Elders And Leaders Of Midwest Bar Forum Dissociate Selves From The Election Which Held At Agbor, Caretaker Committee To Conduct Fresh Election

The elders and leaders of the Midwest Bar Forum (MWBF) have distanced themselves from the election which allegedly took place at Agbor producing new Executive members of the Forum.

The position is made known in a Notice made available to TheNigeriaLawyer (TNL) which is signed by some prominent leaders of the Forum including T. J. O. Okpoko, OON, SAN, (Past President of NBA), Augustine Alegeh, SAN (Past President of NBA), Chief Charles Uwensuyi-Edosomwan, SAN (former AG of Edo State), Chief Albert Akpomudje, SAN, FCIArb (Pioneer Chairman of the Forum for almost a decade), Chief Ferdinand Orbih, SAN, (immediate past Chairman of the Forum) and Ama Etuwewe, SAN.

The elders urge the members of the Bar and the general public not to deal with the new officers as Executive members or representatives of the Forum.

Recall that the Executive Committee of the Mid-West Bar Forum at its inaugural meeting held on Saturday, the 1st day of February 2020, at Asaba, Delta State, constituted three committees, namely, Conference Committee, Election Committee, and Sports Committee, to assist the Forum to achieve its push to greater heights.

Read the Notice of the elders below:

RE: PURPORTED ELECTION OF NEW EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE MID-WEST BAR FORUM

PURPORTED ELECTION OF THE MID-WEST BAR FORUM

“The Mid-west Bar Forum (MWBF) was last year faced with crisis arising from its meeting at Asaba, sometimes in June, 2018 whereat some decisions taken thereat were at variance with the agreement reached at a meeting held at the office of Chief Albert Akpomudje, SAN, FCIArb, a few weeks earlier to resolve the crisis rocking the Forum.

“Since the said meeting at Asaba, the Forum has been unable to hold a meeting or carry on its activities in the interest of its members.

“It was in the light of this that some leaders under the auspices of Chief T. J. O Okpoko, OON, SAN called for a meeting of the Forum at Benin-City on November, 22nd, 2019.

“Prominent leaders and members of the Forum who attended the meeting are T. J. O. Okpoko, OON, SAN, Past President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Augustine Alegeh, SAN Past President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Chief Charles Uwensuyi-Edosomwan, SAN, former Attorney-General (AG) Edo State, Chief Albert Akpomudje, SAN, FCIArb, Pioneer Chairman of the Forum for almost a decade, Chief Ferdinand Orbih, SAN, immediate past Chairman of the Forum, Chike Onyemenem, SAN, UNDER WHOSE LEADERSHIP as Chairman of the Forum the crisis rocking the Forum for the first time since its inception. Roland Otaru, SAN, G. C. Igbokwe, SAN, and Ama Etuwewe, SAN among others. Also in attendance were past and present Chairmen of most of the branches of the Forum.

“At the meeting Chief Chike Onyemenem, SAN as Chairman of the Forum on that day categorically stated that he was tired of the crisis within the Forum and as such he was not interested in contesting for another term as Chairman. Further, Chief Chike Onyemenem, SAN declared that he has no interest whatsoever on who takes over from him as Chairman of the Forum.

“In view of the above, coupled with the fact that the tenure of the officers led by Chief Chike Onyemenem, SAN has elapsed by effusion of time since 31st March, 2019 as provided under the extant Constitution of the Midwest Bar Forum (MWBF), a Caretaker Committee of four persons was set up with K. O. Obamogie, Esq as Chairman with the primary mandate to conduct election for the new officers of the Forum to run the affairs of the Mid-West Bar Forum (MWBF).

“It was, therefore, a surprise when a notice of meeting to be held at Agbor was circulated without the knowledge of the Chairman of the Caretaker Committee or the leaders of the Forum signed by Chike Onyemenem, SAN as Chairman of the Forum.

“Consequent upon the above notice of meetings including a detailed report by Chairman of the Caretaker Committee to Chief Okpoko alleging usurpation of their functions by the said notice of meetings signed by Chike Onyemenem, SAN, a purported candidate for the election, Chief T. J. O. Okpoko, OON, SAN, at whose instance the meeting at Benin on 22/11/2019 was summoned, issued a notice, denouncing the said Agbor meeting and advised members of the Forum not to attend same in order to avoid precipitating needles crisis within the Forum.

“It was sad note that members of the Forum choose to attend the said meeting at Agbor Inspite of the caution by T. J. O. Okpoko, OON, SAN And purported to conduct elections in the absence of the Chairman of the Caretaker Committee, T. O. Obamigle, Esq. More disappointing is the conduct of Chike Onyemenem, SAN who renege on his words not to contest for the position of the Chairman at the meeting in Benin aforesaid to have put himself for the election in a meeting summoned by him and for the purpose of electing new officers in which he participated.

“It is more disheartening and embarrassing, that the perpetrators of this act, have proceeded to circulate messages, on social media, falsely alluding to the fact that the meeting and/or election was held with the consent and approval of Chief T. J. O. Okpoko, OON, SAN. Nothing could be further from the truth based on the facts aforementioned.

“The leaders of the Forum expressly state and dissociate themselves from the purported election of officers of the Forum held at Agbor on 21st December, 2019 as the same was illegal and against all known norms of a fair election.

“In the light of the above, members of the various branches of the NBA, our members in the Midwest Bar Forum (MWBF) and other stakeholders are advised not to relate with any of the purported officers allegedly elected at the Agbor meeting as an officer of the Midwest Bar Forum as the purported officers claiming to have been elected at the Agbor meeting are not officers of and are not the lawful representatives of the Forum.

“We the undersigned as leaders of the Midwest Bar Forum (MWBF) present at the meeting held in Benin-City for the purpose of resolving the crisis rocking the Forum and which crisis was actually resolved with the appointment of Caretaker Committee to conduct election for the Forum totally dissociate ourselves from the purported election allegedly conducted at the Agbor meeting.

“We as elders and leaders of the Midwest Bar Forum (MWBF) advise that fresh election will be conducted by the Caretaker Committee in due course under the terms of understanding reached at the meeting in Benin aforesaid.

“The above is for the attention of all those who may be misled to believe a proper election was conducted under the terms of the meeting held in Benin-City and we urge the members of the Bar and indeed the general public not to deal in any way with the purported elected Executive members of the Midwest Bar Forum (MWBF) held at Agbor.”

DATED THIS 10TH DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2020

SIGNED
T. J. O. OKPOKO, OON, SAN
(Past President of NBA).

AUGUSTINE ALEGEH, SAN
(Past President of NBA)

CHIEF CHARLES UWENSUYI-EDOSOMWAN, SAN
(Former AG Edo State)

CHIEF ALBERT AKPOMUDJE, SAN, FCIARB,
(Pioneer Chairman of the Forum for almost a decade)

CHIEF FERDINAND ORBIH, SAN,
(Immediate past Chairman of the Forum)

AMA ETUWEWE, SAN