Former NBA Ilorin secretary Muhammed elected as chairman, promises health insurance for members
Barrister Jimoh Saad Muhammed has been elected as the 26th Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ilorin Branch, following an online election conducted on Thursday in Kwara State.
Muhammed, a former secretary of the branch and private legal practitioner, secured 207 votes to defeat his closest rival, Barrister Aseru Yewande, who polled 73 votes. The results were announced by the Chairman of the Electoral Committee, Professor Yahya Hambali, after the conclusion of voting.
Speaking after the announcement, Hambali described the exercise as transparent, free and fair, noting that all complaints raised during the process were promptly addressed from the control room.
According to him, the voting portal remained open from the morning until 4 p.m., ensuring that all eligible members of the association had the opportunity to participate.
In other positions contested during the election, Rashidat Abimbola Hassan emerged as Vice Chairman with 138 votes, ahead of Owoniseola Michael, who scored 32 votes, and Mistura Abayomi Yusuf, who garnered 110 votes.
For the position of Bar Secretary, Sekoni Saad Isiaq was elected with 135 votes, defeating Gideon Osagbemi, who secured 47 votes, and Ridwan Musa, who polled 98 votes.
Addressing journalists after his victory, Muhammed expressed appreciation to members of the association for the confidence reposed in him and pledged to make lawyers’ welfare a top priority during his tenure.
He promised to introduce a health insurance scheme for members through the NBA National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), particularly to support elderly lawyers and those facing challenges in accessing healthcare.
“Many of our members cannot afford hospital bills and are suffering from various illnesses. We will implement the NBA NHIS, allowing members to register for a nominal fee and access healthcare services at hospitals of their choice,” he said.
The chairman-elect also unveiled plans to establish a relaxation centre for members, stating that the branch would engage the Kwara State Government to secure land for the project.
He noted that despite the branch’s long history, it lacked a relaxation facility comparable to those of other professional associations.
“Since the NBA was established about 60 years ago, the Ilorin Bar has not had a relaxation centre. During our tenure, we will engage the state government to secure land in the Government Reserved Area (GRA) for this purpose,” he said.
Muhammed further disclosed plans to document the history of the Ilorin Bar ahead of its 60th anniversary celebrations, which he said would feature a 60-day programme to commemorate the milestone.
A graduate of the University of Ilorin, Muhammed obtained his law degree in 2008 before proceeding to the Abuja campus of the Nigerian Law School. He was called to the Nigerian Bar on November 4, 2009.
After completing the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme in Osun State, he joined the chambers of J.S. Bamigboye (SAN) in Ilorin in 2011. He later established his private law firm, J.S. Muhammad & Associates, in January 2020, which subsequently evolved into INTIMATE Chamber in 2022.
