The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has announced the membership of various standing and Adhoc Committees.

The NBA President, Olumide Akpata, in a press statement signed by himself, said the Committees are set up pursuant to section 12, which establishes eleven (11) of the NBA Constitution to actualize the core objectives of the NBA.

The Committees include Judiciary Committee, Welfare Committee, Remuneration Committee, Legal Education Committee, Human Rights Committee, Law Reform Committee, Public Interest Litigation Committee, and Anti-Corruption Committee amongst others.

 

Dr. Babatunde Ajibade, SAN, Heads Judiciary Committee, Yakubu Maikyau, SAN heads Welfare Committee, Anthony Nwaochei heads Remuneration Committee, Prof. Dakkas J. Dakkas, SAN to chair Legal Education Committee, Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN to chair Human Rights Committee, Mohammed Dele Belgore, SAN to chair Law Reform Committee, Dr. Charles Mekwunye for Public Interest Litigation Committee, Babajide Ogundipe for Anti-corruption Committee, Yunus Ustaz Usman, SAN to chair Disciplinary Committee, A. U. Mustapha, SAN for Future of Legal Practice Committee, Dr. Joe Abah to chair Secretariat Restructuring Committee, Basil Udotai to head Digital NBA Committee, Ayo Akintunde, SAN heads Electoral Reform and Audit Committee, Olaseni Adio, SAN to chair Finance committee, Chief Bolaji Ayorinde, SAN for Dispute Resolution Committee, Prof U. U. Chukwumaeze, SAN to chair Editorial Board, Yahaya Maikori heads Sports and Recreation Committee, Victor Frank for Technical Committee on 2021 Conference Planning, Yussuf Asamah Kadiri, SAN for Constitution Review Committee

Read the full statement below

President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Olumide Akpata

28 February 2021

Dear Learned Colleagues and Friends,

I trust you have been well and keeping safe in these extraordinary times.

It is six (6) months today since I took the oath of office and assumed responsibility as the 30th President of the foremost professional membership association in Nigeria and the most influential network of legal practitioners in Africa – the Nigerian Bar Association (“NBA”).

In my inaugural address on the 28th of August 2020, I reiterated the resolve of the leadership of the NBA to build a functional Association that works for the members and for our society. One pledge that I made during my inauguration was to establish the practice of constantly updating members of the NBA of our activities and to periodically render account of our stewardship. This I have continued to do, while the Publicity Secretary has also provided information real time, of the various activities and programmes that we have embarked on towards fulfilling our mandate.

Details of some of our activities since assuming office up to31st December 2020 are contained in my Monthly Reports which can be assessed at

https://nigerianbar.org.ng/presidents-statement-0. On the occasion of the six-month anniversary of our administration in office, I have considered it pertinent to undertake a stock-taking exercise of our administration’s activities and to provide an outlook on our programmes and activities for the rest of our term. In particular, I believe that this is an apposite occasion to make public the list of the membership of the Standing and Ad-Hoc Committees of the NBA for the duration of my term in office.

While my team and I have been working assiduously to implement and deliver on our programmes and policies, we are cognizant of the fact that the National Officers cannot

undertake and fully implement our said programmes alone. A proper decentralisation and effective delegation to various committees is therefore required.

The NBA Constitution, per section 12, establishes eleven (11) Standing Committees and provides their terms of reference which are structured to actualise the core objectives of the NBA. The NBA Constitution also empowers the National Executive Committee (NEC) to

constitute Ad-hoc Committees to deal with issues and matters as circumstances may dictate. Unfortunately, in the recent past, not all of these Committees have been empanelled or set up to function. However, I believe that the constitutional mandate given to each of these Committees is of such significance to our profession that they must be set up.

In this regard, we have set up the Standing Committees as well as Ad-hoc Committees with

terms of reference that cover several thematic areas that require urgent intervention if we

are to realise our resolve to build an Association that works for all. While a number of these

Committees have since commenced work, some others will now be taking over from and/or

liaising with my team regarding the work that we have done thus far on their specific subject areas.

It is my expectation that through the concerted efforts of the National Officers, our Branches, our Sections, the various organs of the NBA and these Committees, the NBA would be able to implement its programmes and realise its immediate goals which include the welfare of the members of the Association; advocating for better working conditions for lawyers; creating sustainable professional development structures; reforming the institutional and governance processes of the NBA; running an inclusive Bar that recognises the variety of opinions within the Association; advocating for the independence of the Judiciary, promotion of the rule of law, and reforms in the administration of justice in Nigeria; and above all, the need to lay the foundation for the modern practice of law in Nigeria.

The membership of the Committees, which is representative of the abundant human

resources available in the Association, has been painstakingly selected to actualise the above objectives.

Judiciary Committee

The NBA has a critical role in the maintenance and defence of the integrity of the Judiciary in Nigeria. In particular, we have a critical role to play in the appointment, training and

retraining of judicial officers, and to advocate for adequate remuneration of judges, the

overall independence of the judiciary and in making better the experience of our members

and indeed the society at large when dealing with the Courts.

I have recently participated in the process for the nomination and recommendation of judicial officers for some of our superior courts of record and to say that a lot of work yet needs to be done is, frankly, putting it mildly. We are proud of the role the NBA played in the resolution of the constitutional crisis in Cross River State over the appointment of a substantive Chief Judge for the State and the ongoing efforts to resolve the unfortunate saga involving some Magistrates in that State. To ensure a systemic and coordinated approach to dealing with the Judiciary, and to ensure a continually improved Bar and Bench relationship, the following team has been put in place:

Dr. Babatunde Ajibade, SAN (Chairman) – Lagos

Ade Okeaya-Inneh, SAN (Co-Chair) – Abuja

Sanni Katu, SAN – Kaduna

Funmi Roberts – Ibadan

Caleb Dajan – Jos

Patrick Osu – Lagos

D.G. Hassan – Bauchi

Agba Eimunjeze – Lagos

Adeyemi Adewunmi – Ado-Ekiti

G. C. Obi – Onitsha

Adizua Okoroafor – Umuahia

Akinyemi Aremu – Abuja

Isaiah Bozimo (Secretary) – Abuja

Leader Leneke – Yola

Sheila Ogbise – Sagbama

Welfare Committee

We pledged that the NBA would use its best endeavours to ensure that her members enjoy

improved access to healthcare under a workable insurance scheme. We also promised to

negotiate an upward review of benefits under the NBA Life Assurance Policy with our

insurance policy provider. I am happy to announce that we have concluded discussions with the leadership of Leadway Assurance Plc and effective 1 April 2021, the new pay-outs under the NBA Life Assurance Policy potentially available to the lawyers (and their families as the case may be) who paid their practice fee not later than 31 March of each year will be as follows: N2 Million in the event of death, N1Million for permanent disability and the sum of N1 million for critical illness. This is in effect, a 100% increase in the current rates.

Furthermore, as part of our “Project Well-being”, we are working with the leadership of the

National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) to map out modalities for the provision of

comprehensive health insurance coverage that will enable our financial members across the

country to have access affordable health care. Although efforts are still ongoing in this regard, we have concluded for 1,000 legal practitioners across the country to benefit from a free health insurance scheme with the NHIS for a period of one year. The beneficiaries of this scheme will be announced in due course. The following team has been constituted to implement the above and our overall welfare programme and to actualise our vision for an NBA that works for the benefit of its members:

Yakubu Maikyau, SAN (Chairman) – Abuja

Emeka Ozoani, SAN (Co-Chair) – Ikeja

Kunle Edun (National Welfare Secretary) – Warri

Raymond Isitor – Agbor

Auta Nyada – Suleja

Austin Echo – Otukpo

Ogaga Emoghwanre (Secretary) – Benin

Gabriel Ekpagha – Ikorodu

Nekabari Annah – Bori

Osahon Omoruyi – Lagos

Christiana Ndife – Awka

Ibrahim Al-Hussain – Gombe

Barnabas Ehinomen – Bwari

Hope Anemhen – Abakaliki

Isiaka Jamiu – Okehi

Remuneration Committee

In line with the NBA’s commitment to ensuring that our members have better working

conditions and earn decent wages, we have set up a special committee independent of the

Welfare Committee to deal with this issue. The NBA Remuneration Committee has been

tasked with responsibility of designing a workable and enforceable framework under which lawyers will (i) charge the right fees for their legal services using acceptable and realistic

metrics; and (ii) ensure that those fees, when earned, trickle down, in terms of reasonable

living wages and emoluments, to those who work with, or for, the lawyers. The Committee

comprises of:

Anthony Nwaochei (Chairman) – Lagos

Seyi Olawunmi (Co-Chair) – Ikeja

Joshua Usman – Lokoja

Irene Pepple – Port-Harcourt

Ronke Adeyemi – Ilorin

Reginald Aziza – Lagos

Ibrahim Effiong – Jalingo

Ekemini Udim – Uyo

Mohammed Gimba – Minna

Petrus Elechi – Onueke

Chuks Nwanna – Lagos

Kelechi Nwuzi – Port-Harcourt

Barbara Omosun (Secretary) – Abuja

David Etido – Lagos

Chijioke Ifediora – Awka

Legal Education Committee

I cannot overemphasise the fact that the NBA must champion a structured reformation of the system of legal education in Nigeria and actualise a system that produces knowledgeable, competent and ethically conscious lawyers. In this respect, we are setting up a Legal Education Committee to drive our mandate of promoting and advancing legal education in Nigeria as stipulated in the NBA Constitution. Our overall vision is to work together with the Council of Legal Education in drawing up a legal education policy for Nigeria to actualise the legal profession of our dreams and to produce lawyers that are fit for the 21st Century. Similarly, as part of our capacity building agenda, and in advancement of Continuing Professional Development, separate from the mandate and functions of the Legal Education Committee, we are at the early stages of establishing a dedicated Career Development Centre and empowering the NBA Institute of Continuing Legal Education to drive our agenda around capacity building and assisting our members to diversify their practice areas and methods, and to deepen competencies which in turn will create more wealth and career options for lawyers. We are also institutionalising the knowledge sharing series at the various branches.

With particular reference to legal education, we have begun plans to hold a legal education

Summit before the end of this year. For these and more, the following carefully selected team has been set up:

Prof. Dakkas J. Dakkas, SAN (Chairman) – Jos

Prof. Damilola Olawuyi, SAN (Co- Chair) – Ado-Ekiti

Prof. Sylvester Shikyil, SAN – Bukuru

Prof. Momodu Kassim Momudu – Benin

Prof. Agbo Madaki – Abuja

Prof. Yussuf Dankofa – Kaduna

Dr. Obioma Onyi-Ogele – Awka

Tobenna Erojikwe – Lagos

Anu Eso – Lagos

Goddy Umoh – Uyo

Wale Irokosu – Lagos

Adamson Adeboro – Abuja

Tolu Aderemi – Lagos

Glory Ozoemenam – Okehi

Ayi Ekpeyong (Secretary) – Lagos

Human Rights Committee

There is no gainsaying the fact that the #ENDSARS movement and the COVID-19 pandemic have significantly brought into sharp focus the need for the NBA to be at the forefront of the fight to defend fundamental human rights in Nigeria. There have been reports of unlawful arrests and detention, extrajudicial killings and other forms of human rights violations across the country. In keeping with our motto of “Promoting the Rule of Law” the NBA under my watch has not relented in its quest to ensure that it remains the leading watch-dog organisation in Nigeria. We have intervened in cases of human rights violations in different parts of the country and we have in some cases provided pro bono representation for underserved Nigerians. To better institutionalise our approach, we are empowering the Human Rights Institute to drive the NBA agenda of promoting and protecting the Rule of Law and respect for the enforcement of fundamental human rights. In the same vein, the following team of seasoned legal practitioners have been put together to serve as the implementing body through which the NBA shall promote and protect the principles of the rule of law and fundamental human rights and liberties. The Committee is empowered, to prosecute and defend cases as they deem fit to actualise the NBA’s human rights objectives and provide free legal aid services in suitable circumstances.

Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN (Chairman) – Abuja

John Aikpokpo-Martins (Co-Chair) – Warri

Aikhunegbe A. Malik, SAN – Abuja

Lawrence Nwakaeti – Owerri

Abdul Faskari – Funtua

Isaac Ogbah – Ota

Kola Alapinni – Abuja

Bernard Oniga (Secretary) – Lagos

Victor Nwakasi – Lagos

Aysha Ahmad – Zaria

Prof. Theodore Bala Maiyaki – Gwagwalada

Desmond Orisewezie – Lagos

Benjamin Sati – Gombe

Jennifer Akpoguma – Udu

Jayeola Okungade – Okitipupa

Law Reform Committee

My administration is determined to ensure that the NBA fulfils its duty to the society by taking an active interest and participating in the law-making process in Nigeria. This will ensure that our laws are current, fit for purpose and are made for the good and advancement of the society.

My office has already begun collaborating with the National Assembly through the Office of

the Speaker of the House of Representatives to provide technical and specialist support to the legislature on key bills that come before the legislature. Our collaboration has already

resulted in a Bill before the National Assembly, the Police Service Commission (Reform) Bill

2020, which has now passed 2nd reading. We are also currently providing specialist support to the National Assembly on a new Electoral Act that is expected to change the electoral landscape in Nigeria. There is, in fact, so much happening in the legislative and law-making space in Nigeria at the moment and the NBA is expected to quickly intervene, through an active Law Reform Committee. For this purpose, the following well-resourced Committee has been set up to, inter alia, act as a liaison between the NBA and the National Assembly and represent the NBA at public hearings by the legislature (through such subject matter experts that the Committee may select depending on the law under review):

Mohammed Dele Belgore, SAN (Chairman) – Lagos

Dr. Ehiogie West-Idahosa (Co-Chair) – Benin

Prof. Deji Adekunle, SAN – Abuja

Prof. RACE Achara – Enugu

Dr. Sam Amadi – Abuja

Eno Mbanugo – Lagos

Kelvin Ejelonu – Sagbama

Mayowa Owolabi – Lagos

Aisha Ado- Abdullahi – Kano

Paul Daudu – Bwari

Ogbom Goodluck – Port-Harcourt

K. K. Oguejiofor- Onitsha

Kenneth Okwor (Secretary) – Lagos

John Aruoture – Warri

Ovonlen Ebhohimhen – Benin

Public Interest Litigation Committee

This Committee needs no introduction having already been inaugurated and having already

begun work by filing, on our behalf, an action challenging the unconstitutional extension of

the tenure of the Inspector of General of Police beyond that provided under the Police Act

A lot more can be expected from this Committee. Additionally, it is important that I remind our members that they are entitled to approach this Committee with issues of public importance that require the NBA intervention through litigation, for further action.

The membership of this Committee is as follows:

Dr. Charles Mekwunye (Chairman) – Lagos

Dr. Olumide Ayeni, SAN (Co-Chair) – Abeokuta

Dr. Paul Ananaba, SAN (Chairman NBA-SPIDEL)

Kunle Edun (National Welfare Secretary) – Warri

Dr. A.O. Giwa- Warri

Aderemi Oguntoye – Lagos

Boonyameen Lawal (Secretary) – Abuja

Solomon Oho – Lagos

Gloria Ballason – Kaduna

Malachy Odo – Lagos

Olumide Babalola – Lagos

Baba Isah – Abuja

Amaka Ezeno – Awka

Auwal Yau – Kano

Wisdom Adike – Sagbama

Anti-corruption Committee

The NBA owes the society the duty to actively support the fight against corruption. In this

regard, I recently played host to a team from the National Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU)

led by its Chief Executive Officer and at that meeting, we both agreed to collaborate to ensure that in line with global best practice, members of the NBA are not involved in aiding or facilitating money laundering or other corrupt practices. We will therefore put all necessary structures in place to ensure that the legal profession is set up to battle corruption at all levels.

We have a similar collaboration in place with the Independent Corrupt Practices and other

Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to support the general fight against corruption in both

the Nigerian public and private sectors. To further drive our anti-corruption agenda, this

Committee has been constituted as follows:

Babajide Ogundipe (Chairman) – Lagos

Paul-Harris Ogbole, SAN (Co-Chair) – Abuja

Emmanuel Akomaye – Abuja

Michael Asugo – Warri

Yakubu Galadima – Lagos

Marx Ikongbeh (Secretary) – Abuja

Habeeb Lawal – Asaba

Andrew Ubido – Warri

Steve Ugamah – Abakaliki

Promise Madubuobu – Lagos

Lawal Hudu – Birnin-Kebbi

Kelechi Onwuegbuchulem – Lagos

Chigbo Okafor – Badagry

Nnaemeka Egonu – Onitsha

Ifeoma Adaghara – Enugu

Disciplinary Committee

The NBA Constitution provides for a Committee that shall investigate cases of complaint of

professional impropriety or other misconduct against members of the Bar and to make

appropriate recommendations. This Committee is critical to our work of strengthening our

disciplinary mechanism and improving public confidence in the legal profession. The

Committee membership includes:

Yunus Ustaz Usman, SAN (Chairman) – Kaduna

Funke Aboyade, SAN (Co-Chair) – Lagos

Oladele Olaniyan – Kano

Uba Anene – Awka

Ekanem Ekanem – Uyo

Chief Oseloka Osuigwe – Nnewi

Kehinde Daodu – Lagos

Maureen Bolowotan – Ikorodu

Christopher Echie – Abuja

Yohanna Latong – Kafanchan

Rose Briggs – Port-Harcourt

Dennis Agbaga – Effurun

Ikenna Onwusika (Secretary) – Lagos

Tony Atambi – Calabar

Afolabi Adesanmi – Akure

Future of Legal Practice Committee

One critical component of my administration’s agenda is to facilitate a significant

improvement in the quality and standard of the legal services that we render to our 21st

century clients and lay the foundation for the future we all desire. It is important that we

always anticipate the developments that impact on the practice of law. Some of these

developments are already a reality in other jurisdictions and it is incumbent on us to prepare our profession for a future that is imminent. For this reason, a carefully selected team has been put together to introduce programmes and make recommendations to the National Executive Committee to actualise these objectives:

A. U. Mustapha, SAN (Chairman) – Abuja

Dr. Adeoye Adefulu (Co-Chair) – Lagos

Folashade Alli – Lagos

Ezenwa Anumnu (Secretary) – Abuja

Oyinkan Badejo-Okusanya – Lagos

Abdul-Muhsin Wakawa – Keffi

Enie Otrofanowei – Warri

Prof. Olawale Ajai – Lagos

Rockson Igelige – Oleh

Clinton Nwaba – Ikorodu

Emokiniovo Akpedeye – Warri

Faith Amarachi Okpara – Owerri

Kunle Ajagbe – Lagos

Abdulrahman El-Ibrany – Gombe

Justice John – Lagos

A. U. Mustapha, SAN (Chairman) – Abuja

Dr. Adeoye Adefulu (Co-Chair) – Lagos

Folashade Alli – Lagos

Ezenwa Anumnu (Secretary) – Abuja

Oyinkan Badejo-Okusanya – Lagos

Abdul-Muhsin Wakawa – Keffi

Enie Otrofanowei – Warri

Prof. Olawale Ajai – Lagos

Rockson Igelige – Oleh

Clinton Nwaba – Ikorodu

Emokiniovo Akpedeye – Warri

Faith Amarachi Okpara – Owerri

Kunle Ajagbe – Lagos

Abdulrahman El-Ibrany – Gombe

Justice John – Lagos

Secretariat Restructuring Committee

To ensure the seamless execution of our plans and a smooth running of our daily operations, we need to run the NBA National Secretariat in a more professional, member-friendly and efficient manner that will ensure that certain administrative matters are left to competent career NBA staff at the National Secretariat. It is my hope that through the work of this Committee, these ideals will become entrenched and institutionalised at the NBA today and for subsequent administrations. The following team has been set up for this purpose.

Dr. Joe Abah (Chairman) – Abuja

Desmond Yamah (Co-Chair) – Abuja

Emeka Obegolu – Abuja

Jonathan Taidi – Minna

Osita Okoro – Abuja

Ifueko Alufohai – Benin

Desmond Ogba – Lagos

Tola Onayemi – Abuja

Toritseju Okoturo – Lagos

Subomi Chuku – Abuja

Bukola Olabiyi – Lagos

Iniruo Wills – Port-Harcourt

Aliyu Isa Abubakar – Gwagwalada

Jonathan Ekperusi – Effurun

Temitayo Etomi – Lagos

Digital NBA Committee

Closely related to the restructuring of the secretariat is our Digital NBA Project. The goal of this project is to digitise most of our processes at the NBA and build a formidable platform

that will allow for an easy and seamless interface between our members and the Association.

As part of this project, we will also be issuing a proper multi-purpose means of identification to our members. Beyond digitizing the National Secretariat, we want to migrate the profession and practitioners to the digital space. Technology has transformed our lives, and the legal profession is no exception. The NBA under my watch is determined to provide the platform that will enable our members embrace this new reality.

Members of this Committee are as follows:

Basil Udotai (Chairman) – Abuja

Rotimi Ogunyemi (Co-Chair) – Lagos

Israel Aye – Lagos

Kassim Sodangi – Abuja

Adeleke Alex-Adedipe – Lagos

Theodora Kio-Lawson – Lagos

Nneka Ofoma – Onitsha

Sanni Abbas – Abuja

Oliver Omoredia (Secretary) – Lagos

Afolabi Araromi – Lagos

Timi Omimakinde – Jos

Oyinkansola Fawehinmi – Lagos

Ugochi Igwenyi – Calabar

Olamide Idowu – Ibadan

Mohammed Nasir Ibrahim – Kaduna

Electoral Reform and Audit Committee

I have consistently noted that, as Africa’s foremost professional Association, our electoral

process ought to be the standard for others to follow and the confidence of our members in

the electoral process is critical to the survival of the Association. There is no gainsaying the

fact that recent NBA elections have been dogged with one controversy or the other. It is for

this reason that I announced the establishment of this Committee on the day of my

inauguration. The Committee, which is already in the process of recommending reform

measures to ensure that complaints about the NBA electoral process are significantly

minimised is made up of the following members:

Ayo Akintunde, SAN (Chairman) – Lagos

Mike Igini (Co-Chair) – Ikeja

Nnenna Ukoh (Secretary) – Enugu

Basil Udotai – Abuja

John Owubokiri – Port-Harcourt

Ama Etuwewe, SAN – Warri

Oludayo Olorunfemi – Ikere-Ekiti

Rotimi Ogunyemi – Lagos

Mas’ud Alabalewe – Barnawa

Hadiza Nasir Ahmad – Kano

Andrew Odum – Asaba

Altine Ibrahim – Damaturu

Finance committee

The NBA Constitution provides for a Finance Committee that shall prepare annual proposals

for consideration by the National Executive Committee and to explore ways and means to

raise funds for the Association. Additionally, the Committee is mandated to develop a

framework that will make it easier for lawyers to access finance at concessionary rates for

their capital expenditure and working capital purposes in order to enhance their practices.

We have ready begun work in this regard by meeting with the MD/CEO of Access Bank to

discuss the delivery of value adding services for the benefit and welfare of our members

including the establishment of an access to finance scheme for lawyers on concessionary

terms. The Finance Committee has now been constituted to take these and other discussions to the final implementation stage.

Olaseni Adio, SAN (Chairman) – Lagos

Mazi Okechukwu Unegbu (Co-Chair) – Lagos

Nnamdi Anagor (National Financial Secretary) – Awka

Anthony Iroagalachi – Barnawa

C. C. Onwuzulike – Onitsha

Chike Obianwu – Lagos

Amina Ibrahim – Maiduguri

Tony Iloka – Abuja

Osadolor Okunkpolor – Benin

Oyeyemi Oke (Secretary) – Lagos

Ms. Sayo Adeleye – Ibadan

Salisu Abubakar – Ungogo

Folarin Aluko – Abuja

Greg Otsu – Lagos

Angus Chukwuka – Port-Harcourt

Dispute Resolution Committee

The NBA Constitution provides for a Committee that shall receive, investigate and determine complaints by members of the Association. The following Committee has been constituted and empowered to resolve disputes between members of the Association and will be supported to carry out its functions as outlined in the NBA Constitution. We assist the larger society in resolving disputes and we should be able to do the same for our Association.

Chief Bolaji Ayorinde, SAN (Chairman) – Lagos

Nella Adem-Rabanna, SAN (Co-Chair) – Calabar

Godwin Omoaka, SAN – Lagos

G.O.K Ebowe – Warri

Godfrey Ekoh – Enugu

Bob C. Ijioma – Lagos

Godwin Odimabo – Port-Harcourt

Muslima Nagode – Ilorin

Lawrence Erewele (Secretary) – Abuja

Chijioke Odu – Abuja

Osayuki F. Obasohan – Oleh

Umeh Maduka – Port-Harcourt

Ahmed Loko – Keffi

Jonathan Agbo – Ibadan

Evo Aka – Afikpo

Editorial Board

For a knowledge-based profession like ours, it does not reflect positively on the NBA that we have not had a functional Editorial Board and/or a reputable Journal in quite a while.

Accordingly, and to give effect to the aims and objectives of the NBA which include the

promotion and advancement of legal education, continuing legal education, advocacy and

jurisprudence, the following Committee has been constituted to remedy this anomaly:

Prof U. U. Chukwumaeze, SAN (Chairman) – Owerri

Prof. Peter Akper, SAN (Co-Chair) – Abuja

Prof. Nathaniel Inegbedion – Ekpoma

Dr. Wale Olawoyin, SAN – Lagos

Dr. Dapo Olanipekun, SAN – Lagos

Dr. Akpo Mudiaga-Odje – Warri

Dr. Aminu Gamawa – Bauchi

Douglas Ogbankwa – Benin

Anne Agi – Ogoja

Amaka Iguh – Awka

Dr. Newman Richards – Asaba

Chidiebere Iloko

Raymond Nkannebe (Secretary) – Lagos

Ogbonna Agbafo – Lagos

Marvin Ogah Ibem – Ikeja

Sports and Recreation Committee

This Committee is tasked with the responsibility of organising sports, recreational and

wellness programmes and activities for our members across the country. As we are aware,

health is wealth and sports, recreation and wellness programmes have crucial roles to play in achieving a healthy mind and body. The Committee has therefore been constituted, as

follows:

Yahaya Maikori (Chairman) – Lagos

Cecilia Ugbuji (Co-Chair) – Ogoja

Emmanuel Oriazuwa – Ikeja

Gabriel Ugwu – Awka

Augustine Ibolo – Abuja

Callistus Onyedoga – Ukwa

Olujimi Olujide-Poko (Secretary) – Abuja

Femi Oyewole – Lagos

Stella Akupue – Abuja

Victory Iluogu – Lagos

Bright Odia – Lagos

George Nwabunike – Lagos

Mohammed Iguodala – Benin

Damilare Ojo – Abuja

Caleb Owowo – Bwari

 

Yahaya Maikori (Chairman) – Lagos

Cecilia Ugbuji (Co-Chair) – Ogoja

Emmanuel Oriazuwa – Ikeja

Gabriel Ugwu – Awka

Augustine Ibolo – Abuja

Callistus Onyedoga – Ukwa

Olujimi Olujide-Poko (Secretary) – Abuja

Femi Oyewole – Lagos

Stella Akupue – Abuja

Victory Iluogu – Lagos

Bright Odia – Lagos

George Nwabunike – Lagos

Mohammed Iguodala – Benin

Damilare Ojo – Abuja

Caleb Owowo – Bwari

Technical Committee on 2021 Conference Planning

This is the Committee tasked with the responsibility of delivering a world class Annual

General Conference (NBA-AGC) for our Association in August 2021.

Victor Frank – Briggs (Chairman) – Port-Harcourt

Akin Ajibola (Co-Chair) – Ikeja

Basil Udotai – Abuja

Kolade Olawuni – Lagos

Soibi Ovia (Secretary) – Lagos

David Ngwee – Enugu

Rotimi Ogunyemi – Lagos

Ebiere Ekpese – Sagbama

Sanni Idris – Kaduna

Añulika Osuigwe – Abuja

Nta Ekpiken – Lagos

Jonathan Molmela – Gombe

Ugochukwu Ehirim – Warri

Stephen Kanu – Ibadan

Nkiru Osuala – Port-Harcourt

Damola Dawodu – Lagos

Inemesit Dike – Port-Harcourt

Sopakiriba Batubo – Degema

Toju Okoturo – (NBA Secretariat)

Ayodeji Oni – (NBA Secretariat)

Uju Nwanna – (NBA Secretariat)

Damilare Ojo – (NBA Secretariat)

(Ex-Officio)

Mr. Ayuli Jemide – Chairman NBA-SBL

Mr. Seun Abimbola, SAN – Chairman NBA-SLP

Dr. Paul Ananaba, SAN – Chairman NBA-SPIDEL

Prof. Oluyemisi Bamgbose, SAN – Chairperson NBA-WF

Mr. Tobi Adebowale – Chairman NBA-YLF

Mr. Samuel E.C. Nwosu – Chairman NBA Ukwa Branch

Mr. Scott Ayo-Okhiria – Chairman NBA Ughelli Branch

Mr. George Abah – Chairman NBA Otukpo Branch

Constitution Review Committee

Lastly, we appreciate that some aspects of our agenda require a constitutional amendment(s) to institutionalise same. We are however mindful of the fact that the perennial amendment of the NBA Constitution is not a desirable state of affairs. For this reason, we have charged the team below to come up with a holistic review and amendment of the NBA Constitution that can stand the test of time.

The members are as follows:

Yussuf Asamah Kadiri, SAN (Chairman) – Lagos

Afam Osigwe, SAN (Co-Chair) – Abuja

Prof. George Izevbuwa – Benin

David Oluwagbami – Lagos

Ben Oji – Warri

Nnamdi Eze – Oji River

Abdulrahman Okunade – Osogbo

Emmanuel Jewo – Ughelli

Chibueze Oguchienti – Onitsha

Lucky Ekarume – Lagos

Ahmad Abdul-Gaffar – Katsina

Orji A. Uka (Secretary) – Lagos

Baffa Alasan – Dutse

Agbada Stephen Agbada – Lagos

Uchenna Mbaeke – Enugu

I sincerely thank the members of the various Committees for making themselves available to provide this selfless service to the Bar. I am confident that our Association will benefit from their wealth of experience and expertise which they will no doubt deploy in carrying out the duties assigned to them individually and collectively. I also thank all members of the Association once again for the mandate that you entrusted to us. Please be assured that I remain committed to delivering on your mandate and bequeathing a Bar that you will be most proud of.

Sincerely,

Olumide Akpata

President