Crisis Brew in NBA Leadership as Assistant General Secretary signs the First NEC Communique of Maikyau Administration instead of the General Secretary (SEE FULL COMMUNUQUE)

 

All may not well with the leadership of the Nigerian Bar Association as signs of internal crisis within the Executive Committee Members has emerged.

 

The Association concluded its quarterly National Executive Council Meeting on 16th December 2022 at its headquarters in Abuja where far reaching resolutions were reached, including the adoption of the controversial steps taken by the President, YC Maikyau SAN against the Chairman of the Body of Benchers and past President of the Association, Chief Wole Olanipekun SAN.

But in a departure from the official requirement of the signatures of the President and General Secretary of the Association, YC Maikyau SAN and Adesina Adegbite Esq respectively appearing as signatures of the Communique issued at the end of the quarterly meeting, the signature of the Assistant General Secretary, Daniel Kip Esq replaced that of the General Secretary.

Lawyers have noted that according to the NBA Constitution, it is the duty of the General Secretary to note and record the resolutions from the association’s meeting and sign notices and it is unlikely the General Secretary of the Association will compile the first communique under the new leadership and fail to sign same without crisis.

Recall that the immediate past NBA President, Olumide Akpata faced similar crisis between the General Secretary and the Assistant General Secretary at the tail end of his administration which resulted in pending court case involving the Association’s National EXCO.

 

SEE THE FULL COMMUNIQUE BELOW

 

COMMUNIQUE ISSUED AT THE END OF QUARTERLY MEETING OF THE NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COUNCIL (NEC) OF THE NIGERIAN BAR ASSOCIATION WHICH HELD ON THURSDAY, THE 15TH DAY OF DECEMBER 2022 AT THE AUDITORIUM, NBA NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS, PLOT 1101 MUHAMMADU BUHARI WAY, CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT, ABUJA

1.0 INTRODUCTION

The Nigerian Bar Association held its Quarterly National Executive Committee [NEC] Meeting at the auditorium, NBA National Secretariat, Central Business District Abuja, on Thursday, the 15th of December 2022.
The meeting was the 1st NEC meeting of the Y. C. Maikyau, SAN-led administration upon being sworn in as the President of the Nigerian Bar Association.

At the said meeting, NEC carefully considered the under-listed issues and resolved as follows:

2.0 STATE OF THE BAR

2.1 Attempts To Undermine The NBA
a.) NEC frowns at recent divisive efforts by certain members of the Association to
undermine the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) for ulterior motives, and firmly resolved, that the NBA is the only recognized, indivisible umbrella Association of all lawyers called to the Bar in Nigeria and there is no other body so recognised or permitted to operate as such.

b.) NEC receives with dismay the report of the attempt to register a parallel body of
lawyers as an alternative to the Nigerian Bar Association and frowns at the involvement of some senior members of the Bar and past leaders of our dear Association in the registration process of the alternative body.

c.) NEC categorically resolves that the Law Society of Nigeria (LSN), a body so
registered, is unknown to members of the Bar and mandates the NBA President to commence processes for the delisting of the LSN by the Corporate Affairs Commission.

d.) NEC further resolves to sanction all members of the Bar seeking to promote or
register a new lawyers’ association, whether using a new name or an old registered, Law Society of Nigeria (LSN).

 

e.) NEC particularly resolves that a Past NBA General Secretary, Mr. Nimi Walson-Jack
who acted as a solicitor to the promoters of the new law society be stripped of his privileges as past General Secretary and consequently, be suspended from being a member of the National Executive Council (NEC) of the Association.

2.2 Issues Arising From The Letter By The NBA President To The Chairman of Body of Benchers.

a.) NEC considered the letters written by the immediate Past President and current NBA President requesting Chief Wole Olanipekun, CFR, SAN to recuse himself as Chairman of the Body of Benchers in view of a letter written by an erstwhile partner
of Wole Olanipekun & Co, which is now the subject of a matter pending before the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC), an arm of the Body of Benchers.

b.) NEC declares that the issue which gave rise to the call for recusal is not a personal issue of the NBA President, but an issue that affects the entire legal profession and casts it in bad light. NEC therefore proceeded to ratify all the letters written by the immediate past and the current Presidents of the NBA to the Body of Benchers requesting Chief Wole Olanipekun, CFR, SAN to recuse himself as Chairman of the Body.

NEC frowns at the sit-tight attitude of the Chairman of the Body of Benchers, Chief Wole Olanipekun, CFR, SAN despite letters from 2 NBA Presidents and therefore calls on Chief Olanipekun, CFR, SAN, to, as a matter of principle, honour the request in the letters of the NBA and recuse himself as the Chairman of the Body of Benchers.

c.) NEC ratifies all the steps taken by the NBA President in relation to the matter and passes a vote of confidence on the NBA President declaring that all the steps he had taken so far on the issue, are for the benefit of the Bar and the legal profession.

d.) NEC recognises the need to explore all avenues to save the legal profession from further embarrassment over the imbroglio and empowers the NBA President to setup a committee to seek alternate ways to resolve the matter.

e.) NEC reiterates the motto of the NBA which is to promote the rule of law and maintains that there are no sacred cows or special persons and as such, all issues of professional misconduct must be dealt with the same way for old and young lawyers alike.

2.3 Ratification of NBA Nominees To The Body of Benchers
NEC ratifies the nomination of the immediate past NBA President, Mr. Olumide Akpata as a returnee-member of the Body of Benchers alongside Solomon Umoh, SAN and Usman Ogwu Sule, SAN.

3.0 CO-OPTED NEC MEMBERS
NEC ratifies the list of 150 Co-opted NEC Members presented by the President which include heads of certain strategic agencies like the Registrar-General of the Corporate

 

Affairs Commission (CAC); the Chairman, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC); the Solicitor-General of the Federation and Director General, Legal Aid Council.

4.0 ANNUAL GENERAL CONFERENCE (AGC) 2023
NEC ratifies the decision of the National Executive Committee to hold next year’s Annual General Conference (AGC) in Abuja from 25 August to 1 September, 2023.

NEC also authorizes the NBA President to constitute the Standing Committees for the Association, including the Technical Committee on Conference Planning (TCCP).

5.0 LAWYERS IN THE NIGERIAN POLICE SERVICE
NEC frowns at the lingering unacceptable situation in the Police Service whereby officers who have obtained law degrees and are subsequently called to the Bar are discountenanced and denied promotions, causing them to remain in the rank and file despite their academic advancement; while their colleagues who obtained degrees in other professions are promoted without delay. NEC endorses the steps taken so far by the President with respect to the issue, particularly the meeting with the Police Service Commission and the pending meeting with Inspector General of Police.

6.0 NBA-NHIS HEALTH INSURANCE SCHEME
NEC approves the subscription for another set of 1000 lawyers (beneficiaries) whom the NBA registered in continuation of the pilot scheme of the NBA-NHIS Programme.

7.0 COMMITTEE REPORTS
7.1 NEC ratifies all Committee Reports as presented to the National Executive Council.

7.2 NEC ratifies the constitution of 6 committees earlier set up by the National Executive Committee and adopts their reports as presented to NEC.

The Committees and members are:
NBA ELECTORAL REFORM COMMITTEE
1. Elisha Y. Kura, SAN (Chairman)
2. K. K. Eleja, SAN (Alternate Chairman)
3. Kunle Adegoke, SAN
4. G. A. I. Mowah
5. Mrs. Cordelia Uwuma Eke (Secretary)
6. Prof Osita Nnamani Ogbu
7. Mrs. Foluke Akinmoladun
8. Steve Emelieze
9. George Fortune
10. Jibrin Jimeta
11. Ali Dussah Zubairu
12. Ahmed Kehinde Olaniyan

13. Wada Ahmed Wada

 

NBA LAW FIRM/INSTITUTIONAL MENTORSHIP COMMITTEE
1. George Etomi (Chairman)
2. Kemi Pinheiro, SAN (Alternate Chairman)
3. Paul-Harris Ogbole, SAN
4. Muyiwa Atoyebi, SAN
5. Chukwuka Ikwuazom, SAN
6. Moses A. Ebute, SAN
7. Abdul Muhammed, SAN
8. Mrs. Mfon Usoro
9. Tominiyi Owolabi, Esq
10. Yemi Lateef Akangbe, Esq
11. Mrs. Delayo Oriekun (Secretary)
12. MenaAjakpovi
13. Chike Obianwu
14. Ikechukwu Onuoma
15. Onyebuchibe U. Douglas

 

NBA EMPLOYMENT BUREAU
1. Sir Steve Adehi, SAN (Chairman)
2. Salman Alhaji Salman (Alternate Chairman)
3. Kofo Sirajuddin Salam-Alada
4. Deborah Usman
5. Ahmad Rufai Khalid
6. Hannatu Simon Dauda
7. Uchenna Nwadialo (Secretary)
8. Micah Ango
9. Bamidele Ibikunle
10. Banke Olagbegi-Oloba
11. Yusuf Abdullahi Abdulkadir
12. Mary Omoyeme Musa
13. Edwin Jackson Ibiomgbo
14. Leonard Onoja
15. Sani Muhammed Moyi

 

NBA REMUNERATION COMMITTEE
1. Abdullahi Yahya, SAN (Chairman)
2. Dr Attah Ochinke (Alternate Chairman)
3. Barbara Omosun (Secretary)
4. Rhoda Prevail Tyoden
5. Lawal Garba Hudu
6. Lema Sambo Wali
7. Reginald Aziza
8. Chinedu Agu
9. Abdurauf T. Aboki
10. Mrs. Abiodun Kolawole
11. Chidiebere S. Imoke
12. Nana Yunus Ustaz
13. Oluwaseyi Arowosebe

14. Humphrey Usha
15. Justice Christopher

 

FLOOD DISASTER RELIEF COMMITTEE.
1. Mallam Yusuf Olaolu Ali, SAN (Chairman)
2. Chief (Mrs.) Anayo J. Offiah, SAN (Alternate Chairman)
3. Nnamdi Ibegbu, SAN
4. Miannaya Essien, SAN
5. Dorothy Udeme Ufot, SAN
6. Kenneth E. Mozia, SAN
7. Mr. Olatunde Adejuyigbe, SAN
8. Dr. Adewale A. Olawoyin, SAN
9. Dr. Muiz Adeyemi Banire, SAN
10. Abdulhakeem U. Mustapha, SAN
11. Kehinde Ogunwumiju, SAN
12. Prof Oluyemisi Bamgbose, SAN
13. Sir Stephen O. Z. Adehi, SAN
14. Prof Offornze D. Amucheazi, SAN
15. Oladipo Adekorede Olasope, SAN
16. Usman Ogwu Sule, SAN
17. Godwin Omoaka, SAN
18. Emeka Ozoani, SAN
19. Boma Alabi, SAN
20. Ndanusa M. S. Katu, SAN
21. Yakubu A. H. Ruba, SAN
22. Kemasuode Wodu, SAN
23. Peter Adogbejire Mrakpor, SAN
24. Kaka Shehu Lawan
25. Aisha Ado Abdullahi
26. Daniel Kip (Secretary)
27. Caroline Anze-Bishop
28. Chinyere Obasi
29. Grace Igyo
30. Martha Omolade

 

COURT OF APPEAL APPOINTMENT COMMITTEE
1. Dr Olisa Agbakoba, SAN
2. J. B. Daudu, SAN
3. Okey Wali, SAN
4. Austin Alegeh, SAN
5. A. B. Mahmoud, SAN

 

8.0 CREATION OF NEW DIRECTORATE AT NBA SECRETARIAT
NEC ratifies the decision of the National Executive Committee to create a new Directorate of Protocol and Special Duties in the NBA National Secretariat. The appointment of Mr. Kazeem Nasir as the Director of the Directorate is equally ratified.

 

9.0 STATE OF THE NATION
NEC expresses concern over issues of terrorism, kidnappings, human and child trafficking, bad roads etc. bedevilling the nation. NEC posits that, as the leading body and voice of the profession, it would continue to be at the fore front of urging government to tackle these issues and proffering proper solutions to them.

10.0 CONCLUSION
NEC resolves that the NBA remains one united entity and restates that the unity of the Bar is non-negotiable; NEC therefore enjoins all members to remain resolute in the pursuit of justice and be dedicated towards moving forward despite any perceived division.

Dated this 15th Day of December 2022.