COMMITTEES OF THE BODY OF BENCHERS
The Body of Benchers has both Standing and Adhoc Committees which are usually constituted from time to time. Membership of the Standing Committees lasts for a period of 3 (Three) years commencing from the date of appointment. The tenure of a member could be renewed for further term of three years. With regards to the Screening Committee, the Chairman holds office for a period of 1 (one) year. It is instructive to note that the Vice-Chairman of the Body of Benchers is also the Chairman of the Screening Committee.
While Adhoc Committees are constituted whenever the need arises. An Adhoc Committee, once constituted continues to exist until the purpose for which the Committee was constituted is achieved.
Each Committee has its own terms of reference, with members drawn from both the Bar and Bench as well as putting into consideration the six geopolitical zones of the country.
The Standing Committee are as follows:
- Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee:
The Committee is charged with the duty of considering and determining any case where it is alleged that a person whose name is on the role has misbehaved in his capacity as a legal practitioner or for any other reason be the subject of proceedings under the Legal Practitioners Act.
- Screening Committee:
The Committee is saddled with the screening of applicants to the Bar to ensure that only fit and proper persons were admitted into the Nigerian Bar.
- Ethics and Compliance Committee:
The Committee is responsible amongst other things, for providing the framework for ethical conducts and behaviors of members of the Body of Benchers, particularly during Meetings, Call to Bar ceremonies and such other official engagements by the Body of Benchers.
- Benchers Appointment Committee:
The mandate of the Committee is to advice Chairman of the Body of Benchers on matters pertaining to the appointment of Benchers in various categories. This is to ensure that those to be appointed as Benchers are persons of integrity and will actively participate in the activities of the Body of Benchers.
- Publicity Committee:
The Committee is responsible for the production of the Body of Benchers publications.
- Recruitment, Promotion and Disciplinary Committee:
The Committee is saddled with the primary responsibility of recruiting senior staff for the Body of Benchers. Likewise, the Committee is responsible for considering and approving promotion for eligible staff in the organization as well as disciplining erring staff.
- Mentoring Committee:
The mandate of the Committee is to provide the framework for developing a mentoring programme for young lawyers.
Adhoc Committees are as follows:
- Finance Committee
- Building Committee
SCREENING COMMITTEE
Chairman
- Chief Wole Olanipekun, OFR, SAN
Chairman, Body of Benchers, Life Bencher
Secretary
- Daniel M. Tela, Esq
Members
- Justice B. S. Bansi, OFR
Life Bencher - Tijjani Inuwa-Dutse, mni
Life Bencher - Chief John A. A. Ochoga
Life Bencher - Ibrahim E. Mark, Esq
Life Bencher - Mrs. H. A. Turaki
Life Bencher - Murtal Aliyu Kankia, Esq
Life Bencher - Hon. Justice Fati L. Abubakar, CON
Life Bencher - Dr. Chuka Agbu, SAN
Life Bencher - Yunus Ustaz Usman, SAN
Representative, Nigerian Bar Association - Obafemi Adewale, SAN
Representative, Nigerian Bar Association
LEGAL PRACTITIONERS DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE
Chairman
- Hon. Justice Dr. Ishaq Bello
Life Bencher
- Hon. Justice Dr. Ishaq Bello
Secretary
- Daniel M. Tela, Esq
Members
- Justice M. B. Dongban-Mensem –
President, Court of Appeal – Life Bencher - Ahmed Mustapha Goniri, Esq
Life Bencher - Ebenezer Obeya, Esq
Life Bencher - Suleiman Usman, SAN
Hon. Attorney General, Sokoto State – Life Bencher - Hon. Justice Rabi Umar
Chief Judge, Bauchi State – Life Bencher - Hon. Justice Aisha Bashir Aliyu
Chief Judge, Nasarawa State - Dr. Mary Obianuju Nwogu
Hon. Attorney General, Anambra State - Mrs. F. Boma Ayomide Alabi, OON, SAN
Representative, Nigerian Bar Association
FINANCE COMMITTEE
Chairman
- Mr. Ibrahim Sanni Muhammad, SAN
Life Bencher
Secretary
- Daniel M. Tela, Esq
Members
- Sir G. Ofodile Okafor, OON, SAN
Life Bencher - Mrs. H. A. Turaki
Life Bencher - Prince Lateef O. Fagbemi, SAN
Life Bencher - Hon. Justice Dr. Ishaq Bello
Life Bencher - Hon. Justice S. D. Kawu
Chief Judge, Kwara State – Life Bencher
PUBLICITY COMMITTEE
Chairman
- Sir G. Ofodile Okafor, OON, SAN
Life Bencher
Secretary
- Daniel M. Tela, Esq
Members
- Mr. Augustine Alegeh, SAN
Life Bencher - Hon. Justice J. Y. Tuktur
Life Bencher - Mrs. H. A. Turaki
Life Bencher - Ahmed Usman El-Marzuq, Esq
Hon. Attorney General, Katsina State – Life Bencher - Chief Ferdinand Orbih, SAN
Life Bencher - George Etomi, Esq
Life Bencher - Hon. Justice A. A. B. Gumel
Presiding Justice, Court of Appeal, Sokoto - Hon. Justice M. S. Ambursa
Chief Judge Kebbi State
ETHICS AND COMPLIANCE COMMITTEE
Chairman
- Chief R. A. Lawal-Rabana, SAN
Life Bencher
Secretary
- Daniel M. Tela, Esq
Members
- Hon. Justice Kate Abiri, CON
Chief Judge, Bayelsa State – Life Bencher - Mr. Umeh Kalu, SAN
Life Bencher - Mr. Tajudeen O. Oladoja, Esq
Life Bencher - Mr. Joe Abrahams, SAN
Life Bencher - Lady Debbie Obodoukwu
Life Bencher - H. A. Turaki
Life Bencher - Hon. Justice O. Omoleye
Presiding Justice, Court of Appeal, Benin – Life Bencher - Hon. Justice Nura S. Umar
Chief Judge, Kano State - Michael Opeyemi Bamidele
Bencher - Dr. Muiz Banire, SAN
Representative, Nigerian Bar Association
BENCHERS APPOINTMENT COMMITTEE
Chairman
- Hon. Justice Umar F. Abdullahi, CON
Life Bencher
Secretary
- Daniel M. Tela, Esq
Members
- Chief Albert Akpomudje, SAN
Life Bencher - Hon. Justice M. Peter Odili, CFR
Justice, Supreme Court, Life Bencher - Ahmed Mustapher Goniri, Esq
Life Bencher - Ichie L. M. E. Ezeofor
Life Bencher - Hon. Justice R. C. Agbo
Presiding Justice, Court of Appeal, Owerri, Life Bencher - Hon. Edward G. Pwajok, SAN
Life Bencher - Mr. Akin Osinbajo, SAN
Life Bencher - Mr. Sani Garun Gabas, SAN
Life Bencher - Mrs. H. A. Turaki
Life Bencher - Hon. Justice Oyebola A. Ojo
Chief Judge, Osun State – Life Bencher - Hon. Justice S. U. Dikko
Life Bencher
MENTORING COMMITTEE
Chairman
- Chief J-K Gadzama, OFR, SAN
Life Bencher
Secretary
- Daniel M. Tela, Esq
Members
- Mr. Kamaldeen Ajibade, SAN
Life Bencher - Prof. Ogugua V. C. Ikpeze
Life Bencher - Mrs. H. A. Turaki
Life Bencher - Hon. Justice H. M. Ogunwunmiju
Justice, Supreme Court – Life Bencher - Kaka Shehu Lawan, Esq
Hon. Attorney General, Borno State – Life Bencher - A. K. Jingi, Esq
Hon. Attorney General, Adamawa State - Dr. T. C. Osanakpo, SAN
Life Bencher - Mr. Obafemi Adewale, SAN
Representative, Nigerian Bar Association - Prof. Mamman Lawan Yusufari, SAN
Representative, Nigerian Bar Association
RECRUITMENT COMMITTEE
Chairman
- Hon. Justice Umaru Eri, CON
Life Bencher
Secretary
- Daniel M. Tela, Esq
Members
- Chief A. S. Awomolo, SAN
Life Bencher - Hon. Justice A. N. Nwankwo, CON
Life Bencher - Hon. Justice A. G. Mshelia
Life Bencher - Chief Charles Uwensuyi-Edosomwan, SAN
Life Bencher - Mrs. H. A. Turaki
Life Bencher - S. Ibrahim Tahir, Esq
Life Bencher - Mr. D. D. Dodo, OFR, SAN
Life Bencher - Hon. Justice M. L. Abimbola
Chief Judge, Oyo State – Life Bencher - Mr. Uwenmedimo Nwoko, SAN
Life Bencher - Hon. Justice Saidu Sifawa
Chief Judge, Sokoto State - Hon. Justice Muhammadu Lawal Bello
Chief Judge, Kaduna State - Dr. Abdulkarim Kana
Hon. Attorney General, Nasarawa State
SPECIAL DUTIES COMMITTEE
Chairman
- Hon. Justice Ishaq Bello
Life Bencher
Secretary
- Daniel M. Tela, Esq
Member
- Hon. Justice M. B. Dongban-Mensem
President, Court of Appeal – Life Bencher - Mr. Charles Ajuyah, SAN
Life Bencher - Mr. Akin Osinbajo, SAN
Life Bencher - Ibrahim Eddy Mark, Esq
Life Bencher - Mrs. H. A. Turaki
Life Bencher - Hon. Onofiof A. Luke
Bencher - Hon. Uche C. Ihediwa, Esq
Hon. Attorney General, Abia State - Dr. Garba Tentegi, SAN
Representative, Nigerian Bar Association - Mr. Paul Usoro, SAN
Representative, Nigerian Bar Association
BUILDING COMMITTEE
Chairman
- Mrs. H. A. Balogun, OON
Life Bencher
Secretary
- Daniel M. Tela, Esq
Member
- Hon. Justice Umaru Abdullahi, CON
Past Chairman – Life Bencher - Hon. Justice R. H. Cudjoe, OFR
Life Bencher - Chief B. A. Olaogun
Life Bencher - Hon. Justice J. O. Ogebe, CON
Life Bencher - Hon. Justice L. H. Gummi, OFR
Life Bencher - Mr. R. A. Lawal-Rabana, SAN
Life Bencher - Hon. Justice Suleiman Galadima, CON
Life Bencher - Chief Bayo Ojo, CON, SAN
Life Bencher - Mrs. H. A. Turaki
Life Bencher