Afam Osigwe, SAN, has been sworn in as the new president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA). He succeeds Yakubu Maikyau.
By Emma Ogbuehi
Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, has been sworn in as the new president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA). He succeeds Yakubu Maikyau.
The ceremony took place in Lagos, marking Osigwe’s commencement as the 32nd President of the NBA.
The new president, formerly the General Secretary of the NBA, got elected to the office by defeating two other contestants.
Osigwe received 20,435 votes, surpassing Tobenna Erojikwe, the Chairman of the NBA Institute of Continuing Legal Education Governing Council, who garnered 10,998 votes (27.19 per cent). Chukwuka Ikwuazom (SAN), the former Chairman of the NBA Lagos Branch, came third with 9,018 votes (22.29 per cent).
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He was declared the winner by the Chairman of the Electoral Committee of the NBA, Oluseun Abimbola, after securing 50.52 per cent of the votes cast.
In his inaugural speech, Osigwe emphasised his commitment to ensuring that the NBA remains a powerful voice in the nation’s democratic process.
“Under my watch, the Nigerian Bar Association will not shy away from holding the federal and state governments accountable. The rule of law must be upheld, and the rights of Nigerians must be protected,” he declared.
Osigwe also expressed his gratitude to the members of the NBA for entrusting him with the leadership of the association.
“I am deeply honoured by this responsibility, and I pledge to work tirelessly to advance the interests of our members and the broader Nigerian society,” he said.
Osigwe graduated from the University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus in 1997 and was called to the Bar in 1999. He began his legal career with Chike Chigbue and Co., Abuja Office in 1999, and left in 2002 to establish his firm, LAW FORTE (Legal Practitioners, Corporate Consultants, and Notary Public).