Legal Diary News

WHO IS AFRAID OF OLUMIDE AKPATA? The desperation to kick out Olumide Akpata at all cost from the NBA presidential election [as they did to Mazi Afam Osigwe during the last cycle] is so sickening. It stinks to high heaven!  1. First they said he is not from the West and cannot run for office. That one failed, and the ECNBA cleared the man. 2. They called him all sorts of names for donating palliatives to his NBA branch at the peak of the Coronavirus pandemic, and called for his disqualification because, according to them, this kind gesture (which his detractors never showed their colleagues) was designed to entice lawyers! This failed. 3. They said he is not a SAN and has no litigation experience because the NBA only belongs to awon "My Lord, May I?" Apologies to Lasisi Elenu. Like the ones before it, this propaganda failed. 4. Then, they wrote a terribly insulting letter calling on the Body of SANs to make sure no junior lawyer ("including Mr Akpata who has b...

Chief  Barr (Mrs) Victoria O. Awomolo SAN, FCIArb Endorses Joyce Oduah for the Office of the NBA General Secretary According to V.o Awomolo, in her media post ,said that : "Joyce Oduah (Mrs) is well known to the Nigerian Bar affairs. She is an active and responsible Bar woman, who has actively participated both at her Lagos Branch and National Levels since 2000-2002 when she served as 1st Assistant Secretary, Publicity Secretary (2007-2009) and Social Secretary (2009-2011). In 2012-2014 she won election to the position of National Treasurer. I cannot begin to mention the various Committees in which she has served both at her branch and National Levels including being a member of the National Executive Committee (NEC) from 2008-2018)".  She is energetic, composed and humble. Joyce is a tested and trusted hardworking and focused woman of integrity. She is now running for the office of National General Secretary. I can vouch for her competence, ability, hardwork, exp...

In my almost 60 years of law practice in Nigeria, I have witnessed different types of leaders of the Nigerian Bar Association (‘NBA’). I have also been privileged to watch our profession rise and unfortunately, I have also seen its decline. However, I have always kept hope alive that a time will come, possibly in my lifetime, when the institutional shortcomings that culminated in our present situation would be redressed by the right kind of leadership at the NBA. *The emergence of Olumide Akpata as a frontline candidate for the NBA presidency suddenly brings that hope to bear*. In Olumide Akpata, I see the hope for the required reforms. In him, I see the chance for a compassionate and competent NBA leadership. In Olumide Akpata, I believe hope for redemption of our profession is not far-fetched. I have decided to pitch my tent where the future lies, and I dare say that the advent of that future is now! *To this end, I encourage all lawyers regardless of your posturing (inne...