By Dayo Benson

THE only female candidate in the just concluded Nigerian Bar Asssociation NBA, presidential election, Mrs Funke Adekoya, SAN has said lawyers should demand  probity and ethical conduct that are in their best interest and hold elected officers accountable to the highest standard.

*Funke Adekoya

Mrs Adekoya who came third in the keenly conducted election stated this in a statement in which she conceeded victory to NBA president-elect, Mr Augustine Alegeh, SAN. According to her,

“To the incoming President, I offer my congratulations. May the Almighty be your guide. Our members have spoken and I bow to their will.  However, we must continue to demand probity, ethical conduct, policies that are in the best interests of lawyers, and hold our officers accountable to the highest standards”

The statement read in part “from the 15th of May, 2014 when the election period officially commenced, I campaigned long and hard, traversing the nooks and crannies of Nigeria, engaging with our esteemed colleagues across the length and breadth of the nation to buy into the vision that we passionately canvassed to raise the Bar.

I sought to restore this profession to its revered and respected status as the voice of the voiceless Nigerian people and the defender of the interests of Nigerian legal practitioners. But it was not to be. Our members have spoken and we have a new president.

Let me give honour to whom it is due and use this opportunity to thank my husband, my sons and my family members who were the pillars behind me; they supported and encouraged me and urged me on. I acknowledge and thank all my many supporters who stood by me and what I stand for, who remained true to their conscience, and who stood up to be counted when it mattered most.

I appreciate your tireless efforts, sacrifices, encouragement and prayers. The kind of unprecedented support in various forms that I have received in the last two months has renewed my faith in humanity.
One colleague supported my campaign by sending me 5 recharge cards, with an apology that she could not afford more.

To all of you, I can only say that I thank you most sincerely and pray that the Almighty God will honour you in due season. You all are the true winners.
In this race, I have had the privilege of meeting colleagues from all over our great nation and cultivated lifelong friendships.