Manifesto Of Mai Akande Esq. For The Office Of Chairman NBA, Ilorin Branch, 2018

Ayoola Idowu Akande (MAI AKANDE). I was born in the 70’s at Oke Aluko, Ilorin to the family of Alhaji Amusa Akande Oniyere, a merchant and motor dealer. I attended the first Islamic nursery and primary school in Kwara State (Taoheed Nursery and Primary School, Ilorin) then proceeded to Government High School, Ilorin. I had National Diploma in Business Administration from Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin then first and second degrees (‘LL.B, ‘LL.M) from University of Ilorin. I recently bagged Post Graduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) from National Teachers Institute. I was called to the very noble Nigerian Bar in 2003. My call in life is service to humanity which I have tried to do through positions of responsibilities at various stages of my life, including the following:- *PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER, ASSOCIATION OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION AND MANAGEMENT STUDENTS, KWARA STATE POLYTECHIC, ILORIN – 1995 *MEMBER, STUDENTS REPRESENTATIVES COUNCIL, STUDENTS UNION GOVERNMENT, UNIVERSITY OF ILORIN – 1999/2000 *PRESIDENT, LAW STUDENTS SOCIETY, UNIVERSITY OF ILORIN – 2000/2001 *PRESIDENT, CORP WELFARE ASSOCIATION, OHAOZARA LGA, EBONYI STATE (NYSC) – 2004 *PRESIDENT, OKAKA YOUTH MOVEMENT, OKE ALUKO, ILORIN 2001 *CORP LIASON OFFICER (NYSC CLO), OHAOZARA LGA, EBONYI STATE – 2004 *SECRETARY, NIGERIAN BAR ASSOCIATION, ILORIN BRANCH – 2013 – 2015 *MEMBER, NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, NIGERIAN BAR ASSOCIATION – 2013 – 2015 *MEMBER, INTERNATIONAL BAR ASSOCIATION NBA ILORIN COMMITTEES *MEMBER, YOUNG LAWYERS’ WELFARE COMMITTEE -2007 *MEMBER, BAR DINNER COMMITTEE -2008, 2010, 2012, 2014 & 2016 *MEMBER, BIENNIAL LAW WEEK 2008, 2012 & 2014 *MEMBER, YUSUF ALI LAPTOP REVOLVING SCHEME *CHAIRMAN, ETHICS COMMITTEE *MEMBER, LOC, NBA – NEC, ILORIN 2018 For the first time in the history of our branch there will be an election strictly between legal practitioners outside private practice. I offer myself to serve on the platform of the official bar in full-time active legal practice. My active legal practice with about 5 judgments in the Magistrate Court, 35 High Court judgments and 15 Court of Appeal judgments has given me the privilege to understand the pains and challenges our colleagues go through in the course of our businesses in various Courts within Kwara State which we seek to redress if elected as the Chairman of this noble bar. My noble intention to lead the bar in Ilorin is to achieve what I reckon as highy important, which is to restore the Bar to its pride of place amongst bars especially in tune with the visions of our founding fathers. I intend to address the following areas among others : LAWYERS’ POLICE RELATIONSHIP AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM Under our administration, we will ensure that a cordial relationship exists between the Bar, police and security agencies as stakeholders in the administration of criminal justice system. There will be stiff resistance to unlawful arrest or detention or maltreatment of lawyers and commoners. We intend to partner with the legislature, MOJ and other stakeholders to ensure immediate domestication and codification of Administration of Criminal Justice Act in Kwara State like others States in Nigeria. We will ensure decongestion of police cell and prison. We will equally ensure prompt release of legal advice and prosecution of Accused persons in the courts with requisite jurisdiction. Distinguished colleagues, I won’t be a visiting Chairman who not be available to serve you as your accessibility to me will be unfettered. My office at the Bar Centre will be full utilised. You can equally contact me on phone or social media for swift response to your issues. If the police arrests or molests you, call me! If police prosecution say they are awaiting legal advice for too long, endeavor to call me! When you have any (lawful) issue with governmental organisations or if any Magistrate or judicial officer intimidates you, call me and I will always be there for you. THE NBA ILORIN HOUSE: The Manzuma Isa led administration should be commended for the completion and commission of the Bar Centre. I give glory to the Lord Almighty for wisdom of Bar elders who persuaded us to step aside some years back. The Bar house is our pride and I would ensure it doesn’t lose its present glory. I would work on making it a pride for lawyers like it should be. We should remember that the bar centre is the official office of every branch member. FURNISHING OF HALL AND OFFICES: Under our watch we will facilitate furnishing of the hall and offices in the Bar Centre. NBA LIBRARY We will strive to redirect our library and ensure provision of books through direct purchase and donations. We will also provide free Wi-Fi to enhance e-library and make provisions for e-law reports CLOAK ROOM: One of the office spaces at the Bar Centre will be converted to “Cloak Room” with dressing table, wardrobe, standing minor and chairs where lawyers can change their dresses after court engagements. LAWYERS LOUNGE: To make our Bar Centre socially responsible we will commit some space for a “Lawyers Lounge” where lawyers and their guests only can have snacks with light entertainment. This will serve as a mini relaxation centre but with strict decorum considering the fact that we are in a court premises. AKIN AKINTOYE BUSINESS CENTRE: As a former Bar Scribe I know the challenges of our business centre. I will ensure that our Business Centre is being operated in accordance with the aim and aspirations of our founding fathers with focus in professionalism. E-BAR DIRECTORY: For almost a decade our branch has not been able to produce a Bar Directory. Under our leadership we will update the existing data and produce an updated bar directory which will not only be in hardcopy but also a software that can be downloaded in the Google playstore. Access to our colleagues can thus be unimpeded. HEALTH INSURANCE SCHEME: We will register group health insurance with the NHIS for our members that are not presently covered by the group health insurance scheme. NBA ILORIN BLOG: I was the first Ilorin Bar Scribe to deliver minutes of Bar monthly meetings electronically. A legacy which is sustained till date. A committee of lawyers will be immediately constituted to facilitate the design of a functional blog with Google. With this, bar and court activities will be adequately covered online and once it generates cyber-traffic, it will attract online advertisements and patronage which will serve as a source of income to the Branch. This will enhance our existence on Google search engines and make our names prominent in the cyberspace and protect our intellectual properties. SOCIAL MEDIA: We will open an official Twitter account for the Branch and a “Close Facebook Page” where information therein will be seen by branch members only in line with the digital age. This will ensure our social media presence. There will also be a link between our group WhatsApp, Facebook page, Twitter and NBA Ilorin blog for easy access and interconnectivity that will generate cyber-traffic and attract patronage and advertisement. NBA ILORIN, STATE GOVERNMENT & JUDICIARY One of the priorities of our administration if elected, is to enhance the cordial relationship between the Bar, Bench and the State Government as partners in progress in line with the traditions of Ilorin Bar as progressive bar with undiluted integrity. Attention of the State Government will be drawn to the decaying state of Courts within and outside Ilorin city. *We will ensure that bumps are constructed on the roads between the gates of old High Court and Magistrate Courts to safeguard the pedestrians, who are majorly lawyers, litigants and prisoners. *We will lobby, pressurise, mobilise and demand that the State Government should relocate other government agencies (including SUBEB) sharing the premises with the Magistrate Courts. *We will also negotiate and mobilise the government to relocate the Offices of the Surveyor General & Auditor General and Ministry of Commerce to the new Secretariat for the extension of Judiciary. *This is not to say that we would not be ready to stand up for our rights and beliefs if the need arises. A relationship of respect will be ensured between the bar, bench and the government but not one of servitude. WELFARE: A Welfare Fund will be created under our administration to cater for the needs of young and our aging lawyers. It must be noted that this profession is one without an unofficial retirement age. We should treat our highly reverred lawyers well when they are aged. 25% of the Branch dues will be channelled to this course. COMMODITY SCHEME / NBA COOPERATIVE SOCIETY: A sum of N300,000 will be sourced from the Association to commence the NBA ILORIN COMMODITY SCHEME. Under this scheme, Contributors/Cooperators will commence monthly contributions (of N1,000) to the scheme and after the incubation period of three (3) months, members/contributors can access a fixed amount (like N50,000) for the purchase of a commodity of their choice. The repayment of this soft-loan will be instalmental for a period of one year and interest free. This scheme will later midwifed to low interest NBA Cooperative Society or better still interest free as the case may be. BOOK PUBLICATION/LAUNCH Our members in the Academics will be immediately engaged for the review of an academic, research and intellectual work, which will be complied into a book to be launched in honour of a reputable Nigerian. This will generate funds to finance our approved budget. ALLOCATION OF SUITABLE LAND FOR NBA GUESTHOUSE: The Bar Centre having been commissioned by the State Governor, there is need for the Bar to commence another long-term capital project. In this direction, we will liase with the State Government to get a free land allocation in the new GRA or any other suitable location within Ilorin metropolis where we can build the NBA Guesthouse in the nearest future. This would perhaps be the first of its kind in Nigeria. This can in turn be used to generate fund and hospitality. It will also portray us as a group of organized and purposeful professionals, especially in the eye of the general public. Usually whenever I make a visit to Abuja, I lodge at the Medical and Dental workers lodge at Garki, and am inspired to commence the inniation of same for the Ilorin bar. ALTERNATIVE SOURCE OF INCOME FOR YOUNG LAWYERS: Seminars, trainings and symposia will be organised on alternative source of income. This will give awesome ideas to our young lawyers on alternative Areas of investment and boost their financial prowess. *We have already liaised with lawyers doing well in other profession to attend. Law events/news bloggers like Chioma Unini & Bridget Edokwe; law historian, Onigegewura and lawyers in ‘show-biz’ like RMD, Femi Adebayo & Falz will also be our resource persons among others. *We will liaise with the government agencies to facilitate and guarantee soft loans for young lawyers with good business plans. We will pressurize government for employment of more young lawyers to ministries, judiciary and agencies. CONCLUSION: We wish to assure our colleagues who have the worry that the independence of the Bar may be compromised under our leadership, being a Counsel in the Chambers of the Attorney General that we are conscious of the trust about to be betrothed on us and that we will ensure to jealously protect your mandate and rise against the government whenever the need arises. We will not keep to oppression and lawlessness. In an unjust society, silence is a crime! In the same vein, I intend to be the Chairman over the private, academic and official bar without any form of discrimination or bias because what we have is a partnership. I believe the private bar is the senior partner and this is not unconnected to the fact we were all called into the private bar before we decided to join other species of the bar e.g academic or official bar. I have the privilege of contesting to become Chairman of the bar as the first state counsel to do so. I am perhaps like Shirley Chisholm, America’s first ever black Congresswoman. At her swearing in, she declared: “It is a great honour to be chosen as the nation’s first black congresswoman. As a United States Representative in Washington, I intend to represent all the people – the blacks, the whites, the men, the women, especially the youth. There are many new ideas abroad in this country and I intend to speak for these ideas. And my voice will be heard.” My promise is to speak for you and I promise that MY VOICE WILL BE HEARD. I remain Muhammed Ayoola Idowu Akande Esq. and I’m running for the post of the Chairman, NBA Ilorin branch. Thank you for your time. God bless you .]]>