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Tag: NBA

  • Why I won’t contest NBA presidency in 2018, by Ubani

    Second Vice-President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and former chairman of NBA Ikeja branch Mr. Monday Ubani has refuted reports that he will contest for the Presidency of the Bar at the end of the tenure of the Mahmoud Mogaji (SAN) inext year.

    Ubani said it would be ambitious for him to do so as he is serving the Bar as Second Vice-President.

    “I will not contest in 2018 because time is of essence. It will not make sense for me to just go into the contest immediately. That will look as if I have no other thing to do than the NBA.

    “After my tenure, I will face my practice and let God determine my next political move at the Bar at that appropriate time.

    “I will always support a candidate I believe in his vision, who will move the Bar forward and improve the welfare of Nigerian lawyers,” Ubani added.

  • NBA reconstitutes panels on indiscipline

    The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has reconstituted membership of its disciplinary committee to stem indiscipline.

    At the inauguration of nine NBA technical committees in Abuja, its President, Abubakar Balarabe Mahmoud (SAN), said it had become necessary to reconstitute its disciplinary committee to enthrone discipline and decency which distinguish the legal practice as a noble profession.

    He said the NBA would not fold its arms and watch helplessly as indiscipline erodes the culture of decorum.

    “I’ll like to say that we have had serious challenges of indiscipline and I like our members to reflect on this.” said. Mahmoud.

    He said the challenges border on unruly behaviours among members which, he noted, are contrary to the entrenched traditions of the profession.

    “These issues include discipline, respect for elders in the profession, seniority and decorum. I like to say that many of us are deeply concerned and have been despondent at the turn of events.

    “At times, some lawyers make hateful comments against their leaders, against their senior colleagues. This is very unacceptable. We will really put a stop to this.

    “The spate of litigations by members across the country is worrisome. Believe me, one of the first challenges that confronted me as President of NBA was the spate of litigation from various branches.

    “In Abuja, here, we have had serious issues of indiscipline, indecorum and indecent conducts. It is not about who is right but about what is right and appropriate for our profession.

    “I went to Osun State about two months ago and was confronted with serious issues of indiscipline perpetrated by our members who showed gross indiscipline to the Chief Judge, barricading the Chief Judge from entering the court premises. This is most unacceptable. I will plead with our members to show utmost restraint, utmost discipline and utmost respect.

    “Let me remark about comments we receive on social media. While we live in an era of social media, we, as lawyers must be careful about comments we make in the social media about our profession. Let us be advocates of discipline, let’s be advocates of decorum and let’s be advocates of decency.”

    He said this in view of the development, it has become necessary for the NBA to reconstitute its disciplinary committee and prepare the association for the challenges ahead.

    A statement by the General Secretary, Mr. Isiaka Olagunju listed members of the Lagos panel A to include Mr. George Oguntade  (SAN)  as chairman , Dr. Fabian Ajogwu (SAN), as the alternate chairman, Wale Irokosu, Mrs. Ifeoma M. Okwuosa, Femi Fajolu and Mrs Tosin Adekoya as secretary; Lagos Panel B include Dr. Babatunde Ajiboye (SAN) chairman, Levi Adikawaone as the Altenate chaiman, Mrs. Muna Esegine, Mbanugo Udenze, Morenike Obi-Farinde and Tochukwu Chukwumerije as secretary; Lagos Panel C has Mr. Kemi Pinheiro (SAN) as chairman, Biriyai Dambo (SAN) as alternate chairman, Asue Ighodalo, Mrs. Pricilia Ogwemoh, Inam Wilson, Lateef Ajayi and Omotayo Kazeem Olatunbosun as secretary.

    Members of the Southsouth panel include Mr. Chike Onyemenam (SAN) as chairman, Raymond Isitor, Austine Ajineh, Mrs. Alero Agboghoruma, Bola Adekanle, Simon K. Mokidi and Andrew Odum as secretary: Southsouth Panel B include Ntufan Mba Ukweni (SAN) as chairman, Marc Enamhe (SAN) as alternate chairman, Paul Ibom, Uduak Eneh and Joyce Opuah as secretary; Southsouth Panel C include  Dejo Lamikanran (SAN) Chairman, Dr Anthony Okorodas as alternate chairman, Joseph Zabbey, Amomia Amaso, Vincent Ogbumgbada , Emeka Ichoku and Nnamdi George Amadi;

    Mr D.C. Demwigwe (SAN) is Southeast Panel A chairman, Ndukwe Nnawuchi as alternate chairman, Sir C.O.N. Anyiam, Rev. Fr. Mbachu, Emmakaegbu, Alex Nwosu, Ejie Okeke Chimaroke, Udo Uduma, Barth Okoye, Okey Edede and N.D. Ojeh as secretary; Southeast Panel members include Justina Offia(SAN) as chairman, Emeka Anaenugwu as alternate chairman, Mathew A.O. Iyamabo, David Elueka,  Mrs. Theodore Igwebe, Ray Ukanwa, Ude Unya, Ifeoma N. Katchy, Mrs Ada Edozie and Steve Ononye as secretary;

    Southwest Panel A members are Olagoke Oluyemi Fakunle (SAN) chairman, Dayo Akinlaja as alternate chairman, Wale Afolabi, Ekerete Udofot,Benson Amuwa, Pastor Adewunmi, G.A. Adesina, Segun Isumede and Dosu Babatunde as secretary; Southwest Panel B comprises Michael Fashanu as chairman, Chief Ayodele Adebayo (SAN), alternate chairman; Luquan Laoye, Mrs. Ajose, Femi Akintomiwa, Mama Fida, Laide Yakeen Oladepo; Abuja Panel A has Ola Olanipekun (SAN), chairman; Paul Harris Ogbole, Okey Ajunwa, Dr. Sunday Kayode, Henry Ihunde, Adamson Adeboro, Uche Onyedum, Ayorunde Ogunleye; Abuja Panel B includes Tawo Eja Tawo (SAN), chairman; Sam Zibiri (SAN), alternate chairman; Anthony Oka, Daniel Oledeye, Elder Dickson Ibe, M.M. Ayinla, and Emeka Onyeaka, secretary.

    The Northeast panel is composed of Chief Leonard Daniel Nzadon as chairman, Luka A. Haruna, D.G. Hassan, Aisha Mohammed and Stephen Sunday as secretary; Northwest Panel has Nnamanso Ekanem as chairman, Maliki Umar as alternate chairman, Tajudeen Oladoja, Linda Bala, Abdulahi M. Danige, Abubakar Yusuf, Mohammed Sani, and Bafa Alhassan while Solomon Umoh (SAN) was appointed chairman for the Northcentral, K.K. Eleja (SAN), Ishaku Usman, Salman Jawando, T.T. Igba, Suleiman M. Limman and Nanfa Daniel Delleng as secretary.

  • NBA, Egbe Amofin, others endorse EBF officers

    THE Nigerian Bar Association  (NBA), Arewa Lawyers Forum (ALF)  and  Egbe Amofin have endorsed the election of new officers of the  Eastern Bar Forum ( EBF), describing the process as a model for others to follow.

    The EBF penultimate Tuesday in Calabar elected new members of its governing council  to run the affairs of the forum for the next two years. The newly elected members  are  Chairman of the Governing Council  Chief Arthur Elvis Chukwu,  Vice-Chairman, Mr. Anthony E. Okorodas,  Secretary Mr.  Paul  S .T.Ubom, and Treasurer  Mr.  Egbunonu Emmanuel.

    Others are Financial Secretary Mr. Joe K. Berebon, Publicity Secretary Georde l. Fortune, Asst. Secretary  Mr. Damian  O. Nosike while  Mr. Ogunji. C. kingsley and Augustine I. Owo.

    Third Vice President of the NBA, Mr. Ben Oji, who represented the NBA President, A. B. Mahmoud (SAN), said: “This is the EBF has been and remains at the forefront our fora. It is the most organised NBA forum, that is why  EBF was the first to be consulted when the Mid-West Bar Forum was nurtured. This is a model for others to follow, it is good in structure and almost everybody is here and every other forum is  represented here. We must not always agree, but as lawyers, we must always show leadership,” Oji said.

    In his goodwill massage, the Assistant  Secretary of the Arewa Lawyers Forum, Mr. T. T. Hyndu, said: “ This is the best election I have ever seen. We have a lot to learn from the EBF and if you  sustain this practice, then sky will be your limit.’’

    Secretary of Egbe Amofin, Mr. Ranti Ajeleti said: “We thank you for the honour done to our chairman Chief Bandele Aiku (SAN) when he changed from mortality to immortality. Ironically, it is at death that he would answer his name because  Aiku in Yoruba language means immortality,  thus he had all along borrowed the name.

    “The import of your invitation to us at this trying time of the nation’s  history is germane and we can derive a much utility value from  the meeting more than it is intended in solving our problems as a country. Initially we had one national body and  along the line our elders thought that the centre would find it difficult to man our growth.

    “As we now have 100 branches of the NBA and  if a branch is on fire, it would have burnt to ashes before Abuja could bring in its fire fighters. Our elders therefore formed  the regional bodies to take care of our peculiarities. The Eastern Bar Forum  takes  care of the East. The Arewa Lawyers Forum takes care of the North and the Egbe Amofin takes care of the west.’’

    ajeleti continued: “In fact, it is the peculiarity of the West that it calls itself  Egbe in Yoruba language. Egbe means a group union or better still league (League of nations) while. Amofin means lawyer. Thus  Egbe Amofin is the union of lawyers or league of lawyers In our own little way. Egbe Amofin has succeeded in resolving many local problems without necessarily involving the national body.’’

    “In fact, the idea behind the formation of regional bodies is reminiscent of creating a federal union where all the federating states and regions will have equal stake and each federating state will have the opportunity to develop along her peculiarities. Values and socio  economic needs.

    “Thus the divided opinion on the future of Nigeria would not have arisen if we have followed the principle of federalism as propounded by Prof. K. C. Wheare and as further amplified by the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo in his celebrated Book ‘’Path to Nigerian freedom’’.

    ‘’Shortly before I boarded the plane to this meeting,  a friend of mine asked me what is the national question now? I pondered a little and I said I am not right. I said the national question has graduated sadly from restructuring to renegotiation of the Nigerian federation. It is regrettable that the vehicle of our nation rather than being placed in the  drive,  it is put in reverse gear. It is sad that we are more disunited today than pre- independence era, thus making nonsense of the labour of our heroes past. Like the sage Awolowo once said: “The omens are bad what role can this meeting play”.

    ‘’ I will urge you as learned colleagues to let us unite together. Let us use our knowledge of law and our regional forum to find solutions to our elites made problems. We should not contemplate going into war at all because everybody will be the looser,” Ajeleti said.

     

  • Physically challenged lawyers petition NBA over conference

    A physically challenged lawyer, Daniel Onwe, has urged the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to take lawyers with disabilities into consideration in planning for the forthcoming annual general conference.

    In a May 24 letter to the Chairman, Technical Committee on NBA Conference Planning, Prof. Koyinsola Ajayi (SAN), the lawyer urged the association to make adequate arrangements for those with special needs.

    Onwe, who wrote on behalf of Association of Lawyers with Disabilities in Nigeria (ALDIN), identified areas of need as venue accessibility, sign language, Braille version of conference materials, assistive attendants, parking lots and reduced conference fees.

    He wrote: “The venue of the conference should be such that would be accessible for persons with disabilities. Where possible, the buildings to be used should be the ones with ramps and lifts. Similarly, the dais or platforms should be such that persons with disabilities, including those on wheelchair, can access. This is demanded by section 24 of the Lagos State Special People’s Law, 2011.

    “For the benefit of lawyers who have hearing impairment, there should be at least one sign language interpreter to translate the proceedings of the conference to sign language. There should also be some  Braille version of, at least, the most important conference materials for the benefit of lawyers with visual impairment.

    “There should also be designated parking lots for persons with disabilities. We recommend that lawyers with disabilities, particularly the young ones, should be given full or at least partial waiver of the conference fees.”

  • NBA faults break up calls

    NBA faults break up calls

    The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has expressed discomfort over increasing intolerance among Nigerians and faulted agitation for the country’s break up.

    NBA’s President Abubakar Mahmoud (SAN) said in a statement yesterday that the calls were as a result of the failure of past administrations to address the nation’s many socio-politican and economic problems over the years.

    Faulting the ‘quit notice’ issued to the Igbo in the North, the NBA President argued that every Nigerian has the legal rights to live and to travel to and own or acquire property in any part of the country.

  • NBA hails El-Rufai’s land reforms

    NBA hails El-Rufai’s land reforms

    The Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) in Kaduna State has lauded Governor Nasir El-Rufai for eradicating bureaucratic bottlenecks which characterised land transactions and administration.

    The association praised the governor for what it termed ‘transformation of the lands ministry’, saying the revolutionary approach in the land administration was laudable.

    The Chairman, Sherrif Ndasule, spoke at the opening of the 2017 edition of the annual Law Week.

    The Law Week was themed: “Governance, Stakeholders’ Engagement and the Law in Kaduna State”.

    His words: “The transformation of the Bureau for Lands, Survey and Country Planning, to the Kaduna Geographic Information Service (KADGIS), in no small measure alleviated the rigour and bureaucratic bottlenecks which hitherto heralds lands transactions and administration.

    He, however, urged the government to do more in citizens’ engagement in governance, with a view to carrying them along and giving them a sense of belonging.

    “In rising to the needs of the people and the society, government should, at the same time, engage stakeholders’ and give them a sense of belonging.,” he added.

  • Build strong institutions, NBA urges Fed Govt

    Build strong institutions, NBA urges Fed Govt

    The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has urged the Federal Government to focus on building institutions that will allay fears and give a sense of belonging to all Nigerians.

    NBA President Abubakar Balarabe Mahmoud (SAN) made this known at a briefing on the association’s Annual General Conference billed for Lagos between August 18 and 24.

    He  said: “Nigerian leaders  need to build strong institutions that can protect everyone regardless of where we come from. It is the only way we can have peace and harmony. It is the only way we can be respected.

    “For a country where building of strongmen and godfathers is the norm, the NBA advocacy for strong institutions are seen by many as a clarion call to all that there is need to fix institutions that make the country strong. Only during the week, the Federal government admitted the collapse of educational institutions.”

    Mahmoud was in the company of the members of the conference committee led by its chairman, Prof.  Konyinsola Ajayi (SAN), Dr.  Myma Belo-Osagie and Mr Olasupo Shashore (SAN).

    The parley was hosted by the Ikeja Branch of the association and its chairman, Adesina Ogunlana, and members of the branch were on hand to receive the conference committee team.

    On the suggestion that public confidence in the justice system appears to be low, Mahmoud said: “It is for these reasons that the association is advocating the need for building strong institutions. It is also for the same reasons the NBA has set up a regulatory reform committees to come up with major ideas for transformation. The committee has come up with a draft bill that we intend to persuade the National Assembly to work on”

    He said: “We are conscious of the reform of the legal profession to really prepare the Nigerian lawyer to take his place in the leadership of the country. There’s no doubt that no country can develop without strong institution. The legal system as an institution is key because it advocates rule of law which is the only guarantee for democracy and development. We are not focused on individual champions but on transformational initiatives that will build strong institutions.”

    Mahmoud said that it for this reason that association’s annual conference will focus on building strong institutions within and outside the Bar.

    He said the conference will be graced by a host of local and global thought leaders drawn from various spheres of influence including Acting President Yemi Osinbajo (SAN),  former Prime Minister of Georgia, Nika Gilauri; consultantancy guru, Ram Charan; Attorney-General of Ghana, Gloria Akuffo; as well as Forbes Africa’s Richest Man, Aliko Dangote, amongst others.

    Mahmoud said the conference would be “a face-changing legal and business forum that will inspire, teach and challenge members of the Bar to take their place in bridging the growth gap between the Bar and the business world.”

    Prof Ajayi said the aim of this year’s conference “is to inspire, teach and challenge members of the Bar to take their place on the wall of construction, in bridging the growth gap between the Bar and the business world, in bridging the development gap between the African Bar and the International Bar, in creating a stone wall of African institutionalism, in building the bridge between the Bar and government thus, leaving a legacy for our continent and the society at large”

    He added: “The NBA Conference has over time become a melting pot of intellectual and policy shaping discourse. This year is going to be no different as we expect more than 5000 delegates.

    “We have just launched our new websites which will leverage cutting edge technology to cater for all conference enquiries, registration and hotel bookings, at the click of a button, so, we are set to go.

  • SAN seeks caretaker committee for NBA

    Former Lagos Branch  of Nigerian BarAssociation (NBA) Chairman, Mr. Chijioke Okoli (SAN) has urged the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen to set up a caretaker committee to run the affairs of the association.

    In a June 9 letter, Okoli noted that Justice John Tsoho of the Federal High Court in Abuja had “unequivocally and pointedly” nullified the amended 2015 NBA Constitution “and everything done or purported to have been done thereunder”.

    Justice Tsoho, in his judgement, in a suit filed by Olasupo Ojo against the Incorporated Trustees of NBA, invalidated the constitution because it was not registered at the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).

    Okoli slleged that by virtue of the verdict “the NBA leadership under A. B. Mahmoud (SAN), having been ushered into office on the basis of elections conducted under the said constitution, has unquestionably lost legal validity”.

    He noted that rather than comply with the dictates of the judgement, “Mr. Mahmoud has been treating the otherwise binding judgement with scorn and derision. This is as dangerous as it is unacceptable for a multiplicity of self-evident reasons.”

    Okoli recalled that on May 24, 2017, he wrote Mahmoud to draw his attention to these anomalies, adding that the crisis “requires decisive intervention by leaders of the Bar and all those primarily concerned with the administration of justice in our country”.

    He specifically urged the Body of Benchers, of which the CJN is chairman, to redress the situation.

    To buttress his request for a caretaker committee, the former branch chairman said it was “informed by the fact of the total incapacitation of the officers of the NBA by the said court’s judgment against the backdrop of some provisions of the Legal Practitioners Act…”

    According to Okoli, Section 10(2) – (5) of the LPA empowers the Body of Benchers to set up a Caretaker Committee “to manage the affairs of the NBA for a period not exceeding 12 months. The Caretaker Committee appears to be sorely needed to save the Association and the machinery of administration of justice in the country from other disputes.”

    Okoli intimated Mahmoud on why it would be honourable to vacate office, saying: “Even more disconcerting, however, has been the nonchalance, if not disdain, which underpin the reactions of the office of NBA presidency under your watch to the judgment. It has proceeded as if nothing has happened.

    “As weighty as they are, the untoward practical effects of your stance regarding the judgment as discussed in this letter probably pale into secondary importance in comparison with the damaging effect on the concept of rule of law. The NBA rightly professes rule of law as an article of faith, but its current stance under your watch is the antithesis of the sacred concept.”

  • Twelve schools to battle in Milo Basketball tourney

    Twelve schools to battle in Milo Basketball tourney

     

    Twelve schools are expected to compete for honours in this year’s Milo Basketball Championship which kicks off Saturday at the Indoor Sports Hall of the National Stadium, Surulere Lagos.

    The five-day competition in both boys and girls categories will come to an end on Wednesday June 21 when the winners will emerge.

    The schools were grouped into two for boys and two for girls respectively during the National draws for the 19th edition of the tournament held on Friday in Lagos.

    In the boys category, Greater Tomorrow International College, Arigi Akoko, Ondo State, Government Secondary School, Minna, Niger

    State and General Murtala Mohammed College, Yola, Adamawa will do battle in Group A while Government Secondary School, Karu, Abuja,

    St. Augustine’s Seminary, Ezzamgbo, Enonyi State and Greenlands Academy, Abeokuta, Ogun State will compete in Group B.

    In the girls category, Wesley Girls Secondary School, Lagos, Government Secondary School , Wuse, Abuja and Government Secondary School, Gboko, Benue State were drawn in Group A while St. Jude’s Girls Secondary School, Amarata, Bayelsa State, Government

    Secondary School, Numan, Adamawa State and Yejide Girls’ Grammar School, Ibadan, Oyo State will lock horns in Group B.

    Speaking at the draw, Olufemi Akintola, category Manager, Beverages, Nestle Nigeria Plc, said the national finals promises to be captivating as the best of teen basketballers will be playing to win trophies and honours for their schools and states.

    “As has always been our tradition at the Nestle Nigeria Plc, the 19th edition will not end at the national finals. The top 50 camp will hold after the National Finals. This is a three-day camp that will include players who showed exceptional skills during the games. They will receive additional grooming from local and international coaches. It has always been a rare opportunity for participants to be scouted by these coaches some of whom are from the NBA,” Akintola said.

  • NBA seeks end to investigation of judges arrested by DSS

    NBA seeks end to investigation of judges arrested by DSS

    THE Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has faulted the Federal Government’s anti-corruption strategy.

    It suggested an urgent review, with attention directed at strengthening existing investigating and prosecuting agencies.

    The group expressed worry that over eight months after some judges were suspended on the ground that they were being investigated for misconduct, no major progress has been made by the investigating agency.

    It called for the discontinuance of such investigations to enable the affected judge resume their official duties.

    NBA President Abubakar Mahmoud (SAN) expressed these views while speaking in Abuja yesterday.

    He said: “It is no longer news that there is endemic corruption in Nigeria. The issue is how we are fighting it.

    “While the current efforts by anti-corruption agencies are commendable, it is important to note that the present framework, which is in place for anti-corruption crusade, is defective in structure and does not make for effectiveness of these agencies.

    “The NBA still believes that a lot needs to be done in improving the general institutional framework for the fight against corruption.

    “Though some successes have scored, especially following the whistle-blowing policy of the government, yet it must be remembered that reliance on this whistle-blowing itself is a signal to the overall weakness of policing and anti-crime agencies.

    “The NBA, therefore, calls for more investment in the development of the capacity of anti-corruption agencies. The NBA also calls for greater demonstration of commitment and synergy between the various branches of government.

    “As it is, there is clear dissonance between the executive and legislative branches. A situation where the branches of government are unable to agree on the leadership of a key agency of government such as the EFCC is not only unfortunate, but highly regrettable.

    “This exposes our country to ridicule and questions the commitment of our leaders to the fight against corruption. We call on both the legislature and executive branches to as a matter of urgency address the lingering issue of the leadership of the EFCC.”

    The NBA also called on all agencies of government involved in the criminal justice sector to demonstrate a greater level of cooperation and synergy.

    The NBA President, who commended the various reform initiatives in the Judiciary since the Justice Walter Onnoghen’s appointment as the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), called for enhance collaboration between all arms of government.

    He urged the Federal Government to continually demonstrate religious adherence to the tenets of constitutional democracy.

    Mahmoud said the NBA was appalled at the continued detention of certain individuals in blatant disobedience to court orders.

    “Amongst these individuals are Sheik Ibrahim Al-Zakzaky and his wife and also Colonel Sambo Dasuki,  the former National Security Adviser.

    “Whilst we recognise the serious the charges on which these individuals are held, we nevertheless view their continued detention as unjustified and contrary to the express court orders.”

    The group commended Fed Govt’s efforts at reviving the economy, but urged it to focus at employment generation, improved security and the creation of a business friendly climate in the country.