NBA President, Olumide Akpata Announces Membership Of Standing Committees And Ad-Hoc Committees [IN-FULL]

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:

1. Dr. Babatunde Ajibade, SAN (Chairman) – Lagos
2. Ade Okeaya-Inneh, SAN (Co-Chair) – Abuja
3. Sanni Katu, SAN – Kaduna
4. Funmi Roberts – Ibadan
5. Caleb Dajan – Jos
6. Patrick Osu – Lagos
7. D.G. Hassan – Bauchi
8. Agba Eimunjeze – Lagos
9. Adeyemi Adewunmi – Ado-Ekiti
10. G. C. Obi – Onitsha
11. Adizua Okoroafor – Umuahia
12. Akinyemi Aremu – Abuja
13. Isaiah Bozimo (Secretary) – Abuja
14. Leader Leneke – Yola
15. 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:

1. Yakubu Maikyau, SAN (Chairman) – Abuja
2. Emeka Ozoani, SAN (Co-Chair) – Ikeja
3. Kunle Edun (National Welfare Secretary) – Warri
4. Raymond Isitor – Agbor
5. Auta Nyada – Suleja
6. Austin Echo – Otukpo
7. Ogaga Emoghwanre (Secretary) – Benin
8. Gabriel Ekpagha – Ikorodu
9. Nekabari Annah – Bori
10. Osahon Omoruyi – Lagos
11. Christiana Ndife – Awka
12. Ibrahim Al-Hussain – Gombe
13. Barnabas Ehinomen – Bwari
14. Hope Anemhen – Abakaliki
15. 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:

1. Anthony Nwaochei (Chairman) – Lagos
2. Seyi Olawunmi (Co-Chair) – Ikeja
3. Joshua Usman – Lokoja
4. Irene Pepple – Port-Harcourt
5. Ronke Adeyemi – Ilorin
6. Reginald Aziza – Lagos
7. Ibrahim Effiong – Jalingo
8. Ekemini Udim – Uyo
9. Mohammed Gimba – Minna
10. Petrus Elechi – Onueke
11. Chuks Nwanna – Lagos
12. Kelechi Nwuzi – Port-Harcourt
13. Barbara Omosun (Secretary) – Abuja
14. David Etido – Lagos
15. 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:

1. Prof. Dakkas J. Dakkas, SAN (Chairman) – Jos
2. Prof. Damilola Olawuyi, SAN (Co- Chair) – Ado-Ekiti
3. Prof. Sylvester Shikyil, SAN – Bukuru
4. Prof. Momodu Kassim Momudu – Benin
5. Prof. Agbo Madaki – Abuja
6. Prof. Yussuf Dankofa – Kaduna
7. Dr. Obioma Onyi-Ogele – Awka
8. Tobenna Erojikwe – Lagos
9. Anu Eso – Lagos
10. Goddy Umoh – Uyo
11. Wale Irokosu – Lagos
12. Adamson Adeboro – Abuja
13. Tolu Aderemi – Lagos
14. Glory Ozoemenam – Okehi
15. 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.

1. Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN (Chairman) – Abuja
2. John Aikpokpo-Martins (Co-Chair) – Warri
3. Aikhunegbe A. Malik, SAN – Abuja
4. Lawrence Nwakaeti – Owerri
5. Abdul Faskari – Funtua
6. Isaac Ogbah – Ota
7. Kola Alapinni – Abuja
8. Bernard Oniga (Secretary) – Lagos
9. Victor Nwakasi – Lagos
10. Aysha Ahmad – Zaria
11. Prof. Theodore Bala Maiyaki – Gwagwalada
12. Desmond Orisewezie – Lagos
13. Benjamin Sati – Gombe
14. Jennifer Akpoguma – Udu
15. 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):

1. Mohammed Dele Belgore, SAN (Chairman) – Lagos
2. Dr. Ehiogie West-Idahosa (Co-Chair) – Benin
3. Prof. Deji Adekunle, SAN – Abuja
4. Prof. RACE Achara – Enugu
5. Dr. Sam Amadi – Abuja
6. Eno Mbanugo – Lagos
7. Kelvin Ejelonu – Sagbama
8. Mayowa Owolabi – Lagos
9. Aisha Ado- Abdullahi – Kano
10. Paul Daudu – Bwari
11. Ogbom Goodluck – Port-Harcourt
12. K. K. Oguejiofor- Onitsha
13. Kenneth Okwor (Secretary) – Lagos
14. John Aruoture – Warri
15. 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:

1. Dr. Charles Mekwunye (Chairman) – Lagos
2. Dr. Olumide Ayeni, SAN (Co-Chair) – Abeokuta
3. Dr. Paul Ananaba, SAN (Chairman NBA-SPIDEL)
4. Kunle Edun (National Welfare Secretary) – Warri
5. Dr. A.O. Giwa- Warri
6. Aderemi Oguntoye – Lagos
7. Boonyameen Lawal (Secretary) – Abuja
8. Solomon Oho – Lagos
9. Gloria Ballason – Kaduna
10. Malachy Odo – Lagos
11. Olumide Babalola – Lagos
12. Baba Isah – Abuja
13. Amaka Ezeno – Awka
14. Auwal Yau – Kano
15. 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:

1. Babajide Ogundipe (Chairman) – Lagos
2. Paul-Harris Ogbole, SAN (Co-Chair) – Abuja
3. Emmanuel Akomaye – Abuja
4. Michael Asugo – Warri
5. Yakubu Galadima – Lagos
6. Marx Ikongbeh (Secretary) – Abuja
7. Habeeb Lawal – Asaba
8. Andrew Ubido – Warri
9. Steve Ugamah – Abakaliki
10. Promise Madubuobu – Lagos
11. Lawal Hudu – Birnin-Kebbi
12. Kelechi Onwuegbuchulem – Lagos
13. Chigbo Okafor – Badagry
14. Nnaemeka Egonu – Onitsha
15. 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:

1. Yunus Ustaz Usman, SAN (Chairman) – Kaduna
2. Funke Aboyade, SAN (Co-Chair) – Lagos
3. Oladele Olaniyan – Kano
4. Uba Anene – Awka
5. Ekanem Ekanem – Uyo
6. Chief Oseloka Osuigwe – Nnewi
7. Kehinde Daodu – Lagos
8. Maureen Bolowotan – Ikorodu
9. Christopher Echie – Abuja
10. Yohanna Latong – Kafanchan
11. Rose Briggs – Port-Harcourt
12. Dennis Agbaga – Effurun
13. Ikenna Onwusika (Secretary) – Lagos
14. Tony Atambi – Calabar
15. 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:

1. A. U. Mustapha, SAN (Chairman) – Abuja
2. Dr. Adeoye Adefulu (Co-Chair) – Lagos
3. Folashade Alli – Lagos
4. Ezenwa Anumnu (Secretary) – Abuja
5. Oyinkan Badejo-Okusanya – Lagos
6. Abdul-Muhsin Wakawa – Keffi
7. Enie Otrofanowei – Warri
8. Prof. Olawale Ajai – Lagos
9. Rockson Igelige – Oleh
10. Clinton Nwaba – Ikorodu
11. Emokiniovo Akpedeye – Warri
12. Faith Amarachi Okpara – Owerri
13. Kunle Ajagbe – Lagos
14. Abdulrahman El-Ibrany – Gombe
15. Justice John – Lagos

1. A. U. Mustapha, SAN (Chairman) – Abuja
2. Dr. Adeoye Adefulu (Co-Chair) – Lagos
3. Folashade Alli – Lagos
4. Ezenwa Anumnu (Secretary) – Abuja
5. Oyinkan Badejo-Okusanya – Lagos
6. Abdul-Muhsin Wakawa – Keffi
7. Enie Otrofanowei – Warri
8. Prof. Olawale Ajai – Lagos
9. Rockson Igelige – Oleh
10. Clinton Nwaba – Ikorodu
11. Emokiniovo Akpedeye – Warri
12. Faith Amarachi Okpara – Owerri
13. Kunle Ajagbe – Lagos
14. Abdulrahman El-Ibrany – Gombe
15. 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.

1. Dr. Joe Abah (Chairman) – Abuja
2. Desmond Yamah (Co-Chair) – Abuja
3. Emeka Obegolu – Abuja
4. Jonathan Taidi – Minna
5. Osita Okoro – Abuja
6. Ifueko Alufohai – Benin
7. Desmond Ogba – Lagos
8. Tola Onayemi – Abuja
9. Toritseju Okoturo – Lagos
10. Subomi Chuku – Abuja
11. Bukola Olabiyi – Lagos
12. Iniruo Wills – Port-Harcourt
13. Aliyu Isa Abubakar – Gwagwalada
14. Jonathan Ekperusi – Effurun
15. 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:

1. Basil Udotai (Chairman) – Abuja
2. Rotimi Ogunyemi (Co-Chair) – Lagos
3. Israel Aye – Lagos
4. Kassim Sodangi – Abuja
5. Adeleke Alex-Adedipe – Lagos
6. Theodora Kio-Lawson – Lagos
7. Nneka Ofoma – Onitsha
8. Sanni Abbas – Abuja
9. Oliver Omoredia (Secretary) – Lagos
10. Afolabi Araromi – Lagos
11. Timi Omimakinde – Jos
12. Oyinkansola Fawehinmi – Lagos
13. Ugochi Igwenyi – Calabar
14. Olamide Idowu – Ibadan
15. 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:

1. Ayo Akintunde, SAN (Chairman) – Lagos
2. Mike Igini (Co-Chair) – Ikeja
3. Nnenna Ukoh (Secretary) – Enugu
4. Basil Udotai – Abuja
5. John Owubokiri – Port-Harcourt
6. Ama Etuwewe, SAN – Warri
7. Oludayo Olorunfemi – Ikere-Ekiti
8. Rotimi Ogunyemi – Lagos
9. Mas’ud Alabalewe – Barnawa
10. Hadiza Nasir Ahmad – Kano
11. Andrew Odum – Asaba
12. 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.

1. Olaseni Adio, SAN (Chairman) – Lagos
2. Mazi Okechukwu Unegbu (Co-Chair) – Lagos
3. Nnamdi Anagor (National Financial Secretary) – Awka
4. Anthony Iroagalachi – Barnawa
5. C. C. Onwuzulike – Onitsha
6. Chike Obianwu – Lagos
7. Amina Ibrahim – Maiduguri
8. Tony Iloka – Abuja
9. Osadolor Okunkpolor – Benin
10. Oyeyemi Oke (Secretary) – Lagos
11. Ms. Sayo Adeleye – Ibadan
12. Salisu Abubakar – Ungogo
13. Folarin Aluko – Abuja
14. Greg Otsu – Lagos
15. 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.

1. Chief Bolaji Ayorinde, SAN (Chairman) – Lagos
2. Nella Adem-Rabanna, SAN (Co-Chair) – Calabar
3. Godwin Omoaka, SAN – Lagos
4. G.O.K Ebowe – Warri
5. Godfrey Ekoh – Enugu
6. Bob C. Ijioma – Lagos
7. Godwin Odimabo – Port-Harcourt
8. Muslima Nagode – Ilorin
9. Lawrence Erewele (Secretary) – Abuja
10. Chijioke Odu – Abuja
11. Osayuki F. Obasohan – Oleh
12. Umeh Maduka – Port-Harcourt
13. Ahmed Loko – Keffi
14. Jonathan Agbo – Ibadan
15. 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:

1. Prof U. U. Chukwumaeze, SAN (Chairman) – Owerri
2. Prof. Peter Akper, SAN (Co-Chair) – Abuja
3. Prof. Nathaniel Inegbedion – Ekpoma
4. Dr. Wale Olawoyin, SAN – Lagos
5. Dr. Dapo Olanipekun, SAN – Lagos
6. Dr. Akpo Mudiaga-Odje – Warri
7. Dr. Aminu Gamawa – Bauchi
8. Douglas Ogbankwa – Benin
9. Anne Agi – Ogoja
10. Amaka Iguh – Awka
11. Dr. Newman Richards – Asaba
12. Chidiebere Iloko
13. Raymond Nkannebe (Secretary) – Lagos
14. Ogbonna Agbafo – Lagos
15. 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:

1. Yahaya Maikori (Chairman) – Lagos
2. Cecilia Ugbuji (Co-Chair) – Ogoja
3. Emmanuel Oriazuwa – Ikeja
4. Gabriel Ugwu – Awka
5. Augustine Ibolo – Abuja
6. Callistus Onyedoga – Ukwa
7. Olujimi Olujide-Poko (Secretary) – Abuja
8. Femi Oyewole – Lagos
9. Stella Akupue – Abuja
10. Victory Iluogu – Lagos
11. Bright Odia – Lagos
12. George Nwabunike – Lagos
13. Mohammed Iguodala – Benin
14. Damilare Ojo – Abuja
15. Caleb Owowo – Bwari

1. Yahaya Maikori (Chairman) – Lagos
2. Cecilia Ugbuji (Co-Chair) – Ogoja
3. Emmanuel Oriazuwa – Ikeja
4. Gabriel Ugwu – Awka
5. Augustine Ibolo – Abuja
6. Callistus Onyedoga – Ukwa
7. Olujimi Olujide-Poko (Secretary) – Abuja
8. Femi Oyewole – Lagos
9. Stella Akupue – Abuja
10. Victory Iluogu – Lagos
11. Bright Odia – Lagos
12. George Nwabunike – Lagos
13. Mohammed Iguodala – Benin
14. Damilare Ojo – Abuja
15. 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.

1. Victor Frank – Briggs (Chairman) – Port-Harcourt
2. Akin Ajibola (Co-Chair) – Ikeja
3. Basil Udotai – Abuja
4. Kolade Olawuni – Lagos
5. Soibi Ovia (Secretary) – Lagos
6. David Ngwee – Enugu
7. Rotimi Ogunyemi – Lagos
8. Ebiere Ekpese – Sagbama
9. Sanni Idris – Kaduna
10. Añulika Osuigwe – Abuja
11. Nta Ekpiken – Lagos
12. Jonathan Molmela – Gombe
13. Ugochukwu Ehirim – Warri
14. Stephen Kanu – Ibadan
15. Nkiru Osuala – Port-Harcourt
16. Damola Dawodu – Lagos
17. Inemesit Dike – Port-Harcourt
18. Sopakiriba Batubo – Degema
19. Toju Okoturo – (NBA Secretariat)
20. Ayodeji Oni – (NBA Secretariat)
21. Uju Nwanna – (NBA Secretariat)
22. Damilare Ojo – (NBA Secretariat)
    (Ex-Officio)
23. Mr. Ayuli Jemide – Chairman NBA-SBL
24. Mr. Seun Abimbola, SAN – Chairman NBA-SLP
25. Dr. Paul Ananaba, SAN – Chairman NBA-SPIDEL
26. Prof. Oluyemisi Bamgbose, SAN – Chairperson NBA-WF
27. Mr. Tobi Adebowale – Chairman NBA-YLF
28. Mr. Samuel E.C. Nwosu – Chairman NBA Ukwa Branch
29. Mr. Scott Ayo-Okhiria – Chairman NBA Ughelli Branch
30. 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:

1. Yussuf Asamah Kadiri, SAN (Chairman) – Lagos
2. Afam Osigwe, SAN (Co-Chair) – Abuja
3. Prof. George Izevbuwa – Benin
4. David Oluwagbami – Lagos
5. Ben Oji – Warri
6. Nnamdi Eze – Oji River
7. Abdulrahman Okunade – Osogbo
8. Emmanuel Jewo – Ughelli
9. Chibueze Oguchienti – Onitsha
10. Lucky Ekarume – Lagos
11. Ahmad Abdul-Gaffar – Katsina
12. Orji A. Uka (Secretary) – Lagos
13. Baffa Alasan – Dutse
14. Agbada Stephen Agbada – Lagos
15. 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