By Dayo Johnson

With barely four days to the much awaited Nigerian Bar Association NBA election, candidates have been perfecting plans to win highest number of delegates’ votes .

Apart from the botched 1992 conference that sent NBA into limbo for six years before it was revived in 1998, the association’s election, especially its presidency has not generated much interest as this one. It is the first time that four senior advocates are vying for topmost slot of the NBA.

*Mr Augustine Alegeh (SAN) . Photo: Dayo Benson.

Contrary to pundits prediction, none of the four namely Mrs Funke Adekoya SAN, Mr Niyi Akintola SAN, Mr Dele Adesina SAN and Mr Augustine Alegeh SAN has stepped down. Rather, they have been criss-crossing thecountry since the ban on campaign was lifted at the last quarterly National Executive Council NEC meeting of the association.

As the candidates intensified their campaigns ahead of the poll slated for July 14 and 15 in Abuja, stakeholders have put their fingers on some of the issues that may shape the election. One of such is gender issue as the NBA affair is male dominated. Apart from Mrs Pricillia Kuye, who completed the tenure of late Mr Clement Akpamgbon SAN, no woman has been elected NBA president. Another issue that may play a role is seniority at the bar but it is uncertain whether delegates will be swayed by this sentiment.

Since a lawyer is expected to be fit and proper in learning and character, the one that would lead the bar must be above board especially in integrity. Hence good character rating at the Bar will be at the back of delegates’ minds while casting their votes.

The financial muscle of contestants is also likely to be a factor. Given the number of existing branches all over the country, it is on record that this is perhaps the most expensive NBA election campaign as candidates have been visiting the different states. It is not known how far government endorsement will go in deciding the election outcome, but a candidate that enjoys federal government’s backing stands a better chance when the chips are down.

Beyond these factors, who are these contestants and what do they intend to offer NBA?

Mrs. Funke Adekoya SAN:
Popularly called mama by her admirers, she is the only female among the four. She had a shot at the NBA presidency in 2006. Mrs Adekoya believes she has what it takes to lead the association considering her experience.

She obtained a Bachelor of Laws degree from the then University of Ife, Ile-Ife in June 1974 graduating with a 2nd Class Honours, Upper degree coming top of her class. She was called to the Bar in June 1975. She was appointed a Senior Advocate in 2001. She also obtained a Master of Laws degree from the prestigious Harvard Law School, Boston Massachusetts, USA.

She qualified as a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, United Kingdom in 2000 and a Chartered Arbitrator in 2006. In 2004, she re-qualified as a Solicitor of the Supreme Court of England and Wales, and was entered on the Roll of Solicitors of the United Kingdom in July 2004. She has maintained a practicing license in the United Kingdom every year till date.

A consummate Bar activist, Mrs. Adekoya has served the profession in various capacities both at domestic and international levels. In Nigeria she commenced her service to the NBA in 1979; she was then only 4 years at the Bar. It was then that she was co-opted into the National Executive Committee as the first National Assistant Secretary of the NBA when the then incumbent was appointed as a High Court Judge.

Elected NBA National Treasurer between 1990 and 1991, Mrs. Adekoya acquitted herself excellently and won a hotly contested election for a second term. Since 1998 when the NBA was revived as a national Association, She has been called upon by each succeeding NBA President to serve the association gratis.

Accordingly, aside from being elected NBA 1st Vice President in 2002, Mrs. Adekoya has variously been a Member of the NBA National Judiciary Committee, Bye-Laws Committee for NBA Sections, and Committee for the Review of Proposed Amendments to the Legal Practitioners Act.

She has also been Chair of various NBA committees, including the NBA National Human Rights Committee, Stakeholders Conference Committee on State of the Legal Profession, Section of Legal Practice, CLE’s Legal Education Review Committee, and 2009 and 2010 Conference Planning Committees. Currently the Chair ofNBA Branch Capacity Building Committee and Co-Counsel for the NBA in the SCUML Case, Mrs. Adekoya spearheaded the advocacy for the use of stamps and seals by all lawyers practicing in Nigeria.

Niyi Akintola SAN:
A delegate at the on-going national conference representing Oyo State ,is a familiar name in the rank of the silks. A core litigation lawyer, he described himself as one of the few senior lawyers who has traversed the entire 36 states of the federation practising his profession. This feat, he says makes him eminently qualified to be the next Nigeria Bar Association president.

A product of University of Ibadan, Chief Akintola became a senior Advocate in 2001 after 14 years at the bar.Better known as one of the king makers in NBA politics, speaking on his ambition to lead the bar, he said  “ Right from the word go when I became a lawyer, I picked interest in the affairs of my profession. My local branch can testify to that.  I served in my capacity as an executive and I even rose to the position of vice chairman, and at the nick of time I became the substantive chairman . Beyond that after the Port Harcourt debacle, I was one of those who midwifed the coming back of the bar, as a conference of chairmen and secretaries . I have been participating in the bar activities favourably.

As a stakeholder, I know what has been happening at the bar. I know the inner workings of the bar and I have been a good follower of my seniors who brought the bar back from its comatose together with our elders.  So we feel that if our leaders have played their parts successfully, nature demands that we too who have been following them can take after them.  We cannot just be there as onlookers.

The drive to contest really is the pathetic state of the junior at the bar.  You know, I’m a core litigation lawyer. I have seen it all. I practice across the 36 states of the federation.  At the risk of being immodest, I think all of us, the four contestants that have shown interest, are eminently qualified to contest for the post of NBA President.  But I think that I am the only one that can say I know the terrain of the country. I’m not just there because of the course of election.   I know where the shoe pinches people in the profession”.

Dele Adesina SAN:
Former general secretary of the NBA during the administration of Chief Wole Olanipekun SAN, Adesina describes himself as an active bar man.He has participated in various NBA activities including its crisis period.A fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, Adesina was called to the bar in 1982. He was elevated to the inner bar in October, 2007.

Speaking on his contributions to the bar, he said  “I have played some roles which have clearly led to change.After I was called to the bar in 1982, by 1984 I was already active in the affairs of Ikeja branch, by 1986 I was the publicity secretary. From there, in  1989 I was secretary of the branch. I became the NEC rep in 1989 and 1991, in 1998 – 2000 chairman of the branch. 2002 – 2004, the general secretary of the bar at the national level and from 1987 I have been a factor at every NBA presidential campaign. There is no election that I have not been involved”.

Adeshina who has been a life member of body of benchers since 2012 is also former member ,  legal aid council , 2002 – 2004. Former member, council of International Bar Association, and member Ekiti state judicial service commission, 2012 till date.

His  9-point Agenda for the NBA include good governance, welfare of lawyers, capacity building/economic empowerment,efficient justice delivery and professional discipline / enthronement of high ethical standard.

Augustine Alegeh, SAN:
The youngest among the four silks , Alegeh who turns 50, August 10, is coming to the election with the full endorsement of the mid-west bar forum. He is a 1985 graduate of University of Benin. He was called to the Bar in 1986 with Second Class Upper Division .
He was elevated to the rank of Senior Advocate in 2007.

He was Chairman, Database Committee of the NBA, 2010 – 2014. Chairman, NBA Election Petition Review Workshop, Alternate Chairman ,Technical Committee on Conference Planning, 2012, Member, NBA House Fund Raising Committee, Member , NBA National Executive Committee, 2010 – 2012 and Member, NBA National Executive Committee, 2012 – 2014. If elected president, Alegeh promised to Refocus on the welfare of members, reform the secretariat, organs and operations of NBA, continuing legal education, discipline and reinvigorate public confidence in the Association.

Speaking on his agenda, he said “I have put forward different programmes. I propose to institute an insurance policy for lawyers from our bar practicing fees. The policy would be flexible to meet the needs of lawyers. It would be a choice based policy where each member would be able to opt for the policy that meets his peculiar expectations.

I propose to increase the share of branches from bar practicing fees from the present 10% to 20%. It is a constitutional matter and I intend to seek an amendment to the NBA Constitution to achieve this proposal. The proposal would also have a tied on proposal to allow remittance of BPF share to branches by direct debit via a standing order from the BPF account.

I intend to seek constitutional amendment to enable us have electronic voting at our NBA National elections with the hope that same will eventually apply to NBA branches.
My definite promise is to have reduced affordable conferences fees. “
For the four contestants, the die is cast.