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:

  1. 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.

  1. 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.

  1. 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.

  1. 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.

  1. Publicity Committee:

The Committee is responsible for the production of the Body of Benchers publications.

  1. 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.

  1. 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:

  1. Finance Committee
  2. Building Committee

 

SCREENING COMMITTEE

Chairman

  1. Chief Wole Olanipekun, OFR, SAN
    Chairman, Body of Benchers, Life Bencher

Secretary

  1. Daniel M. Tela, Esq 

Members

  1. Justice B. S. Bansi, OFR 
    Life Bencher
  2. Tijjani Inuwa-Dutse, mni
    Life Bencher
  3. Chief John A. A. Ochoga
    Life Bencher
  4. Ibrahim E. Mark, Esq
    Life Bencher
  5. Mrs. H. A. Turaki
    Life Bencher 
  6. Murtal Aliyu Kankia, Esq
    Life Bencher
  7. Hon. Justice Fati L. Abubakar, CON
    Life Bencher 
  8. Dr. Chuka Agbu, SAN
    Life Bencher
  9. Yunus Ustaz Usman, SAN
    Representative, Nigerian Bar Association
  10. Obafemi Adewale, SAN
    Representative, Nigerian Bar Association

LEGAL PRACTITIONERS DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE

Chairman

    1. Hon. Justice Dr. Ishaq Bello
      Life Bencher

Secretary

  1. Daniel M. Tela, Esq

Members

  1. Justice M. B. Dongban-Mensem –                       
    President, Court of Appeal – Life Bencher
  2. Ahmed Mustapha Goniri, Esq
    Life Bencher
  3. Ebenezer Obeya, Esq
    Life Bencher
  4. Suleiman Usman, SAN
    Hon. Attorney General, Sokoto State – Life Bencher
  5. Hon. Justice Rabi Umar
    Chief Judge, Bauchi State – Life Bencher
  6. Hon. Justice Aisha Bashir Aliyu
    Chief Judge, Nasarawa State
  7. Dr. Mary Obianuju Nwogu
    Hon. Attorney General, Anambra State
  8. Mrs. F. Boma Ayomide Alabi, OON, SAN
    Representative, Nigerian Bar Association

 

FINANCE COMMITTEE

Chairman

  1. Mr. Ibrahim Sanni Muhammad, SAN
    Life Bencher

Secretary

  1. Daniel M. Tela, Esq 

Members

  1. Sir G. Ofodile Okafor, OON, SAN 
    Life Bencher
  2. Mrs. H. A. Turaki
    Life Bencher
  3. Prince Lateef O. Fagbemi, SAN
    Life Bencher
  4. Hon. Justice Dr. Ishaq Bello
    Life Bencher
  5. Hon. Justice S. D. Kawu
    Chief Judge, Kwara State – Life Bencher

PUBLICITY COMMITTEE

Chairman

  1. Sir G. Ofodile Okafor, OON, SAN                     
    Life Bencher

Secretary

  1. Daniel M. Tela, Esq

Members

  1. Mr. Augustine Alegeh, SAN
    Life Bencher
  2. Hon. Justice J. Y. Tuktur
    Life Bencher
  3. Mrs. H. A. Turaki
    Life Bencher
  4. Ahmed Usman El-Marzuq, Esq
    Hon. Attorney General, Katsina State – Life Bencher
  5. Chief Ferdinand Orbih, SAN
    Life Bencher
  6. George Etomi, Esq
    Life Bencher
  7. Hon. Justice A. A. B. Gumel
    Presiding Justice, Court of Appeal, Sokoto
  8. Hon. Justice M. S. Ambursa
    Chief Judge Kebbi State 

ETHICS AND COMPLIANCE COMMITTEE

Chairman

  1. Chief R. A. Lawal-Rabana, SAN 
    Life Bencher

Secretary

  1. Daniel M. Tela, Esq 

Members

  1. Hon. Justice Kate Abiri, CON 
    Chief Judge, Bayelsa State – Life Bencher
  2. Mr. Umeh Kalu, SAN
    Life Bencher
  3. Mr. Tajudeen O. Oladoja, Esq
    Life Bencher
  4. Mr. Joe Abrahams, SAN
    Life Bencher
  5. Lady Debbie Obodoukwu
    Life Bencher
  6. H. A. Turaki
    Life Bencher
  7. Hon. Justice O. Omoleye
    Presiding Justice, Court of Appeal, Benin – Life Bencher
  8. Hon. Justice Nura S. Umar
    Chief Judge, Kano State
  9. Michael Opeyemi Bamidele
    Bencher
  10. Dr. Muiz Banire, SAN
    Representative, Nigerian Bar Association

BENCHERS APPOINTMENT COMMITTEE

Chairman

  1. Hon. Justice Umar F. Abdullahi, CON
    Life Bencher

Secretary

  1. Daniel M. Tela, Esq 

Members

  1. Chief Albert Akpomudje, SAN
    Life Bencher
  2. Hon. Justice M. Peter Odili, CFR
    Justice, Supreme Court, Life Bencher
  3. Ahmed Mustapher Goniri, Esq
    Life Bencher
  4. Ichie L. M. E. Ezeofor
    Life Bencher
  5. Hon. Justice R. C. Agbo
    Presiding Justice, Court of Appeal, Owerri, Life Bencher
  6. Hon. Edward G. Pwajok, SAN
    Life Bencher
  7. Mr. Akin Osinbajo, SAN
    Life Bencher
  8. Mr. Sani Garun Gabas, SAN
    Life Bencher
  9. Mrs. H. A. Turaki
    Life Bencher
  10. Hon. Justice Oyebola A. Ojo
    Chief Judge, Osun State – Life Bencher
  11. Hon. Justice S. U. Dikko
    Life Bencher

MENTORING COMMITTEE

Chairman

  1. Chief J-K Gadzama, OFR, SAN
    Life Bencher

Secretary

  1. Daniel M. Tela, Esq 

Members

  1. Mr. Kamaldeen Ajibade, SAN
    Life Bencher
  2. Prof. Ogugua V. C. Ikpeze
    Life Bencher
  3. Mrs. H. A. Turaki
    Life Bencher
  4. Hon. Justice H. M. Ogunwunmiju
    Justice, Supreme Court – Life Bencher
  5. Kaka Shehu Lawan, Esq
    Hon. Attorney General, Borno State – Life Bencher
  6. A. K. Jingi, Esq
    Hon. Attorney General, Adamawa State
  7. Dr. T. C. Osanakpo, SAN
    Life Bencher
  8. Mr. Obafemi Adewale, SAN
    Representative, Nigerian Bar Association
  9. Prof. Mamman Lawan Yusufari, SAN
    Representative, Nigerian Bar Association

RECRUITMENT COMMITTEE

Chairman

  1. Hon. Justice Umaru Eri, CON
    Life Bencher

Secretary

  1. Daniel M. Tela, Esq

Members

  1. Chief A. S. Awomolo, SAN
    Life Bencher
  2. Hon. Justice A. N. Nwankwo, CON
    Life Bencher
  3. Hon. Justice A. G. Mshelia
    Life Bencher
  4. Chief Charles Uwensuyi-Edosomwan, SAN
    Life Bencher
  5. Mrs. H. A. Turaki
    Life Bencher
  6. S. Ibrahim Tahir, Esq
    Life Bencher
  7. Mr. D. D. Dodo, OFR, SAN
    Life Bencher
  8. Hon. Justice M. L. Abimbola
    Chief Judge, Oyo State – Life Bencher
  9. Mr. Uwenmedimo Nwoko, SAN
    Life Bencher
  10. Hon. Justice Saidu Sifawa
    Chief Judge, Sokoto State
  11. Hon. Justice Muhammadu Lawal Bello
    Chief Judge, Kaduna State
  12. Dr. Abdulkarim Kana
    Hon. Attorney General, Nasarawa State 

SPECIAL DUTIES COMMITTEE

Chairman

  1. Hon. Justice Ishaq Bello
    Life Bencher

Secretary

  1. Daniel M. Tela, Esq 

Member

  1. Hon. Justice M. B. Dongban-Mensem
    President, Court of Appeal – Life Bencher
  2. Mr. Charles Ajuyah, SAN
    Life Bencher
  3. Mr. Akin Osinbajo, SAN
    Life Bencher
  4. Ibrahim Eddy Mark, Esq
    Life Bencher
  5. Mrs. H. A. Turaki
    Life Bencher
  6. Hon. Onofiof A. Luke
    Bencher
  7. Hon. Uche C. Ihediwa, Esq
    Hon. Attorney General, Abia State
  8. Dr. Garba Tentegi, SAN
    Representative, Nigerian Bar Association
  9. Mr. Paul Usoro, SAN
    Representative, Nigerian Bar Association

BUILDING COMMITTEE

Chairman

  1. Mrs. H. A. Balogun, OON
    Life Bencher

Secretary

  1. Daniel M. Tela, Esq 

Member

  1. Hon. Justice Umaru Abdullahi, CON
    Past Chairman – Life Bencher
  2. Hon. Justice R. H. Cudjoe, OFR
    Life Bencher
  3. Chief B. A. Olaogun
    Life Bencher
  4. Hon. Justice J. O. Ogebe, CON
    Life Bencher
  5. Hon. Justice L. H. Gummi, OFR
    Life Bencher
  6. Mr. R. A. Lawal-Rabana, SAN
    Life Bencher
  7. Hon. Justice Suleiman Galadima, CON
    Life Bencher
  8. Chief Bayo Ojo, CON, SAN
    Life Bencher
  9. Mrs. H. A. Turaki
    Life Bencher