MOHAMMED

NBA KADUNA BRANCH HAILS MAIKYAU ON INAUGURATION

The Executive and Members of the Nigerian Bar Association, Kaduna Branch heartily felicitates with Yakubu Chinoko Maikyau, SAN FCIArb on his assumption of office as the 31st President of the Nigerian Bar Association. 

The Branch also congratulates the Members of the Executive led by Yakubu Chinoko Maikyau, SAN FCIArb who have also assumed their various offices.

It is our wish and prayer that the ideals of the Nigerian Bar Association of promoting the rule of law and speaking truth to power should be continued.

We are indeed gratified that the President of the NBA has on numerous occasions stated that this administration shall continue with the innovative and welfarist programmes of the immediate past Executive. We hope and pray that this shall be continued, together with the new programmes to be introduced. 

We pray for the success of the administration and assure the 31st President of the NBA that Kaduna Branch shall continue to support him and his administration as the Branch did during the recently concluded election.

Thank you,

M. T. Mohammed, ACIArb, LLM

Chairman

OLANIPEKUN SURVIVES, AS BENCHERS FAIL TO DEBATE NBA’S RECUSAL DEMAND

The Chairman of the Body of Benchers, Chief Wole Olanipekun SAN has survived a move by the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to have him step aside from the seat following a petition to the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) seeking sanctions against partners in his law firm for alleged professional misconduct.

Though CITY LAWYER gathered that NBA President, Mr. Olumide Akpata had sent an email to the BoB asking that the recusal matter should be tabled for discussion, an impeccable source who attended today’s Body of Benchers meeting told CITY LAWYER that the issue did not receive any attention during the meeting. “There was absolutely no mention of the matter during the entire duration of the meeting,” said the source. Akpata’s email was copied to all BoB members.

CITY LAWYER had predicted that the issue may not be debated at today’s meeting as it was not listed on the agenda. Sources however said that this may not be unexpected given that the agenda for today’s meeting had long been drawn up. The non-receipt of the recusal letter until yesterday may also have made it practically impossible to include the issue on the agenda.

The source told CITY LAWYER that the meeting was delayed for about 30 minutes as the chairman took turns to felicitate with members, even as the meeting witnessed massive attendance by many BoB members, some attending after a prolonged absence.

Though at least two national newspapers reported that NBA President, Mr. Olumide Akpata shunned the meeting, CITY LAWYER gathered from unimpeachable sources that Akpata attended the meeting virtually and was signed on throughout the deliberations as he is overseas.

The source said that while the only opportunity to include the recusal issue on the agenda was during debate on “Adoption of Agenda,” Olanipekun side-stepped the item by stating that his “Chairman’s Address” would cater for that.

This paved the way for a discussion of only issues relating to tomorrow’s Call to Bar ceremony following a committee report on the subject. Other reports were deferred to the body’s next meeting on September 29, 2022, moreso as the reports were not circulated to members.

CITY LAWYER however gathered that this has been the tradition, as the body’s meetings on the eve of Call to Bar ceremonies often focus exclusively on preparations for the event.

Aside from the Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kayode Ariwoola, two past Chief Justices of Nigeria also attended the meeting. They are Justice Mahmud Mohammed and Justice Walter Onnoghen as well as retired Justice Mary Peter-Odili who doubles as the Vice-Chairman of the Body of Benchers. Also in attendance was Justice Helen Ogunwumiju of the Supreme Court.

The NBA was also well represented at the meeting which held at the Body of Benchers Complex in Jabi, Abuja by Akpata and its statutory representatives as well as seven past presidents including Messrs Onomigbo Okpoko SAN, O. C. J. Okocha SAN, Joseph Daudu SAN, Augustine Alegeh SAN, Okey Wali SAN, Abubakar Mahmoud and Paul Usoro SAN. Daudu, Alegeh and Wali signed on virtually.

It remains to be seen whether the matter will be raised at the next meeting of the Body of Benchers in September.

CITY LAWYER had in an exclusive report noted the petition by NBA to the LPDC where it not only demanded sanctions against Ms. Adekunbi Ogunde, a Partner in Wole Olanipekun & Co, for alleged solicitation of briefs from Saipem SPA, but invited the Committee to “consider whether the Partners of the Firm of Wole Olanipekun & Co. are not liable to be disciplined by this august body seeing that the Respondent has the ostensible authority to act as a Partner and indeed acted for and on behalf of the said Firm.” Olanipekun is the Founding Partner of the law firm. The LPDC is a committee of the Body of Benchers.

In a letter personally signed by Akpata following the filing of the petition, NBA had urged Olanipekun “to recuse yourself from chairmanship of the BOB henceforth and to allow for the emplacement of an interim leadership of the BOB, in order to enable the LPDC carry out this particular assignment, amongst others, without coming under an undue suspicion of impartiality.”

But Olanipekun, a former NBA President, had expressed anger against the association for allegedly making its demand public without communicating the recusal letter to him, saying it appeared there was an ulterior motive behind the action. His words: “As we talk, I am yet to get a copy of the letter. People have been calling me but I can’t react to a document that I have not seen.”

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‘IN CLEMENT CHUKWUEMEKA YOU’LL FIND A TRUE LEADER,’ SAYS MOHAMMED

CLEMENT UGO CHUKWUEMEKA: A MAN OF IMPECCABLE CHARACTER WORTHY TO BE ENTRUSTED WITH LEADERSHIP ROLE

My first encounter with Mr. Clement was at MOHAMMED NDARANI MOHAMMED SAN & CO., SOLACE LAW CHAMBERS, ABUJA. Precisely on the 18th, Day of April, 2022. The occasion was a courtesy visit to Learned Silk, MOHAMMED NDARANI MOHAMMED SAN, principal partner of NDARANI SAN & CO SOLACE LAW CHAMBERS ABUJA.

In my wildest dreams, I thought seeing the Learned Silk will not be a walk in the park. Lo and behold, the presence of Mr. Clement demystified the whole process and eliminated the protocol that would have caused much delay.

Mr. Clement engaged us in conversation. I quickly, on behalf of my colleagues, laid bare the reasons for our visit which was to intimate the learned Silk of the resolution by the National Association of Niger State Law Students (Naniglaws) NHQ to organize a national moot competition in his honor wherein States within the North Central region of Benue, Plateau, Nasarawa, Kwara, Kogi and Niger will participate.

Mr. Clement Ugo Esq. played a significant role that saw to the huge success of the national moot competition.

All through the period of preparations to the event, Mr. Clement demonstrated the qualities of a leader – honesty, tolerance and selflessness.

In Mr. Clement you will find all a leader needs to propel any organisation/association.

It is my wish that people believe and entrust him with leadership position and I urge all lawyers, especially young lawyers, to support him by voting him as the next 2nd Vice President of NBA.

MOHAMMED AWWAL,
NATIONAL PRESIDENT, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF NIGER STATE LAW STUDENTS (NANIGLAWS) NHQ.

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  • EMEKA NWADIOKE
  • Feb 27, 2022
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  • Comments Off on NBA-SPIDEL SUMMIT ON SOCIO-ECONOMIC RIGHTS HOLDS TODAY

NBA-SPIDEL SUMMIT ON SOCIO-ECONOMIC RIGHTS HOLDS TODAY

The eagerly awaited “Town Hall Meeting” of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Section on Public Interest and Development Law (NBA-SPIDEL) will hold today at the Marriot Hotel, GRA, Ikeja.

The hybrid summit has the theme, “Justiciability of Chapter 2 of the 1999 Constitution: Pragmatic Measures for Government’s Accountability.” Expected at the parley are judicial officers, political actors, legislators, lawyers and civil society leaders.

While all slots for in-person attendance have been fully taken up in compliance with COVID-19 protocols, intending participants can still be a part of the summit by registering at https://tinyurl.com/nbaspidelth2022.

Fiery human rights activist, Mr. Femi Falana SAN is the Lead Presenter for First Plenary while Mr. Anthony Ojukwu SAN, Executive Secretary, National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) is the Lead Presenter for Second Plenary. The Chairman of the summit is Justice Helen Ogunwumiju of the Supreme Court.

Discussants for the First Plenary are Justice Onuoha Ogwe, Chief Judge of Abia State; Hon. Luke Onofiok, Chairman, House Committee on Judiciary; Mr. Suleiman Usman SAN, Sokoto State Attorney-General & Commissioner for Justice; Mr. Emmanuel Okorodudu, Head of Democracy and Good Governance Unit at the ECOWAS Commission, Abuja and Mr. Kolawole Oluwadare, Deputy Director, Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP).

The discussants for Second Plenary include Mr. Olawale Fapohunda SAN, Ekiti State Attorney-General & Commissioner for Justice; Yemi Adamolekun, Executive Director, Enough is Enough (EiE); Ms. Cecilia Aransiola of Amnesty International; Mr. Samson Itodo of YIAGA Africa and Mr. Soji Apampa, Chief Executive at Integrity Organization. Both sessions will be moderated by ace broadcaster, Mr. Kayode Akintemi.

While Justice Ogunwumiju will give the Chairman’s Opening Remarks, Welcome Remarks will be delivered by NBA President, Mr. Olumide Akpata; NBA-SPIDEL Chairman, Dr. Monday Ubani, and Chairman of the Planning Committee, Mr. Steve Abar. The Vote of Thanks will be delivered by NBA-SPIDEL Secretary, Dr. Princess Frank-Chukwuani.

Organised by NBA-SPIDEL, the sessions coordinator is Mr. Kunle Ajagbe. The sponsors include Babalakin & Co., Digital Rights Lawyers Initiative, Y. C. Maikyau & Co. and JB Daudu & Co.

According to a statement by Dr. Monday Ubani, NBA-SPIDEL Chairman, “The aim of the Town Hall Meeting is to arouse the consciousness of critical institutions of government, particularly the Judiciary and Legislature, with a view to ensuring the enforcement of the basic socio-economic rights provided in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) and other enabling laws for the benefit of the Nigerian people.

“The Nigerian Bar Association Section on Public Interest and Development Law (NBA-SPIDEL) is desirous to see Nigerians enjoy the basic socio-economic rights provided in the Nigerian Constitution as well as other enabling laws,” adding that NBA-SPIDEL has a vision to make public interest and development law a fundamental aspect of national life and development.

According to the statement, SPIDEL which manifests NBA’s commitment to promoting the role and application of law to economic development and growth of public interest law in Nigeria, has been living up to its bidding.

In 2021, ahead of the sold-out NBA-SPIDEL yearly conference in Ibadan, Dr. Ubani had decried the delay in implementing provisions of the Constitution concerning autonomy of the judiciary.

“We want a judiciary that doesn’t go behind begging the executive to give them their resources in order to carry out the basic responsibilities that the constitution has imposed on them. We want a judiciary that can deliver justice without fear or favour, its long-term effect is what we are looking at, not probably because of the short-term losses we are suffering but I tell you this, if we succeed in doing this, we would have actually sorted out a very big problem for us as a nation. The issue of administration of justice is very key,” he had said.

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  • EMEKA NWADIOKE
  • Jan 10, 2022
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  • Comments Off on NBA KADUNA UNVEILS PAYMENT PORTAL FOR DUES

NBA KADUNA UNVEILS PAYMENT PORTAL FOR DUES

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Kaduna Branch has joined the league of digital branches with the introduction of online payment system for its Branch and Welfare Dues. Following in the footsteps of the national body, the branch has deployed the Paystack payment portal for payment of its dues.

In a press release signed by the Branch Financial Secretary, Diane Odey, it was stated that Branch members can now pay for their Branch Dues using the web link, www.nbakaduna.org/branch-dues while the Welfare Dues can be paid via www.nbakaduna.org/welfare-dues.

While the Branch would adopt the hybrid method by also receiving payment via the Branch Bank Account, Odey further explained that by 2023, payment for the Branch & Welfare Dues will be done only via the online platform.

Speaking on the development, the Branch Chairman, Mr. M. T. Mohammed stated that “NBA Kaduna is one of the few Branches of the NBA that has fully deployed online payment services for its members. We have used it to collect payments for our Law Week and Bar Dinner in the past few years. We are encouraged to continue to use the platform provided by Paystack to ease the payment of Branch and Welfare Dues for our Members.”

According to a statement by the Branch Publicity Secretary, Oguguo Anoruo-Enujekwu, the Chairman noted that online payment also enables the branch to keep proper and accurate records of its financial members. He urged members to take advantage of the online payment method.

It is recalled that the NBA National Executive Committee (NBA-NEC) had at its latest quarterly meeting approved exclusive payment of Bar Practising Fee (BPF) through the Paystack portal.

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YLF CHAIR, TOP UK ATTORNEY, UDEMEZUE TACKLE YOUNG LAWYERS’ WELFARE TOMORROW

Vocal Nigerian Law School Senior Lecturer, Mr. Sylvester Udemezue will tomorrow square up with a leading United Kingdom attorney, Prof. Suzanne Rab and President of the Nigerian Bar Association Young Lawyers Forum (NBA-YLF) Council, Mr. Tobi Adebowale to discuss the vexed issue of welfare of young lawyers.

The event is a virtual conference hosted by top Kaduna based law firm, Fama Firm and titled “Contemporary issues facing the welfare of young lawyers in Nigeria and possible solutions.” The two-hour roundtable which promises to be highly engaging will kick off at 1:30 pm.

The other panelists include Mr. Idris Mohammed, a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (UK) and Managing Partner of FAMA FIRM as well as Adeline Owusua Asante, a Ghanaian attorney with Accra based Integrated Legal Consultants. The webinar will be moderated by Zainab Mohammad Bello, Pro-bono Coordinator at FAMA FIRM.

Participants are required to register for the webinar at https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_0L6m2ioQTaycWsqG4dLn-w or www.famafirm.com/webinar.

Rab has the uncommon distinction of having been admitted to the bar of England and Wales both as a barrister and solicitor. She is also admitted as a solicitor in Ireland. She has wide experience of EU law and competition law matters combining cartel regulation, commercial practices, IP exploitation, merger control, public procurement and State aid. 

Rab’s practice has a particular focus on the interface between competition law and economic regulation. She advises governments, regulators and businesses across the regulated sectors including in the communications, energy, financial services, healthcare/ pharmaceuticals, TMT and water sectors. She has significant experience of advising on the development, implementation and application of new competition laws and regulatory regimes in line with international best practices, including in emerging markets.

In private practice as a solicitor for 15 years prior to joining the bar, she has held positions at magic circle and leading international antitrust practices. Most recently she was an antitrust partner with a leading US practice. She has also held the role of director at PricewaterhouseCoopers working within its strategy, economics and forensics teams.

A respected author, Rab is a Consulting Editorial Board member for LexisNexis Competition; Visiting Professor, Imperial College Business School, Intellectual Property and Antitrust; Member, Advisory Board of the Oxford Regulatory Policy Institute (RPI), and a Member of Editorial Board of Competition Law Insight Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.

She has been described by Who’s Who Legal UK Bar as “among the best” in the energy field according to sources who commend her “tenacity, technical excellence and enthusiasm”. The Legal 500/Chambers & Partners describes her as “Recommended for her experience acting for governments, regulators and businesses on EU regulation,” adding that “Solicitors praise her for her superior client service .…” On its part, Who’s Who Legal UK Bar: Competition describes the leading attorney as having “superb knowledge of the law”, “creative approach to problem solving” and a “hard-working nature.”

Mohammed has extensive interest in Telecommunication law and Corporate and Commercial Law, having pursued both interests at post-graduate level. He also has extensive experience in Arbitration. He is reputed as an accomplished litigator and appellate court lawyer, and has written several briefs at the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal. His experience cuts across Telecommunications Law, Arbitration, Litigation & Appellate Practice.

He has consulted for such A-List technology companies like Swap Technologies & Telecomms Plc, American Towers Corporation Nigeria Ltd, Emerging Markets Telecommunications Services Limited (Etisalat), Huawei Technologies Nigeria Limited, MainOne Cable Company Ltd, Sparkwest Industries, Starcomms Plc and Helios Towers Nigeria.

Mohammed successfully represented a Nigerian tower company before an adhoc arbitral panel in a claim of $65 Million Dollars against a major telecommunications company, and is currently representing clients in a N1.2 Billion damages claim against a multinational company and a N650 million contract claim against a state government.

His practice areas include Telecommunications Law, Arbitration, Litigation And Appellate Practice, And Corporate/Commercial Law.

FAMA FIRM is reputed as “one of the leading commercial law firms in Northern Nigeria.” The firm provides legal services in diverse areas, and is “highly dynamic, service oriented, principally focused on fulfilling client’s need.”

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