NBA Elections’ Outcome: The Winners and Losers

Related stories

Nigerian Newspaper Proprietors Hail FCCPC’s $220m Fine On Meta

By Kolawole Ojebisi The Newspaper Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria has...

Shettima Jets Out, Heads to Gabon for President-Elect’s Inauguration

By Abiola Olawale Vice President Kashim Shettima departed Abuja on...

[VIDEO] Wike Reacts As Rivers Women Stage Walkout On Ibas’ Wife

Says Fubara Sponsored The walkout To Embrass Tinubu’s...

Natasha Faults Activist’s Claims, Says “Recorded Calls Not from Me”

By Kolawole Ojebisi The suspended lawmaker representing Kogi Central, Senator...

It is no longer news that Mr. Olumide Akpata, a young Nigerian lawyer has emerged winner of the presidency of the Nigerian Bar Association’s (NBA) national elections after defeating two of his rivals and fellow contestants who are Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs). 

His historic victory has ushered in a new vista in the history of the body of legal practitioners. He enjoys a towering following among the ranks of young lawyers and endorsements from prominent Nigerians.

The New Diplomat in this exclusive report takes a look at the winners and losers of the first of its kind election.nigerian bar elections

Read also: NBA Elections: Akpata, First Non-SAN Floors 2 SANS, Wins Landslide

The Winners

“Yesterday, we made history, and today, I want to thank each and every one of you who supported me and who was part of this process. I want to salute my entire team who worked tirelessly to make this a reality, sacrificing precious time to deliver our mandate” Olumide Akpata.

Perhaps, the above statement describes the enormity and how historic the victory is. The biggest testament of his popularity is evident in the landslide victory he recorded at the election. His total votes are more than that of the other two candidates put together.

The widespread endorsement of his candidature is also evident is the outpouring of goodwill messages that has trailed his candidature.

One of such is from Kingsley Chiedu Moghalu, a former Central Bank of Nigeria,C Deputy Governor and Presidential candidate at the last general elections. He labeled the election of Akpata as a victory for the rule of law in Nigeria.

“I congratulate Olumide Akpata on his election as President of the Nigerian Bar Association. Proud to have endorsed his candidacy. Great job by the young lawyers and others who backed him. NBA needs to truly stand up for justice and the rule of law in our troubled country” he wrote.

On his part, Dr. Joe Abah expressed his satisfaction with the election of Akpata and pledged his continued support.

Read also: How Nigerian Law School Paid N32m Into Account Of Cleaner In 12 Months

“Congratulations, my brother Olumide Akpata on your election as NBA President. Please celebrate tonight because there’s a lot of work ahead. The noble profession can be a real force for change in this country. You can count on my continuing support’ he wrote on Twitter.

Similarly, Ayo Sogunro, a prominent lawyer and social advocate described the election of Akpata as a radical paradigm shift.

‘The victory of Akpata means a radical paradigm shift; the end of the Iron Reign of Senior Advocates of Nigeria SANs; and an NBA whose president is not a tool of the political elite” he wrote.

Olumide Akpata was born on 7 October 1972 into the famous Akpata family. He schooled at the famous King’s College in Lagos and was subsequently called to the Nigerian bar on 15 December 1993 following the acquisition of his LLB degree from the University of Benin in 1992.

Young Olu began his legal career at the Law firm of late Dr. Mudiaga Odje (SAN) while he was serving his mandatory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC). Upon completion of his NYSC, youthful Akpata enlisted in the Law firm known as Templars.

It is on record that Olumide Akpata has spent well over twenty years with Templars. In recognition of his exemplary expertise, team-work, and hard work, he was made Senior Partner and Head of the Corporate and Commercial Department at Templars. Olu’s area of specialty includes Nigerian Corporate and Commercial Law, Mergers and Acquisitions, Capital Markets, Corporate Law, Labour and Employment, Media entertainment, technology, regulatory compliance, among others.

Akpata has been Secretary of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Business Law (SBL) section council since 2012. He was later elected as the Vice-chairman in August 2014, and then the substantive Chairman in 2016.

Akpata who is also the Vice-Chair (West-Africa) of the International Bar Association’s Africa Regional Forum comes to his new role with great dynamism, youthful energy, expertise, knowledge, and great foresight.

Young Lawyers Who Are Concerned About The Old Order

The victory of Akpata is seen as a victory for the growing ranks of young lawyers who feel concerned about what they regard as the monopolistic politics of the NBA by the ranks of Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN).

A trip to the social media will give a clear picture of the discontent of many young lawyers and this is evident in the widespread celebration that greeted the news of Akpata’s victory.

A young Nigerian lawyer simply identified as Joseph the Dreamer expressed his joy at the election of Akpata and could not wait for the reforms to start.

“So glad that Olumide Akpata won the NBA election!!! Young Lawyers have made their voices heard, the first step of reforms have begun” he wrote.

Ike Agụata, a young lawyer expressed his gratitude for the emergence of Akpata.

“Young Nigerian lawyers have Augustine Allegeh (SAN) to be eternally gratefully to. Without him, the Akpata story of today would never have happened. 

His introduction of ‘Universal Suffrage’ in NBA election as against ‘Electoral College’ obtainable before, made this a reality.

Another user identified as NEFERTITI described Akpata’s election as a departure from the norm.

“Olumide Akpata is a young, vibrant, far departure from the norm. The old guards should take back seats and allow young lawyers to steer the sinking ship’ she wrote.

The Losers

For every election, there are bound to be the victors and the vanquished. Below are some of the losers. 

The Old Order

The old order in the NBA comprising of Senior Advocates of Nigeria, SAN are opposed to the election of a non-SAN as NBA president, as such, they are the biggest losers in this election.

Prior to the election, Fourteen Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) endorsed Dr. Babatunde Ajibade, (SAN), as their candidate for the position of President of the NBA.

The SANs are Prof. Andrew Chukwuemerie Abiodun Jelili Owonikoko, Segun Ajibola, Rotimi Jacobs, Teslim Olatunde Busari, Dr. Kayode Olatoke, Muiz Banire, Emeka Etiaba, Olasheni Ibiwoye, A. U. Mustapha, Emeka Okpoko, Adeyemi Kamaldeen Ajibade, Essien Andrew, and Olukayode Enitan. In a statement at the time, the SANs said they could “confidently attest” to Dr. Ajibade’s “character, integrity, humility, experience, brilliance, and hard work in the legal profession, which led him to achieve the honor of being the first person to be elevated to the rank of SAN from the 1989 NLS Class.

The SANs, all members of Ajibade’s Class of 1989 Nigerian Law School, said having known him for 30 years, they could vouch for his integrity and competence.

Babatunde Ajibade

He is the Managing Partner of S. P. A. Ajibade & Co. He bagged his LL.B from the Obafemi Awolowo University in 1988 before being called to Bar in 1989. He later attended King’s College, the University of London for his Masters of Laws in Corporate Commercial Law in 1990, and later a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Private International Law from the same institution in 1996.

Ajibade is a council member of the Nigerian Bar Association’s Section on Business Law and is currently the Vice-Chairman of the sub-Committee on Banking, Finance, and Insolvency. He was the Chairman of the Capital Market Solicitors Association between 2011 and 2013. He was also the Vice-Chairman of the Rules & Regulations Sub-committee of the Nigerian Securities and Exchange Commission’s Capital Market Committee from 2008 to 2012.

He was elevated to the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria in December 2007. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies in London, an International Practice Fellow of the International Bar Association, and a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, United Kingdom.

Ajibade has been involved in all aspects of corporate and commercial dispute resolution in Nigeria and has expertise in litigation involving the recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments, banking law, intra-company shareholder disputes, as well as insolvency and insurance litigation. Several of the matters in which he has been involved have come before the highest appellate courts in Nigeria, the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court and are reported in Nigerian Law Reports. Dr. Ajibade also has extensive experience in all aspects of commercial arbitration, both domestic and international, as well as in investment treaty arbitration.

He has extensive experience in corporate commercial practice and company secretarial practice and has been involved in the Nigerian capital market as a solicitor in several public offers of securities as well as in mergers and acquisitions.

Oladele Julius Adesina

Adesina, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN is the Principal Solicitor in Chambers. He graduated from the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University) in 1981.

He was called to the Nigerian Bar as a Solicitor and Advocate of the Supreme Court of Nigeria in July 1982.

Adesina was elevated to the Prestigious Rank of a SAN – the highest recognition of Excellency in the Legal Profession by the Legal Practitioners Privileges Committee on the 30th of October, 2007 at the Supreme Court of Nigeria. He holds a Master of Laws Degree from the University of Lagos specializing in Comparative Company Law, (Commercial and Business Law) Comparative Constitutional Law and Comparative Criminal Law and Procedure.

Mr. Adesina, SAN has practiced law for 37 years and has run the law firm for about 27 years.

Babajide Okeowo
Babajide Okeowohttps://newdiplomatng.com/
With a career spanning over a decade spent across the Business, Political and Entertainment beats of prominent media organizations in Nigeria, Babajide Okeowo has carved a niche for himself as a Journalist of repute. As a newsroom guru, he has penned several weighty narratives and designed content that speak to a news medium's values, vision and mission while ensuring that the content resonate pretty well with a variety of critical audiences across Nigeria and beyond. A consummate storyteller whose coverage of the business industry is valuable, Okeowo is blessed with a vast analytical mind and data interpretation skills. In his spare time, he interprets data for a Leading American University while also volunteering for a Non-Governmental Organization on Mindset Transformation. Okeowo is the Content Editor of The New Diplomat.

Subscribe

- Never miss a story with notifications

- Gain full access to our premium content

- Browse free from up to 5 devices at once

[tds_leads input_placeholder="Your email address" btn_horiz_align="content-horiz-center" pp_msg="SSd2ZSUyMHJlYWQlMjBhbmQlMjBhY2NlcHQlMjB0aGUlMjAlM0NhJTIwaHJlZiUzRCUyMiUyMyUyMiUzRVByaXZhY3klMjBQb2xpY3klM0MlMkZhJTNFLg==" pp_checkbox="yes" tdc_css="eyJhbGwiOnsibWFyZ2luLXRvcCI6IjMwIiwibWFyZ2luLWJvdHRvbSI6IjQwIiwiZGlzcGxheSI6IiJ9LCJwb3J0cmFpdCI6eyJtYXJnaW4tdG9wIjoiMTUiLCJtYXJnaW4tYm90dG9tIjoiMjUiLCJkaXNwbGF5IjoiIn0sInBvcnRyYWl0X21heF93aWR0aCI6MTAxOCwicG9ydHJhaXRfbWluX3dpZHRoIjo3NjgsImxhbmRzY2FwZSI6eyJtYXJnaW4tdG9wIjoiMjAiLCJtYXJnaW4tYm90dG9tIjoiMzAiLCJkaXNwbGF5IjoiIn0sImxhbmRzY2FwZV9tYXhfd2lkdGgiOjExNDAsImxhbmRzY2FwZV9taW5fd2lkdGgiOjEwMTksInBob25lIjp7Im1hcmdpbi10b3AiOiIyMCIsImRpc3BsYXkiOiIifSwicGhvbmVfbWF4X3dpZHRoIjo3Njd9" display="column" gap="eyJhbGwiOiIyMCIsInBvcnRyYWl0IjoiMTAiLCJsYW5kc2NhcGUiOiIxNSJ9" f_msg_font_family="downtown-sans-serif-font_global" f_input_font_family="downtown-sans-serif-font_global" f_btn_font_family="downtown-sans-serif-font_global" f_pp_font_family="downtown-serif-font_global" f_pp_font_size="eyJhbGwiOiIxNSIsInBvcnRyYWl0IjoiMTEifQ==" f_btn_font_weight="700" f_btn_font_size="eyJhbGwiOiIxMyIsInBvcnRyYWl0IjoiMTEifQ==" f_btn_font_transform="uppercase" btn_text="Unlock All" btn_bg="#000000" btn_padd="eyJhbGwiOiIxOCIsImxhbmRzY2FwZSI6IjE0IiwicG9ydHJhaXQiOiIxNCJ9" input_padd="eyJhbGwiOiIxNSIsImxhbmRzY2FwZSI6IjEyIiwicG9ydHJhaXQiOiIxMCJ9" pp_check_color_a="#000000" f_pp_font_weight="600" pp_check_square="#000000" msg_composer="" pp_check_color="rgba(0,0,0,0.56)" msg_succ_radius="0" msg_err_radius="0" input_border="1" f_unsub_font_family="downtown-sans-serif-font_global" f_msg_font_size="eyJhbGwiOiIxMyIsInBvcnRyYWl0IjoiMTIifQ==" f_input_font_size="eyJhbGwiOiIxNCIsInBvcnRyYWl0IjoiMTIifQ==" f_input_font_weight="500" f_msg_font_weight="500" f_unsub_font_weight="500"]

Latest stories

Leave a reply

  • Disqus Comments
Latest News
$220m Fine: Nigeria Risks Facebook, Instagram Deactivation As Meta Threatens To Shut Down AppsNigerian Newspaper Proprietors Hail FCCPC's $220m Fine On MetaShettima Jets Out, Heads to Gabon for President-Elect’s Inauguration[VIDEO] Wike Reacts As Rivers Women Stage Walkout On Ibas' WifeNatasha Faults Activist's Claims, Says "Recorded Calls Not from Me"'PM Modi a tough negotiator': US vice president JD Vance says trade deal with India soonNANS: Prevail On Your Son, Nigeria Not Your Family's Property, Atiku Tells TinubuAfDB President Adesina Raises Concerns Over Nigeria’s GDP Per Capita Plummeting to $824Otti Dismisses Defection Rumour Says I'm Closer To Abuja Than Oborevwori, Okowa, Eno Umo, OthersReactions As Tinubu Okays Degree Programs for Colleges of EducationEl-Rufai Calls for Investigation into Alleged Torture of NANS President by Seyi TinubuSeyi Tinubu Denies Allegations of Bribery, Abduction, and Torture of NANS President, IsahAlleged N71bn Fraud: Drama as ICPC Reverses Self Over NELFUNDRivers NLC Shuns May Day Celebration, Demands Fubara's ReinstatementBaba-Ahmed Opens Up On Real Reason For Resigning From Tinubu's Govt
X whatsapp