Benchmark Naija

The Paul Daudu led Executive Council of NBA Bwari Branch is sponsoring a young lawyer to attend the African Bar Association (AFBA) Annual Conference. It's going to be an all expense paid trip to Pretoria, South Africa.  To qualify for the sponsorship, interested applicants will be required to write an essay of not more than 2500 words on the theme of the Conference.  This gesture is in line with the campaign promise of the Chairman, which is to give our Young Lawyers exposure to Foreign Conferences. The African Bar Association Annual Conference is scheduled from 6th to 10th of August 2023 in South Africa.  GUIDELINES FOR PARTICIPATING IN THE ESSAY COMPETITION FOR YOUNG LAWYERS OF CRADLE BAR:  1. Interested Applicants should forward an Abstract of not more than 2500 words on theme of the Conference titled "Building the Legal Profession in Africa under the African Continental Free Trade Agreement" 2. Proof of Payment of BPF and Branch Dues for 2023. 3. Valid Internatio...

 The newly elected chairman of NBA Bwari Branch, otherwise known as Cradle Bar has felicitated with Muslim community of the branch.  In his Sallah message to branch, he prayed for the upliftment of members of the branch.  On this special 2023 Eid-el-Kabir, I pray God Almighty to fill your life and household with countless blessings and mercies, and bless you and your family with greater peace, happiness, health, success, wealth, long life, and prosperity to celebrate many more.  Barka d' Sallah  It will be recalled that Paul.just took over as the branch chairman of NBA Bwari Branch.

 Paul Harris Ogbole, SAN, is delighted to congratulate Paul Daudu as the 6th  Chairman of the NBA Bwari Branch, otherwise known as the Cradle Bar and his Executives on their swearing in and inauguration on Monday 26th day of June 2023. Paul Harris Ogbole who is the chairman, Planning Committee of SLP Conference, 2023 stated that his election as the chairman unopposed is a testament of his character and capacity. He said he is confident that with Paul at the helm of affairs as the Chairman of NBA Bwari Branch, he brings  his experience and competence to the leadership of the branch. The Learned Silk pledged to support and partner with the administration of Daudu to bring development to the branch.

 The NBA second Vice President, Clement Chukwuemeka has congratulated the immediate past chairman of NBA Bwari Branch, Monday Adjeh on the success of his tenure as chairman.  I am very proud of you Chairman emeritus you took over from me.  God bless you and your esteemed excos for taking the branch up from where you met it . As long as there is life , every member of this branch is a potential leader. It will get to every one, that’s my wish. Let’s Support every leadership , because one day some of us shall be in same position to be supported by others.  For some of us that have interest at the National , let us support them and pray for them , when they win it is the branch that wins .  Wishing monday Adjeh, my immediate past chairman a more reunion with his family and we pray ur gray hair doesn’t grow more and more. For the current chairman, I wish you all the best and unified fearless decisions that will take us more step ahead from where you met it. We thank...

The immediate past chairman of NBA Bwari Branch, Mr. Monday Adjeh has asked for forgiveness if he has stepped on toes. He stated this in his valedictory speech during the bi-annual general meeting. Read the speech below  Gentlemen, of the Cradle Bar, it's needless to say, everything that has a beginning must have an end. Let me give Almighty God all the glory for the modest achievement recorded by the outgoing administration. The greatest joy of this administration is that, the Branch is not only known and respected among sister branches but has been adjudged one of the best 3 performing branches in Nigeria. This indeed should be the joy of every member of this Noble Branch, the Crable Bar. Our quest as an administration was to raise the Bar to an enviable position through our set agendas for the Branch. We are all aware of the fate that befell the Branch during END SARS imbroglio that led to wanton destruction of all our properties and records, thus returning the branch to her sta...

 The newly sworn in chairman of NBA Bwari Branch, Cradle Bar, has hit the ground running as he performed his first official duty by inaugurating an AGC committee to be headed by Caleb Oboagwina. In his words With the Annual General Conference scheduled to hold in Abuja in less than 2 months’ time, it is extremely important for our Branch being one of the host Branches to effectively participate in this years Conference in order to promote the image of the branch. It is also extremely important to ensure that our members that have already registered have a seamless conference experience. Pursuant to these objectives we hereby constitute the AGC 2023 Committee for our Branch with the following terms of reference; Liaising with the LOC /AGCC so that members of this great Branch who have registered can effectively participate in this year’s conference    Planning a Welcome Party for members of the Branch and friends of the Branch visiting from other jurisdictions ...

Protocol My Lord, the Chief Judge of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Distinguished Learned Senior Advocates of Nigeria here present , 2nd Vice President NBA, Past Chairmen here present, Elders of the Branch, Fellow Branch Executives, Learned Seniors, my beloved Colleagues and Gentlemen of the Press. Introduction  Upon careful and extensive consultations, I, PAUL BABATUNDE DAUDU ESQ presented myself as a candidate for the Office of CHAIRMAN of this great Branch. This was borne out of the singular belief that we can together build a progressive and prosperous Branch that would be a trailblazer and a pace setter for other Branches of the Nigerian Bar Association to follow. It is this philosophy, the hope, the will and the determination to make things even better in this Branch that spurred me on to aspire for your collective mandate in making this vision a reality. On the 24th of June 2023, this aspiration became a reality when I was return unopposed as your chairm...

The Nigerian Bar Association, Bwari Branch, Cradle Bar on the 24th of June, 2023 elected new Executives that will pilot the affairs of the branch in the next two years. Paul Daudu, was elected the chairman of the branch unopposed.in a keenly contested position of Secretary, Caleb Owowo who is the incumbent Assistant Secretary defeated Chinyere Moneme to emerge the winner.  Ability Tom defeated 4 other young lawyers to pick the position of Assistant Secretary.  Akpomiemie Monday defeated his challenger, Sherrifdeen Bello for the position of Publicity Secretary.  Other winners are Naomi Abang for the office of provost, Princess Ekwebelem defeated Confidence Kere to pick the welfare Secretary. Other positions that were unopposed are that of Treasurer, Financial Secretary and that of Vice Chairman.  In his message to the branch, the chairman Elect stated thus Dear Learned Seniors and Colleagues of Cradle Bar , Thank You for Electing me as your new Chairman . I do not ta...

The Nigerian Bar Association, Bwari Branch, Cradle Bar on the 24th of June, 2023 elected new Executives that will pilot the affairs of the branch in the next two years. Paul Daudu, was elected the chairman of the branch unopposed.in a keenly contested position of Secretary, Caleb Owowo who is the incumbent Assistant Secretary defeated Chinyere Moneme to emerge the winner.  Ability Tom defeated 4 other young lawyers to pick the position of Assistant Secretary.  Akpomiemie Monday defeated his challenger, Sherrifdeen Bello for the position of Publicity Secretary.  Other winners are Naomi Abang for the office of provost, Princess Ekwebelem defeated Confidence Kere to pick the welfare Secretary. Other positions that were unopposed are that of Treasurer, Financial Secretary and that of Vice Chairman.  In his message to the branch, the chairman Elect stated thus Dear Learned Seniors and  Colleagues of Cradle Bar , Thank You for Electing me as your new Chairman . I do n...

 NBA BWARI ELECTION 2023: THE MONEME CAMPAIGN ORGANISATION REPLIES CALEB OWOWO ON HIS DESPERATE BID TO BECOME THE SECRETARY OF THE BRANCH  Our attention has been drawn to the petition  written by one Mr. Caleb Owowo against the aspiration of Mrs Chinyere Moneme.  The author of this frivolous petition is known beyond its writer. While the Moneme campaign organisation is not to engage in the war of personal vendetta, we leave Mr  Owowo and his Paymasters for the public to judge. Our organisation is  as a measure of our integrity and fairplay in this political space will attack headlong the issues raised in the said petition.  The starting point is to state very  clearly to our overwhelming supporters  including Young lawyers, Senior lawyers, Women's forum and learned Silks of the branch that the decision of the Electoral Committee of NBA Bwari Branch in clearing our aspirant to contest is lawful and does not offend the provisions of the Constit...

  YOUR RIGHT TO KNOW: MY MANIFESTO!  AKPOMIEMIE MONDAY AKPOMIEMIE Learned Seniors and Distinguished colleagues, “Leaders don’t create followers, leaders create more leaders”- Tom Peters My name is Akpomiemie Monday Akpomiemie an aspirant into the position of the Publicity Secretary of the NBA Bwari Branch. My aspiration is borne out from noticeable gap wherein the office of the busy Chairman has been burdened with addition of the portfolio of a publicist. This is far from the standard practice. A Publicity Secretary is constitutionally saddled to disseminate information and news about the day to day running of the Branch, inclusive of using the office to create and maintain a good image of the Branch and its leadership at all times! My pathway to achieving the above is to work closely with the Chairman of the Branch and all the leaders in their own rights in order for me to understand their thoughts and to put them in an acceptable way to the recipient of such content. My role...

  Distinguished Senior Advocates of Nigeria, learned seniors and colleagues, my name is Chinyere Ekene Moneme I am legal practitioner and the Principal Partner of Crystal Legal Services, I am also the Founder and Executive Director of ACE Justice Assist Foundation a non-governmental organization which supports justice administration in Nigeria.  I am currently a member of the International Association of Prosecutors (IAP) and I currently serve as a Judge at the ICC moot court trial competition 2023. I’m proud to be a member of the Cradle bar and at the branch level, I have been privileged to serve as the Chairman of the Sexual and Gender based Violence (SGBV) committee, Secretary of the Law Week Committee, Secretary of the Monitoring and Evaluation Committee, Secretary of the Law Reform Committee, Secretary of the PDSS to mention a few.  I currently serve as company secretary to three (3) financial institutions across the country.  As a result of my service to the ba...

  CHIDI JUDE DIMGBA Vice Chairmanship Candidate for NBA Bwari Branch (Cradle Bar) INTRODUCTION The Office of the Vice Chairman of NBA Bwari Branch (Cradle Bar) is a sensitive and important one in the scheme of things towards the development of the Branch and the attainment of the objectives of the Nigerian Bar Association at the national level. The Office needs someone who is compassionate and keenly passionate in promoting the cause of justice and the rule of law, as they particularly concern the welfare of members of the Branch and of the profession as a whole. A person with proven records of human rights’ activities, particularly on human right cases prosecuted pro bono publico (in the interest of the public) is best suitable for the position of the Vice Chairman of this noble Branch of the NBA. Cradle Bar has tremendously gained a noble place of prominence in the comity of Branches of the NBA across the country. As such, the Vice Chairman of our highly-esteemed Branch must esse...

  “I want to specially congratulate and felicitate with the NBA Branch of the NBA known as Cradle Bar on the occasion of their law week which started on the 19th of May, 2023 and ended on the 25th of May, 2023. The theme of the law week which was “  A Vibrant Bar, A panacea to National Development”  is very simple and speaks for itself. This is because the essence of a vibrant bar is to ensure development at all time and in all circumstance. The theme speaks for itself in the sense that, it encapsulates the whole essence and role of the legal profession and the focus and vision of the Nigerian Bar Association which is “ Promoting the Rule of Law”. As such I commend the leadership of the branch and the entire members for putting up this law week together for the benefit of members and in fact the society in general. The theme is a clear reminder of our mandate as a profession and the urgent need to start ensuring that we all put our hands on desk to promote...

  The supreme court has dismissed the suit seeking the disqualification of Bola Tinubu and Kashim Shettima as presidential and vice-presidential candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC). A five-member panel of the supreme court on Friday held that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lacked the locus standi to institute the suit. The PDP had claimed that Shettima’s nomination as Tinubu’s running mate was in breach of the provisions of sections 29(1), 33, 35, and 84(1)(2) of the Electoral Act, 2022. The opposition party argued that Shettima’s nomination to contest the position of vice-president and Borno central senatorial seat — at the same time — contravened the law.

So I went to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Headquarters in Abuja today to see a client and something happened that I desire to share with you all. If you are very familiar with visiting any of the Nigerian Security Agencies, you will know that it’s their internal basic law that phones are not allowed inside the premises, though EFCC extended their policy to include bags, smart watches, laptops, etc. The moment you get to the security post having any of those items in your possession, you will be required to drop them off with the security before the visitor's tag will be issued to you.  MY EXPERIENCE  Now the event that unfolded that amused me today went thus:  Upon my arrival with my colleague, we realized that we had left an important document in the office, my colleague and I agreed that he should drive back to the office and get the file while I proceed to see our client inside as the time for the interview was already close. My colleague was to ...

 A REVIEW OF THE MONEY LAUNDERING (PREVENTION AND PROHIBITION) ACT, 2022: THE IMPLICATION FOR LEGAL PRACTICE IN NIGERIA, BEING A PAPER PRESENTED BY J.S. OKUTEPA SAN ON THE 23RD MAY 2023 AT NBA BWARI LAW WEEK INTRODUCTION: I thank the leadership of NBA Bwari Branch for the privilege to present this paper. I am to review the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022 and then look at the implications for legal practice in Nigeria. Money laundering is a global problem that affects countries around the world, including Nigeria. The practice of money laundering involves the conversion of illegally obtained funds into legitimate funds. This process is carried out to conceal the true source of the funds and to evade law enforcement. In Nigeria, the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act of 2011 was enacted to address this problem. However, in 2022, the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act was passed into law, which updated and strengthened the already existing legal f...