By Onyewuchi Ojinnaka
The Nigerian Bar Association Section on Public Interest and Development Law, (NBA-SPIDEL) conference held in Ibadan, Oyo State from Sunday May 23 was concluded on Wednesday May 26 with Annual General Meeting (AGM) and election of new officers.
The election which was conducted during the Annual General Meeting of the Section on Wednesday May 26, 2021 at its just-concluded Annual Conference produced former second vice-president of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) Monday Onyekachi Ubani as the new Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association Section on Public Interest and Development Law, (NBA-SPIDEL)
Steve Abah was elected as Vice-chairman while Princess F. Frank Chukwuani emerged as the Secretary.
Others elected are Godfrey Echeho as Publicity Secretary and Funmi Adeogun as Treasurer.
The new leadership is to take over from the current NBA-SPIDEL Chairman, Prof Paul Ananaba (SAN).
The NBA first vice president, John Aikpokpo-Martins was the Chairman of the Electoral Committee while Chisom Onuoha served as the committee’s secretary.
Other members of the electoral committee were: Funmi Adeogun Esquire, Godspower Edoga Esquire, Emeka Eze Esquire, Daniel Asomeji Esquire, Rabiu Ayuba Esquire, Akintayo Akinyemi Esquire, and Umoru Jibrin Esquire.
The new Executive Council members under the leadership of Mr Ubani were sworn in by the pioneer Chairman of the Section, J-K Gadzama, SAN.
Meanwhile, a human rights activist and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Femi Falana has urged the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) to sanction Attorney Generals who encouraged the disobedience of court orders.
Falana spoke during the just concluded NBA-SPIDEL conference held at Jogor Events Centre, Ibadan with the theme: “The Role of Public Interest in Governance in Nigeria”. He stressed that all Attorney Generals that refused to make their governors to obey court judgements should resign.
While speaking on the topic: “Anti-Corruption Model: Asset Declaration, Public Access and Emerging Issues,” the Learned Silk and human rights lawyer suggested that the NBA should also open a register for recording the names of Attorney Generals who disobeyed court orders.
