MAZI AFAM JOSIAH OSIGWE, SAN, KNOWS THE ROLE AND PLACE OF THE NBA IN NIGERIA; VOTE FOR HIM AS PRESIDENT OF THE NIGERIAN BAR ASSOCIATION

BY CHUKWUNONSO UMEATUEGBU

When I shared my story last week on how I managed my speech impediment I left out the part of those that also played an important role in helping me navigate that journey even without knowing it.

Afam Osigwe was that man whom I started working with immediately after my call to bar. He is very disciplined that sometimes I have to compare him to my dad.

At the time I joined his law firm, my colleagues who joined with me were getting by alright. I was struggling and always missing in action. He noticed it and decided to do something about it. On one occasion I had sent him a draft Court document I did and he emailed me to say we will discuss it against the Court hearing in few days.

The day of the Court hearing I came to work at 6 am. I was to be in Court as his second chair and at the time I didn’t know what it meant only for me to learn it the hard way. He came in later that morning to say he had got an emergency meeting and I will be going to Court alone!.

I looked at our court process again to remind him that the lawyer on the other side is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and he said well, I am a lawyer and I prepared the process, I am the best man to argue the case.

Well I didn’t argue with him, but I made up my mind that I will run away from the Court room.

When I was leaving his office that morning he said to me, ‘Nonso, you can only learn this trade by doing it yourself. The difference between you and a SAN, is the texture of your gown, the laws are the same and it is on your side today, focus on it.’ My motivator left out the level of the Senior advocate’s experience😂🤣.

To my greatest surprise, I argued that motion and the order was in my favour. I was very happy and ran to the office like a child that won the first position in his class only for me to meet my boss eating semo at the office kitchen. He didn’t go for any meeting; he wanted me to do that case. Well I washed my hand and shared his lunch. In a little while, I argued cases up to the Court of Appeal. He brought out the best in me. 

He has encouraged and inspired so many lawyers especially the young ones trying to find their footing in law practice.

Afam Osigwe is a good leader and administrator with sound understanding of challenges facing Nigerian lawyers.

He knows the role and the place of NBA in Nigeria. I have no doubt that he will make a good NBA President. I hereby recommend that you support him to win this election.

Vote Afam Osigwe for NBA President.

• Chukwunonso Umeatuegbu is a lawyer.

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