EROJIKWE

EROJIKWE, TCCP CHAIR’S DAD, BEGINS HOMEWARD JOURNEY TODAY

The funeral rites for Chief Edwin Ekemezie Erojikwe, the late father of the Chairman of Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Technical Committee on Conference Planning (TCCP) 2022, Mr. Tobenna Erojikwe, will commence today with a Vigil Mass at his Uruagu Nnewi home. Time is 5 pm.

The rites will climax tomorrow, Thursday, September 22, 2022 with a Funeral Mass at St. John of the Cross Catholic Church, Egbo, Uruagu, Nnewi. Interment follows at his compound.

Chief Erojikwe died 5 days after he turned 86. He is reputed as an academic technologist and research scientist “who had a remarkable career working in many notable establishments including the Veterinary Research Institute in Vom, Plateau State; Public Health Laboratory Luton, England; Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Berlin, West Germany, and the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN).

“Chief Edwin Erojikwe was a prolific researcher whose scholarly works in Veterinary Medicine are extensively published in notable international journals. For four years, he served as Chairman of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), UNN Branch. Following his retirement from the University of Nigeria after an illustrious career that saw him serve in most of the University boards including the UNN Community Bank, he continued in private consultancy until March this year.

“Edwin Ekemezie Erojikwe was an extraordinary man who impacted many lives through his philanthropy and his investment in people principles.”

He is survived by his wife, Chief (Mrs.) Ebele Erojikwe, former Principal, University (of Nigeria) Secondary School, Nsukka and several children who have distinguished themselves in different fields of endeavour.

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AKPATA RAPS CONFEREES FOR RIOT OVER AGC BAGS (VIDEOS)

The President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr. Olumide Akpata has berated conferees who invaded the Accreditation Centre to cart away conference bags and other items.

Akpata, who was delivering an apology for his lateness to the President’s Dinner organized as one of the highlights of the ongoing NBA Annual General Conference, said that he was held up by the chaos that broke out yesterday evening over delivery of conference bags.

CITY LAWYER had captured the moment when the vehicle conveying the conference bags arrived to the hot embrace of the teeming conferees who had massed around the Accreditation Centre to collect the bags. A security officer told CITY LAWYER that the organisers were having a tough time with crowd control, as the conferees were blocking the access route to be used by the vehicle to deliver the bags to the Accreditation Centre.

Saying that it was not in his character to attend such events late, Akpata beamed a clip of the riot on the wide screen, adding: “It is a sad commentary. But this is really who we are. We must not delude ourselves. We are as good as our weakest link.”

He noted that the Technical Committee on Conference Planning (TCCP) had explained that it insisted on top quality bags for the conferees, leading to its rejection of the low quality bags supplied by the vendor. He wondered why the conferees would not exercise patience, moreso when the quality bags had been supplied.

Fiery human rights activist and former Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Prof. Chidi Odinkalu had lampooned some conferees who staged a protest earlier on the same issue.

He said: “Nigeria is nothing if not impressive. Ask these same lawyers to protest over their Governor stealing money or politicians in Abuja stealing the country into destitution & calling it fuel subsidy, they will object & tell you how respectable a bunch of lads they are. But we will protest over bags! Our situation passeth all understanding.”

CITY LAWYER recalls that the TCCP Chairman, Mr. Tobenna Erojikwe had in an update to conferees noted that the committee had rejected the bags because they did not meet the agreed standards.

His words:

Dear Colleagues,

I welcome you again to Lagos for our 62nd Annual General Conference. I hope that the registration process has been pleasant for you thus far.

Thank you for the feedback that we have received from you on various points and for the commendations too. In cases where you suggested that we make improvements, we have taken note and will continue to work towards giving you a better experience.

Regarding the ongoing collection of conference materials, I am writing to update you that we will now pause collection of conference materials (specifically the conference bags) until further notice. This is because while we have ordered more than enough bags to serve our delegates, we have now observed that the most recent batches of the bags delivered to us are less than the quality that we contracted and paid for. We have accordingly rejected them and asked our suppliers to provide conforming replacements as soon possible.

In any case, to enable our delegates continue to enjoy the conference, all other materials (particularly the tags, tickets and lanyards) will still be issued to you at the designated collection points. Collection of the bags will resume afterwards.

I thank you for your understanding and regret any inconvenience that this might cause you.

My best regards,

Tobenna Erojikwe
Chairman, NBA TCCP 2022

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NBA-AGC: ATIKU, PETER OBI, OTHERS CLASH AT FIRST DEBATE

In what may pass as their first presidential debate in the run-up to the 2023 National Elections, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Anambra State Governor, Mr. Peter Obi went head-to-head yesterday at the ongoing Nigerian Bar Association Annual General Conference (NBA-AGC).

The presence of the leading presidential candidates confirms CITY LAWYER’s exclusive report that the duo would attend the event.

One of the highlights of the Opening Ceremony monitored by CITY LAWYER was the Keynote Address delivered by globally acclaimed writer, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.

Atiku and Obi were among five presidential candidates who gave insights on how they plan to turn Nigeria’s fortunes around if elected president at the forthcoming general elections. The All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu was conspicuously absent. Also absent was the New Nigeria Peoples’ Party (NNPP) presidential candidate, former Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso. Tinubu was however represented by the party’s vice presidential candidate, former Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima.

Themed “Democratic Transitions in 21st Century Nigeria: 2023 & Beyond,” the face-off was moderated by former NBA President and NBA Board of Trustees Chairman, Dr. Olisa Agbakoba SAN.

The high-profile Opening Ceremony which held at the prestigious Eko Hotel & Suites, Lagos was witnessed by leading jurists at the Bar and Bench.

Aside from speeches by the Local Organising Committee Chairman, Mr. Ikechukwu Uwanna; Technical Committee on Conference Planning (TCCP) Chairman, Mr. Tobenna Erojikwe and outgoing NBA President, Mr. Olumide Akpata, Goodwill Messages were received from the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, who was represented by Lagos State Chief Judge, Justice Kazeem Alogba as well as the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who was represented by the Attorney-General & Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Moyosore Onigbanjo (SAN).

Governors Solomon Lalong and Godwin Obaseki of Plateau and Edo states respectively also attended the conference as well as NBA President-elect, Mr. Yakubu Maiyau SAN and his rival during the recently concluded NBA Elections, Chief Joe-Kyari Gadzama SAN.

According to a PUNCH newspaper report, Atiku and Obi flayed the Federal Government over the insecurity and economic crisis confronting the nation, stating that Nigeria possessed all the negative indices that qualified it as a failed state.

The two candidates agreed that 2023 is Nigeria’s decisive year, noting that the election is critical to the country’s existence. On his part, Shettima urged Nigerians to vote for their joint ticket because of their achievements as governors in Lagos and Borno states.

Ariwoola, Sanwo-Olu and Adichie were among speakers who advocated the reform of the Nigerian judiciary in order to position the country on the path of transformational change.

In his remarks, Atiku observed that the country is more disunited today than it had ever been since democracy took root in 1999, noting that Nigeria had never found itself in such a very critical situation in its history.

He stated that Nigeria had all the negative indices, adding that the nation had never experienced the current level of poverty, insecurity and unemployment. He noted that “Since the return of democracy in 1998/99, Nigeria has never found itself in such a very very critical point in our history.

“Today, we have had all the negative indices. Today, we are all disunited in the nation. We have never experienced this level of poverty. We have never experienced this state of insecurity. We have never experienced this level of unemployment. We have recognised all these negative development in our history.”

He added that the important thing was to tackle the challenges. “This is where history and experience beckon to us that we don’t get it wrong at this point in time. If we get it wrong, I don’t know when we will get it right,’’ he noted.

An online newspaper, The Cable reported that ex-vice-president revealed that he would hand over the federal universities to states if he was elected president. According to the report, Atiku said his administration’s reform would involve creating an enabling environment for foreign and local investors. The reforms, he further explained, would include healthcare and education ‘’because the government alone cannot bring about development.’’

He stated, ‘’One of the fundamental reforms I have in my policy document is to encourage the private sector as far as the development of the country is concerned — both foreign and local. It is very essential because the federal government does not have the resources to do all the things that they want to do,” he said.

POWER DEVOLUTION
Shedding more light on his plans, he stated, “The only way is to make sure that a conducive environment is available for the local and foreign investors to participate in the development of our country, whether it is infrastructure, education and healthcare.

“I had an argument with a university professor from Federal University, Lokoja. He said he read in my policy document that I intend to devolve, in other words, to return education to the states. How dare I do that?

‘’I said: ‘Mr professor, do you realise that the first set of our universities belongs to the regional governments?’ He said, ‘yes’. I said ‘who are the successors of the regional government?’ He said: ‘the states’.

“I said the children you send to America or England; who owns those universities? Mostly, the private sector. So, why is it that you think we cannot do it here? We don’t have the money.”

Atiku posted on his Twitter page on Monday that he was at the NBA conference to give lawyers insights into his bold policy which he said embodies unity, security, economy, education and devolution of power to states and local governments.

The Labour Party presidential candidate, Obi in his remarks said ‘’the election will not be about tribe, religion, connection, entitlement, but it must be about competence capacity and commitment to deliver.” Obi said that Nigeria needs urgent transition from being a highly insecure country to a secured one and from a disunited country to a united one.

He added, “Nigeria has qualified to be a failed state. We have the two or three biggest characteristics of a failed state. One is when you are no longer in charge of your territory.

“Today, we are among the top terrorised countries in the world; we are among the top kidnapping countries in the world. Banditry has taken over part of the country and Nigerians are being killed.”

He called on Nigerians to elect the candidate with the capacity to rescue the nation from its current mess. “Nigeria is in a mess. We got here simply because of the accumulative effects of bad leadership. The coming election is not about tribe or religion but about character and competence. We need a bold transition from a highly insecure state to a highly secured state,’’ he noted.

The APC running mate, Shettima pointed out that his principal would replicate at the federal level the feats he recorded in Lagos when he was the governor. Shettima said they would hit the ground running if elected into office in 2023. He stressed that Tinubu is the man to beat because of his skill-set. “I aligned with the APC candidate because of his competence and performance,’’ he affirmed.

The vice-presidential candidate said as governor of Borno state, he facilitated the construction of the best schools in the country. “Nigerians have the capability to see through the worn-out rhetoric and sophistry of pretentious politicians,” he said in a veiled attack on his opponents.

“Nigerians should ‘follow the man wey know the road.’ From day one, we will hit the ground running. We’ll promptly address the issue of the economy, ecology, and security.

“And we have the antecedents. I built some of the best schools in Nigeria. Go to Borno and see wonders; you will never believe that it is a state in a state of war. So, we are going to replicate our achievements in Lagos, in Borno and some of the frontline states so that our nation will be a better place.’’

Shettima asked the NBA delegates to make an informed decision in changing the narrative of leadership in the 2023 general elections, saying his principal is the man to beat. He urged lawyers to choose a leader that has established records, stating that he had mentored men and women.

ADICHIE ON HEROES
The guest speaker at the conference, Adichie in her keynote address said the country was in disarray and needed heroes to save it. She said, “Nigeria is in disarray; things are hard and getting harder by the day. We can’t be safe when there is no rule of law. Nigerians are starved of heroes to look up to.

“Late Dora Akunyili and Gani Gawehimmi were heroes that Nigerians looked up to before now. Unfortunately, that era has gone. I believe that NBA is in a position to give the nation heroes that we can look up to lead the nation.’’

Stressing the imperative of justice, the author of Half of a Yellow Sun and other books, further said, “As long as we refuse to untangle the knot of injustice, peace cannot thrive. If we don’t talk about it, we fail to hold leaders accountable and we turn what should be transparent systems into ugly opaque cults.’’

She submitted that many people who have abused their positions in Nigeria would regard the NBA as troublesome. Adichie called for an incorruptible judicial system and advised the NBA to leverage technology in the judicial process and the administration of justice in the country.

“As the NBA continues to fight the abuse of power, it must also look inward not to be corrupted,’’ the award winning author admonished.

The presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party, Adewole Adebayo lamented that the country’s crude oil was being stolen by the government. Adebayo advised the conference participants to be suspicious of every statistic being given.

The presidential candidates of the African Democratic Party and the All Progressives Grand Alliance, Mr. Dumebi Kachikwu and retired Justice Peter Umeadi also spoke at the conference.

Earlier, Justice Ariwoola said the Bar and Bench must return to the days when the ethics of the legal profession was upheld and enforced. He said that the justice sector is very important to the survival of Nigeria so all stakeholders must ensure that it is protected and improved upon so it can continue to provide hope for the masses.

Also speaking at the conference, which has over 13,000 delegates in attendance, Sanwo-Olu said the state’s judicial system had upheld the legacies of the past administration in the improvement of the legal practice. His words: “We have continually transformed our structures, building new courtrooms, renovating existing ones, to create a more conducive environment for our judges and to efficiently administer justice.’’

“I can boldly say that no state takes the funding of the judiciary as seriously as Lagos State, and this is a legacy that has been sustained by successive administrations since 1999,” he said.

NBA PRESIDENT SPEAKS
On his part, Akpata said it was the greatest privilege of his life to have piloted the association.

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‘NBA-AGC WILL HAVE BOLD IMPRINTS ALL OVER,’ SAYS EROJIKWE

The Chairman of the Technical Committee on Conference Planning (TCCP) for this year’s Nigerian Bar Association Annual General Conference (NBA-AGC), Mr. Tobenna Erojikwe has shed more light on the theme of the conference titled “Bold Transitions.”

Speaking at a World Press Conference to herald the AGC, Erojikwe said: “The key word in the theme for this year’s conference was picked very deliberately. Interestingly, it is the word that we want people to pay attention to.

“In the last two conferences, we have had themes like ‘Facing the future’, and ‘Taking the lead.’ However, the word ‘BOLD’ is key and the word ‘transition’ is also very important because it is happening everyday .

“I think the analogy is that if someone goes to sleep five years from today and wakes up, he will meet a completely different world; it is happening at a pace that is unimaginable.

“So, one of the things that led us to the choice of the 2022 theme are some of the things the president brought in during his tenure – like digitizing the NBA and making us more adept to the use of technology.

“For instance, payment of bar practising fees, payment for conferences and all, are now done electronically. And we saw the challenges that our members face in trying to keep up with this pace of advancement despite the convenience of using new ideas and technology.

“It became clear that these transitions are things we face everyday and we are not adapting to them as quickly as possible. That is it about the adjective ‘BOLD.’

“It is telling our people that this is how we have to approach it, that boldness is a catalyst for the type of change that we must face – and we must confront it boldly.” 

The TCCP Chairman observed that the legal profession has led change anywhere in the world, adding that it is a fresh call “to take the bull by the horns”

He noted that every activity at the conference “will have a BOLD imprint.”

BOLD VENUE
The Chairman said that the choice of Eko Atlantic City as venue for the conference, even though still under construction, “is a BOLD choice in many respects.”

BOLD KEYNOTE SPEAKER
According to Erojikwe, the TCCP picked Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie as a Keynote Speaker, adding that it is a BOLD choice as she is one of the leading African icons in the world.

BOLD TECHNOLOGY
He said that to partner the discussion on Technology, “We chose to partner with META which is also a very bold choice, as Meta is one of the transformational companies you can get in the world. They are the owners of Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp. So it cannot come better than that.”

BOLD SESSIONS
According to the TCCP Chairman, one of the sessions at the conference involves the presidential candidates for the 2023 elections who have been invited to tell the legal community and Nigerians what their plans are.

His words: “So that’s how far as it goes; every bit of the conference is bold. 

“So, for example, after the keynote address which will take place on the Monday 22, August, we are going to have ‘Democratic Transitions in Nigeria: Focus on 2023 and beyond.’

“Everyone knows that oil and gas has been the main stay of Nigeria’s economy since 1973, so we are inviting the sub-nationals across the geographical zones in Nigeria to come and tell us what their plans for the future are and also get people from the Central Bank and economists to interrogate what is happening and where we need to get to.

“On that day of the conference, and for the first time in the history of the NBA, we will be having the current president of the NBA, the incoming NBA president and the last two predecessors-in-office join them on stage to talk to members of the NBA about the NBA.

“Indeed, it will be an interrogation of the performance of the current NBA President. We will have an opportunity to tell him what we think he got wrong and we expect that people will speak up – and then, of course, tell him what we also think he got right.

“But most importantly, it is to afford the incoming president an opportunity to outline his direction for the NBA and also give us an opportunity to tell him whether we think that is the direction he should be going.”

Erojikwe stated that the NBA Access to Finance scheme “is the first of its kind anywhere in the world and a remarkable initiative of the NBA President,” adding that NBA is interested in knowing if lawyers are able to access the funds as well as the challenges being faced.

He stated that the NBA Remuneration Report will be interrogated by the audience to provide insights for its implementation by NBA-NEC.

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TCCP SET TO HOLD GROUND-BREAKING NBA-AGC

Preparations are in top gear for the 62nd Nigerian Bar Association Annual General Conference (NBAAGC) themed “Bold Transitions”. In a matter of days, lawyers from all corners of Nigeria will converge on the audacious Eko Atlantic City in Lagos for the annual conference that has over the years been known to be the largest gathering of lawyers anywhere in the world.

As the August 19th date for the commencement of the conference draws close, and with the Technical Committee on Conference Planning (TCCP) having unveiled the various conference activities, indications are emerging that the Olumide Akpata-led NBA administration is on course to deliver a legacy conference that sets a standard that will become a benchmark for subsequent NBA conferences.

Tobenna Erojikwe, the TCCP Chairman, had earlier said the core objective of the NBAAGC 2022 is “to host a world-class conference, with in-depth discourse on critical issues affecting the legal profession and the country, facilitated by the most eminently qualified resource persons able to galvanize all conference attendees towards the path of becoming better legal practitioners and experts in their chosen fields; shape public opinion on critical issues; and inspire lawyers to build the law firms of the future”.

So far, the activities lined up for the 2022 Annual General Conference are generating a high level of interest and enthusiasm among lawyers. One exciting event for many lawyers who have registered for the conference is the Presidential Candidates’ session, where the candidates of the major political parties in the 2023 presidential elections are expected to speak on “Democratic Transitions in 21st Century Nigeria: 2023 and Beyond”. Already, the TCCP has confirmed that two of the four leading candidates, Atiku Abubakar of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and Peter Obi of Labour Party (LP), have given their word that they would be present, while Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) are yet to confirm their availability.

Underscoring the importance of the Presidential Candidates’ plenary, a first in the history of the NBA AGC, the TCCP said it would present an opportunity to critically assess Nigeria’s democratic journey since 1999, identify key challenges which have perennially bedeviled the polity, and evaluate sustainable solutions to these challenges. The session will also aim at encouraging greater citizen participation in the governance of Nigeria with lawyers playing a leading role.

“With the poor state of our economy, mounting insecurity, comatose education system, decaying infrastructure, persistent inter-ethnic crises and general high cost of living, the 2023 elections may be a watershed moment for Nigeria. This session will provide a platform for the key presidential candidates in the 2023 elections to give insights on their respective roadmaps for addressing Nigeria’s key challenges and leading Nigeria’s next democratic transition,” Erojikwe said.

Many prospective participants are also looking forward to the Keynote Speech by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, author of Purple Hibiscus, Half of a Yellow Sun, Americanah, and several other works. The multiple award-winning author who has delivered two landmark TED talks – her 2009 TED Talk “The Danger of A Single Story” and her 2012 TEDx Euston Talk “We Should All Be Feminists” – will be speaking at the opening ceremony of the conference.

For some others, the attraction comes from the topics lined up for discussion at the sessions. These include, among others, “AfCFTA: Nigerian Lawyers’ Capacity to Service a Globalized Economy”; “Building a Respectable Bar: Issues Arising on the Regulation of the Legal Profession in Nigeria”; “The Fit for Purpose Lawyer: Reflections on the State of Legal Education in Nigeria”; “Legal Ethics and Etiquettes: Restoring the Dignity of the Legal Profession in Nigeria”; “Lawyers’ Earning Capacity: A Discussion on the NBA Remuneration Committee Report”; “Technology and the Law: Creating a Digital NBA”; and “Spotlight on Brutality, Abuse of Office and Harassment of Lawyers by Security Agencies”.

The Meta session, where Meta, owners of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, will lead the conversation on the topic “Towards an Effective Privacy and Data Protection Regime: The Role of the Nigerian Lawyer”, is also another attraction. Of course, many see the Meta collaboration with NBA, for a conference themed “Bold Transitions”, as significant. Meta, one of the world’s most valuable companies which is considered among the Big Five American information technology companies, builds technologies that help people connect, find communities, and grow businesses. Its Facebook, launched in 2004, heralded a bold transition as it changed the way people connect, while apps like Messenger, Instagram and WhatsApp further empowered billions around the world.

NBA branches as well as football lovers are looking forward to the NBA-AGC Male and Female Football Competitions slated to hold between Thursday, 18th August and Tuesday, 23rd August 2022. The football competitions will see the winning team for both the male and female matches cart away a prize of not less than N500,000.

Among young lawyers, their excitement is built around the many activities lined up for them. For instance, there is the Young Lawyers’ Forum (Job Fair), where senior and vastly experienced legal professionals will provide insights and share their career experiences with young lawyers. The session, which is in tandem with a cardinal focus of the present NBA administration to improve the welfare, and career development, of young lawyers, will also identify diverse opportunities for young lawyers within the legal profession and explore practical tips and strategies for sustainable career growth and development.

But that is not all. There is the AGC Creative Talents Show, which seeks to support local talents among lawyers in Nigeria and give them a platform to showcase their talent at the forthcoming Annual General Conference. The AGC Creative Talents Show, with iLLBLISS, Nigerian rapper, businessman and owner of ‘The Goretti Company’, as its Creative Director, is seen as one capable of launching talented young lawyers into a successful career in the creative industry.

Young lawyers also have a chance to get a sponsored place at the AGC if they emerge victorious in a pitch contest where they are expected to express their understanding of the 2022 theme ‘Bold Transitions’ in a 250-word script accompanied with a video of their voicing these expressions.

But there are many other exciting sessions. The session on “Financing Your Practice and the NBA Access to Finance Scheme” will seek to create awareness and enlightenment on how the NBA Access to Finance Scheme, one of the most impactful initiatives and welfare agenda of the current NBA administration, operates and also provide practical tips and guidance to lawyers on managing their finances.

There is the Health and Wellbeing session, which will provide tips on how lawyers can achieve a decent work-life balance notwithstanding busy schedules and the demands of their jobs. The session will also examine habits which lawyers ought to inculcate and maintain to stay fit and healthy while on and off work, as well as provide useful tips and advice on how lawyers may deal with, or seek help for, depression and mental health challenges.

There is a session dedicated to lawyers with disabilities. This session will x-ray the peculiar challenges faced by lawyers with disabilities both in practice and as members of NBA, and proffer practical solutions towards achieving inclusiveness and equality.
And there is the attraction of the host city itself. Without a doubt, Lagos is the epicentre of Nigeria’s thriving technology sector, the country’s economic capital and the lifeblood of its civil society. But the attraction goes beyond Lagos itself. Eko Atlantic City, the venue of the conference, is a classic story of bold, innovative thinking. One of the world’s cutting-edge new cities, Eko Atlantic City stands on 10 million square metres of land reclaimed from the Atlantic Ocean and protected by the Great Wall of Lagos, an 8.5km-long sea wall constructed primarily of rock and faced with concrete accropode armour. The city, which is being developed to be self-sufficient and sustainable to meet the needs for financial, commercial, residential and tourist accommodations with infrastructure in line with modern and environmental standards, has been variously described as the new economic capital of Africa and Africa’s Manhattan, because it is planned to be the size of Manhattan’s skyscraper district.

To cushion the effect of rising cost, the TCCP went into an arrangement with NACO Logistics to ensure that delegates attending the 2022 NBA Annual General Conference get hotel accommodations at discounted rates.

With a few days to go, the TCCP, composed of a fine selection of some of the best minds within the NBA, is leaving no one in doubt that it is capable of meeting the target set for it by the present NBA administration – to organise a conference akin in quality of content and ambience to the World Economic Forum, the International Bar Association Conference and African Development Bank’s (AfDB) Conferences.

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NBA-AGC SOCCER: ‘WHY WE FIXED DIFFERENT PRIZES FOR MALE, FEMALE COMPETITIONS,’ BY TCCP

The Technical Committee on Conference Planning (TCCP) for the 2022 Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Annual General Conference has clarified the difference in the prize winnings for the male and female NBA inter-branch football competitions slated to hold between Thursday, 18th August and Tuesday, 23rd August 2022.

The TCCP said the clarification became necessary following the debate raging amongst lawyers, especially on social media, over the difference in the prizes for the victorious teams.

The TCCP had, in an earlier notice, announced N500,000 as the winning prize for the inter-branch male football competition and N200,000 for the female football competition.

This has, however, generated some tension among lawyers some of whom viewed it as discriminatory.

But offering explanation for the difference, the TCCP said the fixing of the prize winnings was dictated by prudence and realistic expectations as the sports events at the AGC were structured to fund themselves.

In a statement issued on Thursday and signed by Tobenna Erojikwe, its Chairman, the TCCP explained that the male football competition is viewed as totally distinct from the female football competition with completely different consideration, having been around for many years. On the other hand, the female football competition is being introduced for the very first time in the AGC to promote inclusiveness and expand the scope of activities at the AGC, the TCCP said.

“In providing sports activities as part of the AGC, the TCCP exercises prudence in the management of funds as such sports, if not fully funded by itself or sponsored by third parties, have to be subsidised by the NBA,” Erojikwe said in the statement with the subject”Prizes for NBA Inter-branch Female Football Competition”.

“The male football competition has been a regular feature of the NBA over the years and so it is much easier to project income derivable from the competition. For instance, last year, a total of 16 male football teams registered for the male football competition with N1,600,000 received as registration fees,” he said.

The TCCP Chairman said considering the novelty of the female football competition, it was difficult to project the amount that could be generated from it.

Therefore, in order to arrive at an informed view of the prize for the winner of the female football competition, the TCCP carried out an inquiry to determine the number of existing female football teams in the branches of the NBA.

“Our research suggested that there were only two established NBA female football teams in the country, and this informed the decision regarding the amount stated as prize for the competition,” he said.

Erojikwe said the only way the prize winnings for the female football competition could be increased was to raise the registration fees payable by branches, which the TCCP does not consider a feasible option at this time.

“The above considerations led to the decision to fix the above referenced prize winnings for the different competitions. We also deem it necessary to add that the decision to introduce female football as part of the sports events at the AGC is an important development which the TCCP is committed to having entrenched at future AGCs,” he said.

He, however, assured that the TCCP was actively seeking sponsorship for the female football competition and would raise the prize winning as soon as such sponsorship materialised. He pledged that the TCCP would dedicate every amount received as sponsorship and registration fee for the female football competition to the prize money.

“We hope that the above explanation provides context and clarification regarding the subject. We would please ask that the level of interest that has been shown regarding the female football is sustained through the conference and that we make it a competition that we can all look forward to every year,” Erojikwe said.

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‘10,877 DELEGATES HAVE REGISTERED FOR AGC,’ SAYS TOBENNA EROJIKWE

No less than 10,877 delegates have registered for the forthcoming Nigerian Bar Association Annual General Conference (NBA AGC) holding in Lagos next month.

According to a statement made available to CITY LAWYER, the figure has outstripped the total number of delegates for the same period in 2019 and 2021 conferences.

In an update on preparations for the Annual General Conference, the Chairman of the Technical Committee on Conference Planning (TCCP), Mr. Tobenna Erojikwe said: “For the 2019 NBA-AGC, by the end of the early bird registration window, which factored in a 1-week extension, 9,796 delegates had registered for the conference. For the 2021 NBA-AGC, this figure was 8,686 delegates also with a 1-week extension. However, by midnight on Monday 18th July 2022, after the early bird registration window closed, a total of 10,877 delegates had registered for the conference. Put differently, with a month to the conference, we have already exceeded the total number of delegates for the 2021 NBA-AGC. The numbers continue to rise notwithstanding the close of the early bird registration window.”

He ruled out extension of the Early Bird window, and warned that the committee may be forced to close registration as the conference is almost oversubscribed already, though the virtual option remains available. His words: “It is in light of the foregoing, dear colleagues, that it became impossible to extend the early bird registration window. Further and regrettably, there is serious likelihood that we might soon be constrained to close all registration outright as the conference spaces are almost oversubscribed.”

Below is the full text of the statement.

Dear Colleagues

1. It is exactly 30 days to the start of the 62nd Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA-AGC) billed to take place from 19th – 26th August 2022 at the Eko Atlantic City, Victoria Island Lagos State with the theme, ‘BOLD TRANSITIONS’.

2. I wish to commence this update by expressing, on behalf of the Technical Committee on Conference Planning (TCCP), our sincere gratitude to you for the overwhelming confidence that you have bestowed on us and the unprecedented interest you have shown in this year’s NBA-AGC as illustrated by the impressive registration figures recorded so far.

3. As you are all aware, on 12th June 2022, registration for the NBA-AGC commenced with an early bird registration which ended on 17th July 2022. The TCCP sincerely sympathises with our members who were, for various reasons, unable to take advantage of the early bird registration window to enjoy huge discounts in the registration fees. Although we received various genuine requests for extension, the TCCP carefully explored all possibilities to extend the window but, for the reasons provided below, it was logistically impossible to extend the window.

4. In fixing the early bird registration window, we took into account the fact that previous windows had historically been fixed for approximately 4 weeks with an extension typically lasting for 7 days. We therefore fixed an early bird registration window of 6 weeks to allow enough time for our members to take advantage of the discounted rates.

5. In terms of planning and logistics, we have been consistent in our communications that we anticipate an increase in the number of delegates for the 2022 NBA-AGC from circa 11,000 delegates to 13000 delegates physically present and unlimited virtual participants. It is on the basis of this figure that we have been planning this Conference. We also arrived at this figure of 13,0000 after considering various factors chief among which were historical attendance figures and of course conference costs.
6. By way of comparison, at the last NBA-AGC held in the pre-Covid era, in 2019, and incidentally in Lagos, there were a total of 11694 delegates without the option of virtual participation. For the 2021 NBA-AGC which held in Port Harcourt, a total of 10,147 delegates registered for the conference, inclusive of virtual delegates. It was for the above reason what we increased the capacity to 13,000 while also making adequate arrangements for virtual delegates to enjoy a similar experience from the comfort of their homes or offices.

7. As noted above, we anticipated an increase in the number of delegates that would be interested in physically attending this year’s conference due to a number of factors including perhaps the positive record and members-oriented programmes of the Olumide Akpata administration, the reduction of the conference fees, and the exciting line up of sessions and events for this year’s NBA-AGC. With the benefit of hindsight, I have to now admit that despite our most optimistic projections, we did not anticipate the huge spike in the figures.

8. For the 2019 NBA-AGC, by the end of the early bird registration window, which factored in a 1-week extension, 9,796 delegates had registered for the conference. For the 2021 NBA-AGC, this figure was 8,686 delegates also with a 1-week extension. However, by midnight on Monday 18th July 2022, after the early bird registration window closed, a total of 10,877 delegates had registered for the conference. Put differently, with a month to the conference, we have already exceeded the total number of delegates for the 2021 NBA-AGC. The numbers continue to rise notwithstanding the close of the early bird registration window.

9. The above numbers have not factored in the number of registration slots that we must of necessity allocate to our resource persons; our sponsors as part of the sponsorship package we already advertised and are duty bound to deliver; as well as our colleagues who are legal officers in the Ministries, Departments and Agencies of governments whose registration are usually delayed by the bureaucratic bottle-neck for which our various governments are notorious.

10. It is in light of the foregoing, dear colleagues, that it became impossible to extend the early bird registration window. Further and regrettably, there is serious likelihood that we might soon be constrained to close all registration outright as the conference spaces are almost oversubscribed. Consequently, while we are not oblivious to the harsh economic climate that pervades the country at this time, we must nevertheless call on our members who are desirous of attending the conference physically to endeavour to register for the conference in the coming days. I will endeavour to give one last notice before we hit our maximum capacity for the conference.

11. Nonetheless it is important to restate that we have made adequate arrangements for our members to take advantage of a virtual option and also enjoy a similar experience at the conference. The virtual platform has a capacity to accommodate 30,000 conference delegates and the window to register for the conference through the virtual option remains open until the eve of the conference.

12. In ending, let me once again thank you for your understanding and cooperation and look forward to a memorable 2022 NBA-AGC.

Tobenna Erojikwe
TCCP Chairman

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TCCP UNVEILS HELP LINES FOR NBA AGC 2022

Registration has commenced for the 2022 Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) holding in Lagos in August.

According to Mr. Tobenna Erojikwe, Chairman, Technical Committee on Conference Planning (TCCP), registration for the conference opened on 12th June with an early bird registration window and participants would be able to register for either physical attendance or virtual attendance at www.nbaconference.com.

The conference is scheduled to hold at the Eko Atlantic City, Victoria Island, Lagos from 19th to 26th August, 2022 with the theme “Bold Transitions”. Renowned Nigerian author, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, will be the Keynote Speaker.

The committee has also released help lines for prospective participants who may have challenges in registration for the usually sold-out conference.

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NBA AGC 2022: TCCP SLASHES FEES, KICKS OFF REGISTRATION

Registration has commenced for the 2022 Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) holding in Lagos in August.

The Technical Committee on Conference Planning (TCCP) for the 2022 Annual General Conference (AGC) announced this in a statement issued on Sunday, 12th June, 2022.

Tobenna Erojikwe, Chairman, Technical Committee on Conference Planning (TCCP), said that registration for the conference opened on 12th June with an early bird registration window and that participants would be able to register for either physical attendance or virtual attendance at www.nbaconference.com.

The conference is scheduled to hold at the Eko Atlantic City, Victoria Island, Lagos from 19th to 26th August, 2022 with the theme “Bold Transitions”. Renowned Nigerian author, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, will be the Keynote Speaker.

According to the statement by the TCCP, early bird registration for the conference will run from 12th June to 17th July, while regular registration will start on 18th July and end on 5th August, 2022. Late registration will run between 6th and 12th August, 2022, while registration for virtual attendance will be on an ongoing basis.

“The core objective of the 62nd edition of the NBA Annual General Conference is to host a world-class conference, with in-depth discourse on critical issues affecting the legal profession and the country, facilitated by the most eminently qualified resource persons able to galvanize all conference attendees towards the path of becoming better legal practitioners and experts in their chosen fields; shape public opinion on critical issues; and inspire lawyers to build the law firms of the future,” Erojikwe said.

The registration fees are broken down according to categories. There has also been a significant reduction in the fees for virtual attendance compared to 2021.

Lawyers in the category of 1-5 years of practice will pay N15,000 for early bird registration, N40,000 regular registration, N80,000 for late registration, and N5,000 for virtual attendance as against N7,500 charged last year.

Lawyers within the 6-10 years category will register with N22,000 for early bird, N60,000 for regular, N120,000 for late registration, and N10,000 if they want to participate virtually compared to N11,250 they paid for virtual participation last year.

Lawyers who have practiced between 11-15 years will pay N36,000 registration fee if they make use of the early bird window, N70,000 for regular registration, N140,000 for late registration, and N15,000 for virtual attendance, N3,000 less than the N18,000 they were charged last year.

For lawyers between 16-20 years, the cost is N54,000 for early bird, N80,000 for regular, N180,000 for late registration, and N20,000 for virtual registration compared to N27,000 paid in 2021.

Lawyers who have more than 20 years of practice will pay N95,000 if they come as early bird, N150,000 for regular, N300,000 for late registration, and N30,000 for virtual attendance, a whopping N17,500 reduction from what it cost them to attend virtually in 2021.

Senior Advocates of Nigeria, Attorneys General, and Benchers will pay N190,000 early bird, N300,000 regular, N500,000 late registration, and N50,000 for virtual participation, N45,000 less than the N95,000 they paid last year.

It will cost Magistrates and other Judicial Officers N50,000 to register if they use the early bird window, N50,000 regular, N50,000 late registration, and N20,000 for virtual attendance compared to N25,000 for last year.

Honourable Justices, Honourable Judges, Grand Khadis and Khadis will pay N75,000 registration whether they come as early bird, regular registration or late registration. However, if they wish to participate virtually, the cost is N25,000 instead of N37,500 they paid in 2021.

For non-lawyers who want to attend the conference, the fee is N100,000 irrespective of whether it is early bird, regular or late registration. If they want to register to attend virtually, the fee is N30,000, N20,000 less than last year’s fee.

International Delegates will pay a fee of $300 for either early bird, regular or late registration, but $100 for virtual attendance, $50 less than last year’s fee.

“The AGC will bring together thought leaders in the areas of justice delivery, technology, economy, politics, judicial reforms, human rights, and rule of law. The aim is to have leading lawyers and thought leaders in the various fields to discuss and harmonise positions on the way forward on building a more effective Bar and a resilient country able to thrive amidst changing global dynamics,” Erojikwe said.

NBA Conference

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NBA-ICLE, NLNG TO EQUIP LAWYERS WITH ENERGY, FINTECH, GOVERNANCE SKILLS

NBA-ICLE PARTNERS NIGERIAN LNG FOR FINTECH AND OTHER STRATEGIC LEGAL TRAINING FOR LAWYERS

The Nigerian Bar Association Institute of Continuing Legal Education (NBA-ICLE) is pleased to announce its collaboration with the NLNG Legal Learning Academy (NLLA) of Nigeria’s foremost gas company – Nigeria LNG Limited. This collaboration will provide trainings and knowledge sharing events for Nigerian lawyers in contemporary areas of law practice including corporate governance, fintech, the energy transition and several other areas of interest at no cost to members of the Nigerian Bar Association.

The collaboration which will involve notable local and international knowledge partners will commence with a 3-day training series on Fintech which will run from 7th June to 9th June 2022. The training faculty will feature subject matter experts drawn from Nigeria and the United States including Alexandra C. Scheibe; Joseph B Evans; Daley Epstien and Aaron Brogan from McDermot Will & Emery; Damilola Salawu and Kofoworola Toriola of Olaniwun Ajayi LP; Babajimi Ayorinde of TNP and Davidson Oturu of Aelex.

The inaugural series will cover topics such as regulatory environment for digital assets and cryptocurrency; current trends in digital assets litigation and enforcement; digital assets investors’ rights, disputes and class actions; anti-money laundering/combating the financing of terrorism (aml/cft) risks and compliance for fintech companies; data protection and other interesting topics.

According to Mr. Tobenna Erojikwe, Chairman of the Governing Council of the NBA-ICLE “I am very pleased with this partnership that we have entered with the NLLA and all our knowledge partners. Nigeria remains a country of interest for startup companies and tech investors and our goal at the NBA – CLE is to increase the knowledge base of Nigerian lawyers in these and other areas of contemporary law practice so that Nigerian lawyers can play an active role in this space and control a large share of the legal-tech services market. Such growth in knowledge is not only useful to the clients that we serve but is key to improving the financial wellbeing of our lawyers”.

In addition to the Fintech training, which would be virtual, the NBA and the NLLA have agreed that a number of physical training sessions will also be held in Port Harcourt to cover key areas that should be of interest to lawyers who practice in Port Harcourt and its environs where NLNG has most of its operations. In the words of Mr. Akachukwu Nwokedi, General Counsel of NLNG and Dean of the NLLA, “The objective of the NLLA has been to continuously and proactively update the competencies of our in-house counsel on contemporary issues in our areas of operation. This collaboration with the NBA-ICLE will bring the resources of the NLLA to lawyers in Nigeria, and in line with NLNG’s vision of ‘helping to build a better Nigeria’, deepen knowledge, capacity and competencies in the kind of legal subjects that are of interest to NLNG and similar companies operating in Nigeria and internationally. This will in no small way help Nigerian lawyers better position themselves to compete for and win legal work in the energy and other emerging high value sectors of the Nigerian economy”.

This training series is part of the different learning, knowledge sharing and capacity building sessions that the NBA-ICLE has organized for Nigerian lawyers since its Governing Council was constituted by the NBA President, Mr. Olumide Akpata. 

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  • EMEKA NWADIOKE
  • Apr 12, 2022
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NBA-ICLE 10-DAY LAW OFFICE MANAGEMENT TRAINING CONTINUES TODAY

The Nigerian Bar Association Institute of Continuing Legal Education (NBA- ICLE) will today hold another instalment of its scheduled 10-day “LAW OFFICE MANAGEMENT TRAINING FOR LAWYERS.” The time is 2 pm to 3 pm.

According to a statement made available to CITY LAWYER, the topic for today’s training is “Why a Law Firm Needs a Strategy.” The speaker is Sylvia Nzekwu, a human resource management expert and Principal Consultant of SHAN Consulting Limited while the Moderator is Mr. Tobenna Erojikwe, NBA-ICLE Chairman and Partner at The Law Crest LLP.

Nzekwu has extensive experience in Professional Services Consulting, Administration, Human Resources Management and Trade Development/Regional Integration. She specialised in working with law firms to infuse best practices into the legal services sector. A dynamic Speaker, Organisational Retreat Facilitator, Trainer and Moderator skilled in employing clarity and innovation to deliver effectively to diverse audiences at all organisational levels, Nzekwu has strong interpersonal skills capable of resolving multiple (human resources, operational, business development) issues. She is reputed as having a “high level of professionalism and integrity as well as strong Project Management and organisational skills.”

To register, click on https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_tkXyr35oQjKsw6M0gsR93Q. According to the organisers, “The training is free and 1 CPD Hour will be allocated to members who attend the training.”

An earlier statement by NBA Publicity Secretary, Dr. Rapulu Nduka noted as follows: “Recall that as part of its drive to promote continuing professional development, build capacity amongst its members and expand the practice areas of Nigerian lawyers, the current leadership of the NBA through the Institute of Continuing Legal Education (NBA- ICLE) has been organizing a series of free capacity-building programmes for the benefit of members of the Association.

“In line with the above, kindly be informed that from the 31st day of March 2022, the NBA-ICLE will be organizing a 10 – day Law Office Management Training for Lawyers. The training will take place on the following days: 31st of March 2022; 7th, 12th, 14th, 19th, 21st, 26th and 28th of April 2022; and the 3rd and 5th of May 2022.

“To participate in the programme, members are advised to register with this link: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_tkXyr35oQjKsw6M0gsR93Q.

“An email confirming successful registration will be sent upon completion of registration.

“This training is free and all members, regardless of their branch, are encouraged to register and attend.”

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  • EMEKA NWADIOKE
  • Feb 06, 2022
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TOBENNA EROJIKWE AND QUEST FOR ‘WORLD-CLASS’ AGC 2022

The appointment of Mr. Tobenna Erojikwe as Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Technical Committee on Conference Planning (TCCP) for the 2022 Annual General Conference may have come to many NBA watchers as a surprise.

Announcing the establishment of the TCCP, Akpata had said: “As we approach the twilight of the current administration of the NBA, it is important that we begin early preparations for the next NBA-AGC, during which I and other serving national officers of the NBA will hand over to a newly elected administration. To this end, I am writing to announce the constitution of the Technical Committee on Conference Planning (TCCP) for the 2022 NBA-AGC.” He added that the committee “is tasked with the responsibility of delivering a world class NBA-AGC in August 2022.”

Save for his foray into NBA Lagos Branch affairs where, as a two-term Chairman, Erojikwe successfully led the Continuing Legal Education & Mentorship Committee (later Continuing Professional Development Committee) of the Branch, Erojikwe is not reckoned as your typical “Bar Man” of yore.

All that seemed to have changed especially with his role as the anchor for NBA President Olumide Akpata’s frenzied quest to lead the Bar. Erojikwe once described Akpata as a “Transformational Servant Leader and the number 1 Change Agent.” That Erojikwe and his team delivered on the task is in full public glare. CITY LAWYER investigation shows that Erojikwe has since become one of the President’s Men, a most trusted and valued aide and confidant.

Reckoned by many NBA watchers as the new-kid-on-the-block, Erojikwe’s performance since March 2021 as Chairman of the Governing Board of Institute of Continuing Legal Education (NBA-ICLE) has cemented his rising profile as a Bar Leader to watch. The revamped NBA-ICLE has under his leadership hosted several capacity building trainings for lawyers at zero cost, including the 16-Day Introductory Training on Energy Law and Policy For Lawyers; 8-Day Civil Litigation Training; Introduction to Intellectual Property Rights; Media and Technology Law Practice; Practical Insights into the Nigerian Tax System; Legal Aspects of Finance: Overview, Issues & Documentation, and more recently, another training on Entertainment Law (Entertainment Law Series: The media and entertainment ecosystem – A global legal perspective) delivered by a faculty from the United States law firm of Akin Gump Strauss and Feld.

CITY LAWYER recalls that Erojikwe had, as Chairman of NBA Lagos Branch Continuing Professional Development Committee, anchored the NBA Section on Business Law (NBA/SBL) collaboration with the branch in setting up a Law Firm Mentorship Initiative. He was a member of NBA Lagos Branch Executive Committee and a member of the NBA National Executive Committee (NBA-NEC).

And to think that his foray into NBA affairs essentially started with a request to help develop and implement a strategy for a new direction for NBA Lagos Branch then under the leadership of Mr. Chukwuka Ikwuazom, SAN as well as an invitation by Akpata to co-ordinate the Entertainment Law segment (tagged an ‘Evening with RMD’) of the 2016 NBA/ SBL Conference.

Erojikwe is a Partner in the fast rising law firm of The Law Crest (TLC). He heads the firm’s Finance and Energy Practice Group. He is admitted to practise in Nigeria and in England and Wales. He is reputed to have had “significant practice experience” in both jurisdictions.

His core areas of practice are energy and natural resources; corporate finance; project finance; public-private partnerships, and mergers and acquisitions. He has been involved in most of the firm’s energy and natural resources transactions. Recent transactions in this area include advising the borrower in a US$450 million financing in respect of a participating interest in an oil mining lease, and advising the acquirer in the acquisition of a major oil servicing company as part of an offshore takeover of the parent company. He currently leads the team advising the acquirer in a US$600 million debt restructuring and acquisition for a major oil and gas company in Nigeria.

Erojikwe has also done significant work in project finance and public private partnerships in Nigeria and worked on various ground breaking project finance and public private partnership initiatives when he worked as Legal Adviser to the London Borough of Barnet on Urban Regeneration Projects.

A member of the Law Society of England and Wales, Erojikwe has, in the course of his career, facilitated training courses accredited by the Law Society of England and Wales which focus on infrastructure development and urban law.

Erojikwe obtained a bachelor’s degree in Law (LLB) from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka and was admitted to the Nigerian Bar in 2000. He was also admitted as a solicitor of the senior courts of England and Wales in 2005. He holds a Master of Laws (LL. M.) degree in Corporate Finance Law from the University of Westminster. In 2020, Who is Who Legal (WWL) described him as an “excellent” lawyer who draws praise from his “wealth of experience” and “great understanding” of the energy sector.

Other members of the TCCP are Ronke Adeyemi; Mustapha Imam; Olumide Babalola; Inemisit Dike (Secretary); Blessing Udofia-Poromon; Orji Uka; Ada Obinna Edozie; Rotimi Ogunyemi; Jonathan Agbo; Nta Ekpiken; and Omobayode Okelola

Ex-Officio members include Chief Ferdinand Orbih SAN, Chairman NBA- SLP; Mr. Ayuli Jemide, Chairman NBA – SBL; Dr. Monday Ubani, Chairman, NBA–SPIDEL; Prof. Oluyemisi Bamgbose SAN, Chairperson, NBA Women Forum, and Mr. Tobi Adebowale, Chairman, NBA Young Lawyers Forum.

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