NBA PRESIDENT-ELECT, OLUMIDE AKPATA EULOGISES LATE AGUMA AT MEMORIAL LECTURE, SAYS HE WAS A MAN OF CANDOUR
The NBA President-Elect Olumide Akpata has described the Late Emmanuel Chinwewo Aguma, SAN, former Attorney General of Rivers State as a man of refreshing frankness and candour who did not hesitate to speak the truth in any situation.
Mr. Akpata who was a Special Guest at the 3rd Emmanuel Chinwewo Aguma Memorial Lecture which was held on the 10th of August 2020 at the Nyesom Wike Auditorium of the Nigerian Bar Association Port Harcourt Branch House in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, noted that “The late Learned Silk was a fantastic lawyer and administrator and one who approached issues with utmost frankness and candour. There was no pretense about him, rather he was very straightforward in his dealings. If he were alive today, he would not hold back in speaking out, in his characteristic forthright manner, against the issues plaguing the legal profession, the NBA and the nation as a whole.”
Akpata went on to state that “I considered myself privileged to call the late Chinwewo Aguma, SAN my friend and brother during his lifetime, which is why even though I could have opted to attend this event virtually, I decided to make a physical appearance here today out of the deep respect I had for him and also to honour his memory which I greatly cherish”.
Mr. Akpata concluded his remarks by stating that in piloting with affairs of the NBA, he will strive emulate the positive attributes of the late Aguma. He said “I have no doubt that in dealing with the affairs of the legal profession and the NBA, particularly during the period that I have been elected to serve as President the our Association, I shall strive to emulate the candor and frankness of my late friend and brother. For me, this would be an auspicious way of keeping his memory alive.”
The 3rd Emmanuel Chinwewo Aguma Lecture which had the theme “The Integrity of the Nigerian Bar Association: Emerging Issues and Impact on the Legal Profession” was chaired by The Honourable Justice Adolphus Enebeli and
the Governor of Rivers State, His Excellency, Nyesom Wike, CON, who was represented by the Attorney General of the State, Prof. Zacchaeus Adangor was the Special Guest of Honour.
Other guests at the event included the wife of the Governor of Rivers State, Honourable Justice Eberechi Wike and three Past Presidents of the NBA Chief O.C.J. Okocha, SAN, J.B. Daudu SAN and Okey Wali, SAN amongst many others.
The late Emmanuel Chinwenwo Aguma, SAN who passed away on 10 August 2018 was until his death the Attorney General of Rivers State. He was also an active member of the NBA and served the Association in many capacities including as Secretary of the Port Harcourt Branch from 2000 to 2002 and Chairman of the Branch from 2006 to 2008. He was conferred with the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria in 2015.
Picture Gallery from Memorial Lecture:
