Afam Osigwe has been inaugurated as the 32nd President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), succeeding Yakubu Maikyau. The swearing-in ceremony took place on Thursday in Lagos, marking the beginning of Osigwe's two-year term.
Osigwe, who was elected in July 2024 with 20,435 votes, addressed the association, commending his election opponents for their decorum and extending an invitation to collaborate on advancing the NBA. He vowed to lead an inclusive association, focusing on holding government accountable and ensuring effective governance.
Among his key announcements, Osigwe introduced the Citizens’ Liberties Committee (CLC), led by prominent human rights advocates, to oversee inspections of detention facilities and promote transparency within the justice system.
Osigwe outlined several priorities for his presidency, including:
Stamp and Seal Resolution: Addressing delays in issuing the NBA Stamp and Seal.
Constitutional Amendments: Considering changes to operationalize the remittance of Bar Practice Fees.
Judicial Review: Establishing a committee to review and comment on court decisions.
Justice Sector Reform: Advocating for modernized court infrastructure and justice sector investments.
Professional Development: Ensuring compliance with continuing legal education requirements.
Local Government Autonomy: Enforcing Supreme Court judgments on local government financial independence.
Litigation Committee: Addressing harassment of lawyers by law enforcement.
Monthly Inspections: Ensuring regular inspections of police stations and detention facilities.
Legal Business Protection: Safeguarding the legal profession from non-practitioners and foreign competition.
AGC Repositioning: Enhancing the Annual General Conference for fundraising and partnerships.
Ethics Oversight: Monitoring adherence to professional conduct rules.
Legal Education Reform: Proposing updates to law school curricula and faculty practices.
The inauguration concludes the NBA's annual general conference, which began on August 23rd.