A Landmark Moment: 15 Legal Icons Join Nigeria’s Prestigious Body of Benchers
The Body of Benchers, led by Chief Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN, has formally elevated 15 distinguished legal professionals to the status of Life Benchers. Among them are Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele; renowned human rights lawyer, Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN; and other notable figures, including Professor Isa Chiroma, Director General of the Nigerian Law School, Justice Sidi Bage, Emir of Lafia, and retired Supreme Court Justice, Ejembi Eko.
This momentous confirmation was announced at a meeting held at the Body’s headquarters in Abuja on Thursday. The addition of these new members brings the total number of Life Benchers in Nigeria to 170. This elevation is part of a five-year cycle, with future admissions set to follow. The prestigious designation honors their exceptional contributions to the legal profession and their commitment to upholding its integrity and excellence.
Senator Bamidele, who chairs the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights, and Legal Matters, was initially appointed as a Bencher in 2019. Under his leadership, significant reforms took place in Nigeria’s judicial sector, including improved budgetary allocations and the passage of the bill extending the retirement age for judicial officers from 65 to 70.
A proud member of several international legal bodies such as the Nigerian Bar Association, the American Bar Association, and the International Bar Association, Bamidele’s distinguished career spans both legal practice and public service. He was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1992 and has held various influential positions, including Commissioner for Youth, Sports, and Social Development in Lagos State, and Commissioner for Information & Strategy under two gubernatorial administrations.
A graduate of both the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University) and the University of Benin, Nigeria, Bamidele furthered his education in the United States, earning a Master of Laws with a focus on Intellectual Property and International Technology Licensing from the Franklin Pierce School of Law, University of New Hampshire.
