History has it that prior to the formal establishment of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in the year 1959, lawyers in Nigeria had been organizing themselves and holding meetings at regular intervals to deliberate on issues or matters that are of interests to themselves including all other such matters that pertained to practice of law as a profession hence, many had argued that Jubril Martin should be the first President of the Nigerian Bar Association.
We however chose to work with the list provided by google since all we intend to achieve is get you to appreciate the various individuals that have held the position of leadership in the legal profession till date. We are not unmindful of the fact that some may have more accurate historical background of the NBA leadership. We would appreciate further enlightenment.
| S/N | Name of President | From | To |
| 1. | Christopher Sapara Williams | 1900 | 1915 |
| 2. | Sir Kitoyi Ajasa | 1915 | 1937 |
| 3. | Eric Olawale Moore | 1937 | 1944 |
| 4. | E.J. Alex Taylor | 1944 | 1950 |
| 5. | Sir Adeyemo Alakija | 1950 | 1952 |
| 6. | Jubril Martin | 1952 | 1959 |
| 7. | Frederick Rotimi Williams | 1960 | 1968 |
| 8. | Peter Thomas | 1968 | 1969 |
| 9. | Chief B.M. Boyo | 1969 | 1970 |
| 10. | Chief Richard Akinjide | 1970 | 1973 |
| 11. | Chief Adebayo Ogunsanya | 1973 | 1974 |
| 12. | Dr. Mudiaga Odge | 1974 | 1975 |
| 13. | Dr. Nwakanma Okoro | 1976 | 1978 |
| 14. | Chief B.O. Benson | 1978 | 1980 |
| 15. | Chief Adetunji Fadairo | 1980 | 1982 |
| 16. | A.N. Anyamene | 1982 | 1984 |
| 17. | Prince Bola Ajibola | 1984 | 1985 |
| 18. | Ebele Nwokoye | 1985 | 1987 |
| 19. | Alao Aka-Bashorun | 1987 | 1989 |
| 20. | Charles Idehen | 1989 | 1991 |
| 21. | Chief Clement Akpamgbo | 1991 | 1992 |
| 22. | Priscilla Kuye | 1991 | 1992 |
| 23. | Chief T.J.O. Okpoko, SAN | 1998 | 2000 |
| 24. | O.C.J. Okocha, SAN | 2000 | 2002 |
| 25. | Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN | 2002 | 2004 |
| 26. | Chief Bayo Ojo, SAN | 2004 | 2005 |
| 27. | Prince Lanke Odoginyo | 2005 | 2006 |
| 28. | Olisa Agbakoba SAN | 2006 | 2008 |
| 29. | Chief Olurotimi Akeredolu, SAN | 2008 | 2010 |
| 30. | Joseph Bodurin Daudu, SAN | 2010 | 2012 |
| 31. | Okey Wali, SAN | 2012 | 2014 |
| 32. | Augustine Alegeh, SAN | 2014 | 2016 |
| 33. | Mahmoud Abubakar Balarabe, SAN | 2016 | till date |
| Note: | |||
| · NBA National leaders were referred to as Chairmen between 1900 and 1959. | |||
| · From 1960, the title of National leader of the Bar changed from chairman to President. | |||
| · In 1992 leadership crisis rocked the NBA National and for a period of about six years between 1992 and 1998 NBA had no president. However the various branches were functional. After the crisis, Chief T.J.O Okpoko SAN became the president in 1998 | |||
Our sources:
Wikipedia
The nation
All Africa
NBA website