Chief Bolaji Ayorinde SAN, O.F.R, To Head NBA’s Dispute Resolution Team

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]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

Renumeration 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 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
The 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 programs and make recommendations to the National
Executive Committee to actualize 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
the 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 institutionalized 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 digitize 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
a platform that will enable our members to 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
the 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
minimized 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 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 organizing sports, recreational and
wellness programs and activities for our members across the country. As we are aware,
health is wealth and sports, recreation, and wellness programs 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 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[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]