NBA Presidency : Time for a paradigm shift(1).

In every association and human endeavour there is always a
pattern, rule, custom, tradition and established modus operandi.
However as times evolve, there may be a need to try something
new.Change is the constant phenomena. The umbrella body of lawyers
is not immune from this vital principle of life.

The Presidency of the NBA has undergone various transitions from
the title of its President to the mode of electing the President.
The history of the Presidency of the Bar qua nomenclature
metamorphosed from “chairman ” to “president”, the election modus
has oscillated between universal suffrage and the delegate
system.

The period of 1900-1959 had leaders of the Bar
designated as chairman. The six leaders of the bar in that era were
:
1. Christopher Sapara Williams(1900-1915).
2.Sir Kitoyi Ajasa (1915-1937).
3.Eric Olawale Moore (1937-1944).
4.E.J.Alex Taylor(1944-1950).
5.Sir Adeyemo Alakija (1950-1952).
6.Jubril Martin (1952-1959).

The common denominator amongst these leaders is that none of
them were SAN prior to leading the Bar. It must be stated however
that the rank of SAN was introduced in Nigeria in 1975.
Worthy of note is that the period of 1960-1992 witnessed the change
of the leadership nomenclature from Chairman to President.

This era had 16 Presidents in all. It was a potpourri. The
Presidents consist of those who never became SAN before emerging as
President, those who were elevated to the inner bar while in office
and those who never became SAN even after leaving office. The
visible handwriting on the wall is that regardless of status any
lawyer can vie for the Bar Presidency.

It was never the exclusive preserve of any group. A distinct
common denominator amongst the Presidents in this era is that they
emanated courtesy of universal suffrage as lawyers who are of good
financial standing via paying their practicing fees and branch dues
voted. They were also lawyers of repute, integrity and that
demonstrated a strong commitment and track record with the NBA and
a respect for the Rule of Law.

The list of the presidents in this era are as follows
:
1.Frederick Rotimi Williams (1960-
1968) took the rank in 1975.
2.Peter Thomas (1968–1969) never took the rank .
3.Chief B.M. Boyo (1969–1970) never took the rank.
4.Chief Richard Akinjide (1970–1973) – took the rank in 1978.
5.Chief Adebayo Ogunsanya (1973–1974) took the rank of SAN in
1980.
6.Dr. Mudiaga Odge (1974–1975) took the rank of SAN in 1978.
7.Dr. Nwakanma Okoro (1976–1978) took the rank of SAN in 1978.
8.Chief B.O. Benson (1978–1980) took the rank of SAN in 1983.
9.Chief Adetunji Fadairo (1980–1982) took the rank of SAN in
1988.
10.A.N. Anyamene (1982–1984) took the rank of SAN in 1982.
11.Prince Bola Ajibola, (1984–1985) took the rank of SAN in
1986.
12.Ebele Nwokoye (1985–1987) never took silk.
13.Alao Aka-Bashorun (1987–1989)- never took the rank.
14.Charles Idehen (1989–1991) never took the rank.
15.Chief Clement Akpamgbo SAN- (1991–1992).
16.Priscilla Kuye (1991–1992) – never took the rank.

The period of 1992-1998 was a dark moment in the history of the
NBA. Between 1992 and 1998 the NBA had no President, functioning
only in branches.The crisis of 1992 traced its birth to the
Military rulership shenanigans. The Bar as a vocal point in the
political firmament were thorns in the flesh of the dictators.

To cow the association the election of that year was infiltrated
by non-lawyers and hence the stalemate in Portharcourt of 1992.

*To be continued *

By Jose Mourinho Ifeanyi Agwuncha

In every association and human endeavour there is always a
pattern, rule, custom, tradition and established modus operandi.
However as times evolve, there may be a need to try something
new.Change is the constant phenomena. The umbrella body of lawyers
is not immune from this vital principle of life.

The Presidency of the NBA has undergone various transitions from
the title of its President to the mode of electing the President.
The history of the Presidency of the Bar qua nomenclature
metamorphosed from “chairman ” to “president”, the election modus
has oscillated between universal suffrage and the delegate
system.

The period of 1900-1959 had leaders of the Bar
designated as chairman. The six leaders of the bar in that era were
:
1. Christopher Sapara Williams(1900-1915).
2.Sir Kitoyi Ajasa (1915-1937).
3.Eric Olawale Moore (1937-1944).
4.E.J.Alex Taylor(1944-1950).
5.Sir Adeyemo Alakija (1950-1952).
6.Jubril Martin (1952-1959).

The common denominator amongst these leaders is that none of
them were SAN prior to leading the Bar. It must be stated however
that the rank of SAN was introduced in Nigeria in 1975.
Worthy of note is that the period of 1960-1992 witnessed the change
of the leadership nomenclature from Chairman to President.

This era had 16 Presidents in all. It was a potpourri. The
Presidents consist of those who never became SAN before emerging as
President, those who were elevated to the inner bar while in office
and those who never became SAN even after leaving office. The
visible handwriting on the wall is that regardless of status any
lawyer can vie for the Bar Presidency.

It was never the exclusive preserve of any group. A distinct
common denominator amongst the Presidents in this era is that they
emanated courtesy of universal suffrage as lawyers who are of good
financial standing via paying their practicing fees and branch dues
voted. They were also lawyers of repute, integrity and that
demonstrated a strong commitment and track record with the NBA and
a respect for the Rule of Law.

The list of the presidents in this era are as follows
:
1.Frederick Rotimi Williams (1960-
1968) took the rank in 1975.
2.Peter Thomas (1968–1969) never took the rank .
3.Chief B.M. Boyo (1969–1970) never took the rank.
4.Chief Richard Akinjide (1970–1973) – took the rank in 1978.
5.Chief Adebayo Ogunsanya (1973–1974) took the rank of SAN in
1980.
6.Dr. Mudiaga Odge (1974–1975) took the rank of SAN in 1978.
7.Dr. Nwakanma Okoro (1976–1978) took the rank of SAN in 1978.
8.Chief B.O. Benson (1978–1980) took the rank of SAN in 1983.
9.Chief Adetunji Fadairo (1980–1982) took the rank of SAN in
1988.
10.A.N. Anyamene (1982–1984) took the rank of SAN in 1982.
11.Prince Bola Ajibola, (1984–1985) took the rank of SAN in
1986.
12.Ebele Nwokoye (1985–1987) never took silk.
13.Alao Aka-Bashorun (1987–1989)- never took the rank.
14.Charles Idehen (1989–1991) never took the rank.
15.Chief Clement Akpamgbo SAN- (1991–1992).
16.Priscilla Kuye (1991–1992) – never took the rank.

The period of 1992-1998 was a dark moment in the history of the
NBA. Between 1992 and 1998 the NBA had no President, functioning
only in branches.The crisis of 1992 traced its birth to the
Military rulership shenanigans. The Bar as a vocal point in the
political firmament were thorns in the flesh of the dictators.

To cow the association the election of that year was infiltrated
by non-lawyers and hence the stalemate in Portharcourt of 1992.

*To be continued *

By Jose Mourinho Ifeanyi Agwuncha