Bolaji Kuyebi

Lawyer ⚖ | Chairman, Young Lawyers Forum, NBA Ota Branch | Chartered Arbitrator| Man United | Alumnus @TheSPPG | Provost -Elect, NBA Ota Branch

[Bolaji Kuyebi @iam_etymology]

There's a thin line between enjoying your youth and destroying your future.. Be wise..✌

[Bolaji Kuyebi @iam_etymology]

@Jules_wurld Yes, you are right. I have always believed that a lawyer’s word should mean something. Whenever I give my word to opposing counsel, I stand by it.

[Bolaji Kuyebi @iam_etymology]

Had a similar experience at the Court of Appeal. Opposing counsel had indicated he would not oppose, but raised an objection when the matter was called. I responded, the objection was overruled, and our application was granted. Never rely on the assurance of the other Counsel.

[Chinalu Okorie @Chinaluemmanuel]

A colleague was sacked by a firm one year after his Call.
He was instructed to take a date in a matter. Before the Court sat, he informed the senior lawyer on the other side that he was not ready to go on as the firm had directed him to take a date.
The senior gave him all the needed assurance that he would not oppose his application. When the matter was called, the senior VEHEMENTLY opposed it. The young lawyer was not just surprised, he felt betrayed by his senior colleague. On that, he could not convince the court for a date, and the matter was struck out.
When the firm got the information, the young lawyer was asked not to return to the firm.
Till this moment, our colleague has not forgiven the senior lawyer. And I do not think he would until we leave this earth!

[Bolaji Kuyebi @iam_etymology]

@Chinaluemmanuel Exactly. I had studied my file thoroughly and prepared for any eventuality. When the objection came, I was ready to respond.

[NBA YLF OTA @Nbaylfota]

Young lawyers, law students in Ota and its environs, this is for you.

The NBA-YLF Ota Summit 2026 promises a day of learning, networking, mentorship, and opportunities.

We also welcome partners and sponsors committed to developing the next generation of lawyers.

[Nigerian Bar Association @NigBarAssoc]

BAIL CONDITIONS SHOULD NOT UNDERMINE THE ESSENCE OF BAIL

In recent times, we have observed with growing concern a disturbing trend in the administration of criminal justice in Nigeria, where courts and law enforcement agencies, including the Nigeria Police Force, EFCC, ICPC, and other security agencies, increasingly impose bail conditions that are excessive, impractical, and difficult to satisfy. The frequent insistence on sureties who are senior civil servants of specified grade levels, coupled with demands for landed properties of extraordinary value, has in many cases transformed bail from a mechanism for securing attendance at trial into a tool of pretrial detention. The consequence is that many persons who are constitutionally presumed innocent and have ostensibly been granted bail remain incarcerated because the conditions attached to their release are beyond their reach. This troubling development undermines the constitutional right to personal liberty, weakens the presumption of innocence, and defeats the very essence and purpose of bail within our criminal justice system.

We consider it necessary to reiterate that bail is a constitutional safeguard designed to secure the attendance of an accused person at trial while preserving his or her liberty pending the determination of guilt or innocence. It is neither a punishment nor a mechanism for imposing pre-trial incarceration by indirect means. The law is settled that bail conditions must be reasonable, practical, and capable of being fulfilled by the accused person.

The Supreme Court, in Suleman & Anor v. Commissioner of Police, Plateau State (2008), emphasized that the object of bail pending trial is to grant pre-trial freedom to an accused person whose appearance in court can be secured through appropriate conditions. Bail is not intended to create insurmountable obstacles that make release impossible.

We are particularly concerned by the increasing tendency to impose conditions that are disconnected from prevailing economic realities and often impossible to satisfy. Conditions requiring sureties who are serving civil servants on specific salary grades, ownership of landed properties of extraordinary value, or other burdensome requirements effectively convert the grant of bail into a denial of bail.

Of particular concern is the continued insistence in some cases on sureties who must be senior civil servants, often on Grade Levels 16 or 17, and who must own properties worth hundreds of millions of naira. Such conditions have been strongly criticised by the appellate courts.

In Dasuki v. Director-General, State Security Service & Ors (2019) LPELR-49182 (CA), the Court of Appeal unequivocally condemned the practice of involving serving public officers as a mandatory category of sureties. The Court observed that such requirements are unknown to civilised legal systems and run contrary to public service regulations. The Court further noted that expecting a public servant on Grade Level 16 to own property worth N100 million would not only be unrealistic but could also conflict with public service rules and anti-corruption objectives.

The Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, is equally clear on this issue. Section 165(1) provides that while the grant and conditions of bail are within the discretion of the court, such conditions must not be excessive. Judicial discretion, though wide, must always be exercised judiciously, reasonably, and in a manner consistent with constitutional guarantees.

We therefore restate that bail conditions must be tailored solely to ensure attendance at trial. They must never serve as instruments of punishment prior to conviction. Conditions that cannot be met amount in substance to a refusal of bail and contribute directly to pre-trial detention and congestion in correctional facilities.

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[Foundational Nupe Lawyer @egi_nupe]

I boarded one korope to pack some chairs and table and charged me 10k. But to appreciate his efforts, I paid him 15k instead. When I got home I discovered that I forgot my original cord and power bank in his car. Luckily, it was an Opay account that I paid into, so I called him immediately and he promised to bring the cord and the powerbank the next day.

Today makes it 5days, no cord, no power bank and he has stopped picking my calls.

That’s an average Nigerian!
Zero integrity

[Foundational Nupe Lawyer @egi_nupe]

Here’s my wife’s book unveiling image. Please help me repost if this comes your way.

[LawPavilion @LawPavilion]

The acceptance of rent by a landlord from a tenant after a notice to quit has been issued generally does not waive or invalidate the notice to quit.This principle was affirmed in CHISCO TRANSPORT (NIG) LTD v. NJOKU & ORS (2024) LPELR-62333(CA), where the Court of Appeal stated

[Cowrywise @cowrywise]

1/ If, transport = ₦40k
Food = ₦35k
Data + bills = ₦20k

Then a ₦100k salary is not really ₦100k.

[Mubarak Olalekan @mubarak_Ola26]

On March 12, 2026, a rider from Bolt Nigeria STOLE my package worth over ₦400,000.

I did YOUR job for you, tracked him myself, gathered clear evidence, and reported at your Lekki Phase 1 office on March 13. You took all my evidence and promised to act.

[Nigerian Bar Association @NigBarAssoc]

“NO LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER HAS THE POWER TO ACT AS PROSECUTOR, JUDGE, AND EXECUTIONER”

The Nigerian Bar Association is disturbed by the viral video showing the extrajudicial killing of a suspect by police officers in Delta State, as well as the subsequent confirmation by the Police Public Relations Officer that those involved will be tried for murder. This is an arbitrary, unprovoked and misguided show of power by a law enforcement agent. Not only did the act clearly show that the policeman took the law into his hands but portrayed the Nigerian Police Force in a bad light. The sordid act once more put under the spotlight the unceasing allegations I that law policemen routinely violate the rights of criminal suspects and even innocent persons.

The NBA unequivocally condemns this act. No officer of the law, regardless of rank or circumstance, has the right to act as prosecutor, judge, and executioner. The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is clear that every person is presumed innocent until proven guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction. Regrettably, many law enforcement and executive functionaries fail to abide by the terms of the laws which set them up as well as regulate their actions, but this is not always the case. They continue to act in manner which must not be encouraged in all decent societies. Some of such actions are usually unconstitutional, illegal and unlawful infringement on the right of individualsIf such unlawful actions by the security agencies continue unchecked, fundamental rights of people may not amount to much in such a climate of impunity.

No society should allow such action to go unpunished. The gravity of the offence captured in that video strikes at the very heart of our humanity, the rule of law, and the constitutional guarantees of the right to life and dignity of the human person. It is s worrisome that in this 21st century, a policeman will summarily execute an alleged robber in a devil-may-care attitude. More worrisome is the fact that the summary execution was carried out in full public glare in grave violation of laws regulating the treatment of a criminal suspect or alleged thief.

While we commend the Police for condemning and arresting the main perpetrator, but this is not enough. The viral video clearly shows that other policemen aided or were involved in this heinous act. The investigation, arrest and prosecution process must extend to any other officer may have counselled aided or abetted the extra-judicial killing as they all will be jointly liable for the heinous act. We therefore call for the immediate prosecution and trial of all officers involved in this heinous act. Any attempt to shield, delay, or dilute accountability in this matter will further erode public confidence in law enforcement institutions and will be firmly resisted by the Bar.

We demand that the prosecution be conducted with full transparency and urgency. The Nigerian people deserve to see that the law applies equally to all, including those entrusted with its enforcement. We hereby direct the Human Rights Committees of the NBA in Warri, Effurun and Udu in Delta State to continue to confront such matters as well as monitor the sequence of events to ensure that this matter is properly investigated and prosecuted. In furtherance of this, the NBA Human Rights Committee and Civil Liberties Committee are hereby directed to closely monitor allegations of violations of citizens rights in any other place, engage with relevant authorities, and take all necessary legal and institutional steps to ensure that justice is diligently pursued and ultimately served.

We reiterate our strong deprecation of this unsavoury conduct. It must stop. We must rise to ensure this and similar recklessness acts, stop. The bad policemen in the Force must be shown the way out to avoid giving it a bad name.

[Bolaji Kuyebi @iam_etymology]

Happy birthday, Learned Senior Counsel, @egi_nupe . May Almighty Allah grant you your heart’s desires. I wish you long life, prosperity and greater accomplishments. Keep shining!

Throwback to the year 2024 NBA AGC — the first time I met him.

[Bolaji Kuyebi @iam_etymology]

Glad to have attended the just concluded NBA Young Lawyers Forum Summit 2026 in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

Also had the opportunity to meet with the President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN.

The summit was truly insightful and impactful.

[Daniel Regha @DanielRegha]

Hijab-wearing doesn't make one a criminal, and unless I am mistaken JAMB hasn't mandated a no hijab policy for anyone who wants to take JAMB, so denying someone entry into a JAMB CBT centre because they are wearing a hijab reeks of discrimination.

With or without the hijab, malpractices will still happen if the centre isn't well supervised, so that is no justifiable excuse.

And if for any reason candidates aren't allowed to wear hijab or any headcovering, it should be stated before registration to avoid putting them in an uncomfortable situation.

Search all candidates and accord everyone the same respect.

[Abdool Moh. @abdool_moh]

Every woman has the right to dress the way she wants until it’s time for Muslim women to wear Hijab.

[Foundational Nupe Lawyer @egi_nupe]

Since I made that post, I’ve gotten some DMs and calls talking about publicly attacking a senior colleague while some even talked about “defamation” and someone hinted the possibility of being denied “privilege”. But far from it. Before now, one of the things I am very vocal about is good pay and welfare for your lawyers, especially by highly successful lawyers who employ them but refuse to pay them well and treat them well.

One good thing is that when senior lawyers start paying young lawyers well, I will not benefit from it. I have made similar call at the National Summit of Young Lawyers in 2024 where we had highly placed senior advocates of Nigeria, judges and senior members of the profession in attendance. My position is very simple: there is general lack of sincerity among senior lawyers to pay and treat young lawyers well. It’s not even a question about capacity, experience and knowledge. How do you explain a situation where a senior lawyer has over 10 juniors on his payroll, but he pays them 50k monthly while he flies from one country to another; lives in expensive houses in choice locations across the country and spend money lavishly in public. But his workers cannot even boast of good suits, shoes and decent accommodation. Having or owning a car is even a tall order! There is no way these lawyers will not be ridiculed, disrespected and talked down upon by these lawyers and their clients or others in the society.

For some of us who have been privileged to work in places where we were paid well, treated well, although not without challenges, one of the vows we have made is to ensure that as God continues to bless use, now that we are on our own, we will never deprive our younger colleagues the opportunities they deserve to grow, learn and earn well. Beyond the vows, it is spiritual for us!

What can NBA do? What can YLF do? What can those of us who have platforms do?

These are the questions many people are scared to answer. But we are quick to point fingers to those in government. When back home, charity doesn’t begin with us.

[Bolaji Kuyebi @iam_etymology]

@egi_nupe Same position. I rarely wear ties nowadays. I only wear a tie when I have a corporate event to attend.

[Bolaji Kuyebi @iam_etymology]

NBA Young Lawyers Forum, Ota Branch, in partnership with Houston Place of Arbitration, presents an International Webinar.

🗓 Thursday, 9 April 2026
⏰ 3:00 PM

Registration is FREE:
🔗 https://t.co/cZmdpHekq7

[Dammy Esquire., @Dammi_Esq]

There’s a difference between holding a position and actually leading.

@iam_etymology is doing the latter with NBA Young Lawyers Forum, Ota Branch.

From local impacts to securing international collaborations. This is intentional leadership.

This webinar says it all. It’s happening tomorrow by 3pm. Don’t miss it. Kindly join this webinar I promise you guys will learn a lot.

Registration is FREE
https://t.co/LYEgednGVU

[Bolaji Kuyebi @iam_etymology]

NBA Young Lawyers Forum, Ota Branch, in partnership with Houston Place of Arbitration, presents an International Webinar.

🗓 Thursday, 9 April 2026
⏰ 3:00 PM

Registration is FREE:
🔗 https://t.co/cZmdpHekq7