Nigerian Bar Association Explained

Nigerian Bar Association
Type:	Professional Association
Purpose:	Promote legal professionalism
Location:	Federal Capital Territory, Abuja
Language:	English
Leader Title:	President
Leader Name:	Yakubu Maikyau SAN
Leader Title2:	General Secretary
Leader Name2:	Adesina Adegbite

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) is a non-profit, umbrella professional association of lawyers admitted to the Bar by Counsil of Legal Education in Nigeria. It is engaged in the promotion and protection of human rights, the rule of law and good governance in Nigeria.^[1] The NBA has an observer status with the African Commission on Human and People's Rights, and a working partnership with many national and international non-governmental organizations concerned with similar goals in Nigeria and in Africa.^[2]

The NBA is made up of 125 branches, three professional sections, two specialized institutes, six practice-cadre forums, and high-level leverage in the political society in Nigeria.

Its National Secretariat is managed from Abuja. Its organizational structure comprises a National Executive Committee, a National Officers/Management Board, sections, forums, committees, working groups and a National Secretariat with a manpower strengthening of 34 staff as at June 2010.

The current president of the Nigerian Bar Association is Yakubu Maikyau. and the current General Secretary is Adesina Adegbite.^[3]

Former chairmen and presidents

Past chairmen of the association were:

• Christopher Sapara Williams (1900–1915)
• Sir Kitoyi Ajasa (1915–1937)
• Eric Olawale Moore (1937–1944)
• E.J. Alex Taylor (1944–1950)
• Sir Adeyemo Alakija (1950–1952)
• Jubril Martin (1952–1959)

Presidents of the Bar Association, who had the same authority as the former Chairmen, were:

• Frederick Rotimi Williams (1960–1968)^[4]
• Peter Thomas (1968–1969)
• Chief B.M. Boyo (1969–1970)
• Chief Richard Akinjide (1970–1973)
• Chief Adebayo Ogunsanya (1973–1974)
• Dr. Mudiaga Odje (1974–1975)
• Dr. Nwakanma Okoro (1976–1978)
• Chief B.O. Benson (1978–1980)
• Chief Adetunji Fadairo (1980–1982)
• A.N. Anyamene (1982–1984)
• Prince Bola Ajibola, (1984–1985)
• Ebele Nwokoye (1985–1987)
• Alao Aka-Bashorun (1987–1989)
• Charles Idehen (1989–1991)
• Chief Clement Akpamgbo (1991–1992)
• Priscilla Kuye (1991–1992)

Between 1992 and 1998 the NBA had no president, functioning only in branches. After the crisis, presidents were:

• Chief T.J.O. Okpoko, SAN (1998–2000)
• O.C.J. Okocha, SAN (2000–2002)
• Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN (2002–2004)
• Chief Bayo Ojo, SAN (2004–2005)
• Prince Lanke Odogiyon (2005–2006)
• Olisa Agbakoba (2006–2008)
• Chief Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN (2008–2010)
• Joseph Bodurin Daudu, SAN (2010–2012)
• Okey Wali, SAN (2012–2014)

• Augustine Alegeh, SAN (2014–2016)^[5]
• Abubakar Balarabe Mahmoud (AB Mahmoud), SAN (2016–2018)^[6]
• Paul Usoro, SAN (2018–2020)^[7]
• Olumide Akpata, (2020–2022)^[8]
• Yakubu Chonoko Maikyau (2022–present)

See also

• 2007 Lagos State indecency crackdown
• Nigerian Body of Benchers

Notes and References

1. Web site: Nigerian Bar Association . 26 May 2022 . Namati . en.
2. Web site: About NBA . 13 February 2010 . Nigerian Bar Association.
3. Web site: ahuchaoguizu . 8 August 2020 . NBA General Secretary Elect Joyce Oduah(FICMC), Visits NBA First Female General Secretary . 2 September 2020 . Nigeria News Today True Tells Nigeria . en-US . 15 January 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210115001711/https://truetellsnigeria.com/2020/08/08/nba-general-secretary-elect-joyce-oduahficmc-visits-nba-first-female-general-secretary/ . dead .
4. News: Uko . Ike . 4 May 2011 . Who Was NBA's First President . . 22 May 2011 . en-US.
5. Web site: 15 July 2014 . Alegeh is new NBA President Premium Times Nigeria . 26 May 2022 . en-GB.
6. Web site: Chioma . Unini . 4 August 2016 . PRESS STATEMENT BY THE PRESIDENT-ELECT OF THE NIGERIAN BAR ASSOCIATION (NBA) ABUBAKAR BALARABE MAHMOUD, SAN AT A PRESS CONFERENCE HELD ON WEDNESDAY AUGUST 3RD, 2016 . 26 May 2022 . TheNigeriaLawyer . en.
7. Web site: 21 August 2018 . Paul Usoro emerges new NBA President . 26 May 2022 . en-GB.
8. Web site: ABBA . Amos . 31 July 2020 . Olumide, non-SAN emerges NBA president amid controversy . 26 May 2022 . International Centre for Investigative Reporting . en-GB.