Updated: NBA President Akpata Attends Body of Benchers’ Meeting Remotely
The President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Olumide Akpata, was on Tuesday physically absent at the meeting of the Body of Benchers (BOB) held in Abuja.
The meeting, which was held at the Body of Benchers Complex in Jabi, Abuja, was well attended by key stakeholders in the legal profession, including the Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kayode Ariwoola, past Chief Justices of Nigeria – Justice Mahmud Mohammed and Justice Walter Onnoghen.
Also in attendance was Justice Mary Odili (rtd), who doubles as the Vice-Chairman of the Body of Benchers.
Past Presidents of the NBA, including Paul Usoro (SAN), O. C. J. Okocha (SAN), Joseph B. Daudu (SAN), Okey Wali (SAN), Abubakar Mahmud (SAN), amongst several other leaders of the legal profession were present, with some participating virtually.
Tuesday’s meeting was the first meeting of the BOB since Akpata requested the BOB Chairman, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN) to step down over a petition against a lawyer in Olanipekun’s firm.
Sources close to the NBA president informed LAWYARD that whilst the NBA president could not make it to the venue of the meeting, he attended the meeting remotely. The sources could not however confirm why the NBA president attended the meeting virtually and not in person.
Tuesday’s meeting of the BOB was held in furtherance of its traditional preparations for the Call to Bar ceremonies scheduled for Wednesday, among other important issues bordering on the security of the nation particularly as it affects the legal profession.
