Nigerian Body of Benchers explained

Nigerian Body of Benchers
Type:	Professional Association
Purpose:	Regulate legal professionalism
Region Served:	Nigeria
Membership:	Renewable
Language:	English
Leader Title:	Chairman
Leader Name:	Hon. Justice Mary Peter Odili CFR, JSC (Rtd)

The Nigerian Body of Benchers is a professional body concerned with the admission of successful candidates at the Nigerian Law School Bar Final Examination into the Legal Profession. Members of the body are called Benchers.^[1] The body also regulate the call of graduate of law school to the Nigerian Bar as well as the regulation of the legal profession in Nigeria.^[2]

Principal officers

The current Chairman of the body is Hon Justice Mary Peter Odili CFR, JSC (Rtd) who succeeded Chief Wole Olanipekun, OFR, SAN in April 2023. Olanipekun succeeded Hon. Justice Olabode Rhodes Vivour in March of 2022 after a long list of successions including, the past Chairmen such as Hon. Justice Dr. I. T. Muhammad, CFR, 2019, ALH. Bashir M. Dalhatu,2018, Hon. Justice W.S.N Onnoghen, GCON, 2017, Chief Bandele A. Aiku, SAN, 2016 (deceased), Hon. Justice, Mahmud Mohammed, GCON,2015, Chief T.J.O Okpoko who was elected on March 30, 2014 to succeed Aloma Mariam Mukhtar the Chief Justice of Nigeria and Mahmud Mohammed the vice president at the time.^{[3] [4]}

Notable members

• Dahiru Musdapher (1942-2018), Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria
• Aloma Mariam Mukhtar (b. 1944), first female Chief Justice of Nigeria
• Idowu Sofola (1934-2018), President of the Nigerian Bar Association
• Kehinde Sofola (1924-2007), Minister of Justice
• Wole Olanipekun (b. 1951), former President of the Nigerian Bar Association and Senior Advocate of Nigeria
• Okey Wali (b. 1958), the 26th President of the Nigerian Bar Association
• Joseph Bodurin Daudu (b. 1959), former President of the Nigerian Bar Association in 2010-2012
• Kayode Ajulo SAN (b. 1974), Hon. Attorney General & Commissioner for Justice, Ondo State
• Mudiaga Odje SAN (1923-2005), President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in 1974-1976
• Muiz Banire SAN (b. 1966), three-term commissioner of Lagos State
• Ishaq Bello (b. 1956), Chief Judge of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT)

Notes and References

1. Web site: Stop begging for failed law school students, Benchers warn. The Punch - Nigeria's Most Widely Read Newspaper. 24 April 2015. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20150106004437/http://www.punchng.com/news/stop-begging-for-failed-law-school-students-benchers-warn/. 6 January 2015.
2. Web site: Sofola emerges Body of Benchers’ chairman. The Punch - Nigeria's Most Widely Read Newspaper. 24 April 2015. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20120503041014/http://www.punchng.com/news/sofola-emerges-body-of-benchers-chairman/. 3 May 2012.
3. Web site: Oyinlola, 3,896 Others Pass Nigerian Bar Exam, Articles - THISDAY LIVE. thisdaylive.com. 24 April 2015. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20150725214559/http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/oyinlola-3-896-others-pass-nigerian-bar-exam/131255/. 25 July 2015.
4. Web site: Nigeria: CJN Now Chairman Body of Benchers. allAfrica.com. 24 April 2014.