim injunction restraining key defendants in Suit No: I/221/2026 from participating in, supervising, or holding themselves out as officials of the Electoral Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association (ECNBA), pending the determination of a motion on notice.

Despite that order, fresh processes now before the court indicate that the affected individuals allegedly continued to act in defiance of the directive, prompting the issuance of multiple Form 48 notices — formally titled “Notice of Consequences of Disobedience to Order of Court.”

Those served include Uju Okafor, Muhammadu M. Nuhu, Mazi Afam Osigwe (SAN), Ibrahim Aliyu Nassarawa, Ume Maduka, and Aham Ejelam (SAN), all of whom are warned that failure to comply with the court’s order may result in committal to prison for contempt.

The notices, dated March 18, 2026, were issued by the registry of the High Court, Ibadan Judicial Division, and stem directly from the enforcement of the earlier order of court. The warning is explicit: any continued disobedience exposes the recipients to contempt proceedings, a development that could lead to custodial sanctions.

Court records show that the suit was instituted by Ibrahim Lawal, Esq., alongside three other claimants, against the Incorporated Trustees of the Nigerian Bar Association, the Body of Benchers, the Attorney General of the Federation (in his capacity as Chairman of the General Council of the Bar), and several other defendants connected to the conduct of the NBA’s 2026 elections.

The interim order specifically restrained the 5th to 9th defendants from parading themselves as chairman, secretary, or members of the ECNBA or taking any step whatsoever in furtherance of the election process. It also barred the 2nd defendant from interfering in any manner with the constitution or functioning of the electoral committee pending the hearing of the interlocutory injunction application.

The issuance of Form 48 marks a critical escalation in the proceedings, as it is a statutory notice required before a court can proceed to enforce its orders through committal for contempt. Legal analysts say the move signals the court’s readiness to uphold its authority amid growing tensions surrounding the NBA electoral process.

The matter, which has already drawn significant attention within legal circles, is expected to shape the trajectory of the NBA’s 2026 elections, particularly as questions mount over compliance with judicial directives and the legitimacy of ongoing electoral activities.

The case remains pending before the High Court in Ibadan, with further proceedings expected to determine whether the alleged acts amount to contempt and what sanctions, if any, may follow.