The outgoing Chairman of Body of Benchers, Chief Olanipeku, SAN, has announced the Appointment of honorary members of the Body and new Life members of the body.
Olanipekun made the announcement in his valedictory speech at the expiration of his tenure as Chairman, Body of Benchers.
Honourable Justice Mary Odili, JSC (Rtd) is now the new Chairman of Body of Benchers while Asiwaju Adegboyega Solomon Awomolo, SAN, becomes the Vice Chairman.
Olanipekun SAN noted that “the appointment of Life Benchers, under section 3 (1) (I) of the Legal Practitioners Act and Honorary Benchers are within the exclusive jurisdiction of the Body of Benchers, if and whenever there are vacancies.
“The Chairman activates the process(es) whenever the need arises,” he said.
“For Life Benchers, nine vacancies existed; for the appointment of Benchers under section 3 (1) (I) of the Legal Practitioners Act, we had two vacancies, while the need to appoint Honourary Benchers could not be overemphasized.
“I have taken the liberty of my position as the Chairman of the Body of Benchers to send nominations to the Appointment Committee to fill the vacancies under the three categories aforementioned, ” Olanipekun said.
The Body of Benchers outgoing Chairman also revealed that the following has been appointed as Life Benchers;
Hon. Justice M. M. Saulawa – Justice, Supreme Court,
Hon. Justice Ali A. B. Gumel, Presiding Justice, Court of Appeal, Gombe, Hon. Justice U. I. Ndukwe, Presiding Justice, Court of Appeal, Enugu, Dr Abdulkarim Kana, Attorney – General, Nasarawa State, Mr. Obafemi Adewale, SAN, Bencher, Mr. Yunus Ustaz Usman, SAN, Bencher, Dr Muiz Banire, OON, SAN, Bencher, Mr. Olusina Sofola, SAN, Bencher and Dr, Garba Usman Tetengi, SAN, mni , Bencher,
Olanipekun also said the Appointment Committee also deliberated on and approved the appointment of Chief Akin Olujinmi, CON, SAN and Chief Kanu Agabi, CON, SAN as Benchers under section 3(1)(l) of the Legal Practitioners Act.
Both Agabi and Olujinmi had at various times served as the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice of Nigeria.
He noted that had all things been equal, both of them would have been Benchers a long time ago.
According to him, the following were also appointed as Honourary Benchers; Chief A. B. Anachebe, SAN, (South-East) -Legal Practitioner, Chief Yomi Aliyu, SAN (South-West), Legal Practitioner, Mr Kemasuode Wodu, SAN, (South-South), Legal Practitioner, Chief Leonard Dan Nzadon (North-East),Legal Practitioner, Mr. J. S. Okutepa, SAN (North-Central), Legal Practitioner, Mrs. Becky Samuel (North-East), Legal Practitioner, Hon. Justice Hussaina Aliyu Ibrahim, (North-West), Judge, Jigawa State High Court, Mr Mohammed Babangida Umar, (North-West), General Counsel of the F.C.T.A., Hon. William Agwadza Atedze, (North-Central) , Code of Conduct Tribunal, Mr Tayo Oyetibo, SAN, (South-West), Legal Practitioner, Mr. Kunle Uthman, (South-West), Legal Practitioner, Chief Arthur Obi-Okafor, SAN, (South-East), Legal Practitioner, Dr. Roland Otaru, SAN, (South-South)- Legal Practitioner. (vitalnewsngr.com)
