By John Austin Unachkwu
The doyen of the the legal profession in Nigeria and founder of the great Afe Babalola University Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), Aare Afe Babalola SAN, has unequivocally declared that the Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Remuneration Committee, the charismatic and quintessential Bar leader, Mazi Afam Josiah Osigwe SAN, is the incoming President of the NBA.
Aare Afe Babalola made the declaration in his Ado-Ekiti when Mazi Afam Osigwe SAN and his entourage paid a courtesy call on the great Bar leader as part of Mazi Osigwe’s campaign tour to draw support for his election as the next NBA President.
Aare Babalola urged the NBA under the leadership of of the NBA to restore the hope the common man in the Judiciary through genuine advocacy for the rule of law.
Mazi Afam Osigwe SAN was highly received by members of the Bar in Ekiti State who played host to the distinguished Bar leader, Osigwe SAN.
“It was a day of pomp, pageantry and encomiums as Lawyers played host to the frontline candidate for the Presidency of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN.
“With several pre-visit stop-overs at Ile-Ife in Osun State for a consultative visit after stop-overs at Oyo and Abeokuta, his arrival at the venue of the packed “Ekiti Lawyers Hangout with Afam” at about 7pm was greeted with screams and shouts of joy by jubilant friends of Afam.
“In his remarks, his successful tenure as Abuja Branch Chairman and General Secretary of NBA set the tone for the expression of his intention to lead the Nigerian Bar Association.
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“He highlighted his intention to ensure adequate protection for lawyers from security agencies, give lawyers a Bar to be proud of, extricate the Bar from the grip of political office holders, and thereby regain the lost voice of the bar while not necessarily constituting theThe leaders and members of the bar in Ekiti received and played host to the quintessential Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN.
“It was a day of pomp, pageantry and encomiums as Lawyers played host to the frontline candidate for the Presidency of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN. With several pre-visit stop-overs at Ile-Ife in Osun State for a consultative visit after stop-overs at Oyo and Abeokuta, his arrival at the venue of the packed “Ekiti Lawyers Hangout with Afam” at about 7pm was greeted with screams and shouts of joy by jubilant friends of Afam.
“In his remarks, his successful tenure as Abuja Branch Chairman and General Secretary of NBA set the tone for the expression of his intention to lead the Nigerian Bar Association.
“He highlighted his intention to ensure adequate protection for lawyers from security agencies, give lawyers a Bar to be proud of, extricate the Bar from the grip of political office holders, and thereby regain the lost voice of the bar while not necessarily constituting the bar into an opposition party to the Nigerian government. He stated further that the welfare of lawyers is a priority for him and that no branch would be left behind by his administration.
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“The hangout that lasted for hours witnessed a lot of dancing, dining, wining, consultation and relaxation after a hectic Monday work.
“The gathering was made up of not less than a hundred lawyers from Ikere-Ekiti, Ikole-Ekiti and Ado-Ekiti Branches of NBA led by the three Chairmen and not less than two past chairmen each from the branches. The unanimous adoption of the learned silk by members in attendance did not come as a surprise as most senior lawyers expressed that their relationship dated back to law school, his tenure as the National General Secretary and his numerous support and visit to Ekiti Bar.
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The young lawyers speaking through their representatives observed that even though they didn’t know him while he was General Secretary (GS), but his giant strides as GS of Alegeh Administration resonates with them as they can vote in elections due to the universal suffrage and they have distinguishing stamps that were both overseen and executed by his office at the national Secretariat and above all, his annual support towards the YLF/Obafemi Adewale Colloquium since it was instituted in 2018 where he was declared as a patron.
“The visit attained a climax upon the visit to Aare Afe Babalola, SAN at the White Rock Senate building of Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti. Mazi, a friend of the institution, was received by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Smaranda Olarinde, who led him to the oval office of the veteran lawyer and biggest employer of labour in Ekiti State after the state government.
Aare Afe Babalola declared unequivocally that Afam Osigwe is the next President of the Nigerian Bar Association and reiterated that the Bar must strive at all times to restore the hope of the common man in the judiciary through genuine advocacy for the rule of law.
“Mazi Afam Osigwe departed the ancient city of Ado-Ekiti on Tuesday, the 9th of July, 2024, for Ondo town in Ondo State, with many lawyers from Ekiti joining his convoy for the visit to the neighbouring state.”
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