Supreme Court Justice, Prof Amuda-Kannike, others inducted into fellowship of NICArb

By Carl umegboro

THE Nigerian Institute of Chartered Arbitrators (NICArb) on Friday inducted the Provost, College of Law, Kwara State University, Professor Abiodun Amuda-Kannike (SAN) as well as a Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, Hon Justice Kumai Bayang Akaahs as fellows of the institute.

The event coincided with the commemoration of NICArb 40th anniversary and 2019 annual conference. Accordingly, former World Court Judge, Prince Bola Ajibola (SAN) was presented with a lifetime award for being instrumental to the formation of the body.

Other distinguished persons that were also inducted with fellowship of the institute include Hon Justice Tom Yakubu JCA (Justice of the Court of Appeal), Hon. Justice Jumoke Pedro of the Lagos State Judiciary, Chief Wale Taiwo (SAN), Emeka Etiaba (SAN), Chief Joe Gadzama (SAN), former governor of Enugu State, Chief Okwesilieze Nwodo, and Prof Oserheimen Osunbor; former governor of Edo State.

The 2-day event which was held at Eko Hotels & Suites in Lagos had Dr. Oladapo Olanipekun (SAN) as the chairman, Planning Committee while the Minister of Justice/Attorney General of the Federation, Abubarka Malami (SAN) and governor of Lagos, Babajide Sanwo-Olu presented opening and welcome addresses respectively through their representatives. The Enugu state governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi was the guest speaker.

Keynote speakers are Mr. Elie Kleiman; Partner, Jones Day (5^th largest law firm in US), Senator Michael Opeyemi Bamidele; chairman, Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, and Mr. Oluwakemi Pinheiro (SAN),

The panelists include Dr. Olisa Agbakoba (SAN), Ms. Dorothy Ufot (SAN), Ms. Funmi Roberts, Ms. Demilade Elemo, Chief Bolaji Ayorinde (SAN), Prof Yemisi Bamgbose (SAN), and Dr. Gaston Kenfack Douajni; Director of Legislation, Ministry of Justice, Cameroon.

Other panelists are Sandy M. Cowan; Accredited Counter Fraud Specialist, Segun Ajibola (SAN), Ms. Funke Agbor (SAN), Prof Momodu Kassim-Momodu; Dean, College of Law, Crescent University, and Mr. Jude Nnodum (SAN).

Others are Frank Aigbogun; Publisher, Business Day, Ms. Tinaude Awe; Executive Director (Regulation), Nigerian Stock Exchange, Alexander Nwuba; CEO (Africa), Palewater Advisory Group, and Prof Jonathan Aremu, Professor, International Economic Relations, Covenant University.

Also in the list are; Prof Victoria Sahani; Vice-Chair, Academic Council, Institute of Transnational Arbitration (ITA), Ms. Folashade Alli, Ms. Shola Oshodi-John; Registrar/CEO, NICArb, Hon Wilfred D. Ikatari; Director, Regional Centre for International Commercial Arbitration – Lagos, Ms. Funmi Oyayi; MD, Lagos Chamber of Commerce International arbitration Centre (LACIAC), Ms. Tosin Lewis; Executive Secretary, Lagos Court of Arbitration (LCA), and Segun Ogunyannwo; Registrar, Institute of Chartered Mediators and Conciliators (ICMC).

According to the conference objectives, “it seeks to engage in two perspectives of culture in building Arbitral institutions, explore possibilities for strengthening the nexus between culture and institutions in building Arbitral practices and procedures in West Africa, and engage strategies for practitioners and policymakers to develop an identifiable Arbitration (and ADR) practice”.

The two perspectives are; “the notion of the general legal culture affecting Arbitration, which is usually taken to mean those aspects of national culture that find expression in the legal system, and the second; the notion  of culture that has to do with shared norms and expectations  produced by legal actors”.

The various sessions were respectively moderated by Prof Fabian Ajogwu (SAN), Mike Igbokwe (SAN), Chief (Ms). Anayo Offiah (SAN); former Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Enugu State, Emeka Akabogu, Ms. Priscilla Ogwemoh, Barr. Benjamin Obidiegwu; chairman, Capital Market Solicitors Association, and Simeon Oyakhilome Okoduwa, whilst Mr. Lawal Danlami was inducted as an associate member of the institute.