Last week, I provided an update on the efforts being made by the @NigBarAssoc towards securing the release of our colleague, Mr. Inibehe Effiong, who was remanded in custody on the order of the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State on account of alleged contemptuous conduct in court. Unfortunately, attempts to secure Mr. Effiong’s release through sustained engagements at different levels have been unsuccessful with the Chief Judge indicating that she was unwilling or unable to further entertain the matter.

I received with great concern the news of the detention of one of our members, @InibeheEffiong, at a correctional facility in Akwa Ibom State, on account of what transpired during proceedings in the court of the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State. Since receiving the news, I have been in touch with the Chairman of the NBA Uyo Branch who has mobilised his team to look into & address this. This morning, I also mandated the NBA 1st Vice President to visit Uyo immediately to join ongoing efforts & ensure Mr. Effiong's release.

On behalf of the @NigBarAssoc, I heartily welcome all of you "new wigs" who were admitted to the Nigerian Bar today. Unfortunately, I was not physically present to welcome you and to join in your celebration due to prior commitments. Please accept my hearty congratulations. From day one, the @NigBarAssoc under my administration made the welfare and wellbeing of lawyers, especially the young lawyers, the focal point of our agenda and you have my assurance that your set will not be different.

On 9th March 2022, I issued a Statement unequivocally condemning the reaction of H.E. Engr. Dave Umahi, the Governor of Ebonyi State to the Judgment of the FHC Abuja which ordered him and his Deputy to vacate office. I also demanded an apology and a retraction of the comments. Following that Statement, H.E. Engr. Umahi made extensive efforts to reach me and in the course of our conversation, I reiterated that the NBA has no interest in the case other than to ensure that the sanctity of the judicial system is protected & the rule of law respected.

In fulfillment of one of my campaign promises to NBA Members, the NBA-NEC last week approved the establishment of the NBA Stabilisation Fund where we have already saved up & set aside N1billion, with a commitment to increase it to a minimum of N1.5billion, before we leave office. The fund, to be managed by subject matter experts, will invest in a portfolio of assets that will generate steady returns for the @NigBarAssoc over time.

The @NigBarAssoc ("NBA") received with grave concern the news of the unlawful siege on the Abuja residence of a Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, Honourable Justice Mary Ukaego Peter-Odili, last night by officers of one or more of the Nigerian security agencies. Almost 24 hours later, information concerning the basis of the siege remains hazy and the subject of speculation, apart from reports that the invasion was pursuant to a search warrant issued by a Magistrate Court in Abuja, which search warrant has now been revoked.

The @NigBarAssoc has observed with dismay the unfortunate and recurring trend of contradictory court decisions and orders, especially among courts of coordinate jurisdiction, typically arising from ex parte applications and almost always in political matters. While the Nigerian judiciary has in the past made invaluable contributions to the development of the country, there are nevertheless past failings which would hopefully remain permanently interred in the dark annals of history.

The @NigBarAssoc has noted with great concern the extraordinary decision of the Federal Govt to suspend the operations of @Twitter in Nigeria and, by necessary implication, the right of Nigerians to freely express their constitutionally guaranteed opinions through that medium. The FGN also directed the @NgComCommission to immediately commence the process of licensing all OTT and social media operations in Nigeria, which is, at best, yet another disguised attempt to regulate social media, restrict freedom of speech and shrink civic space.

I have in the past 24 hours received several calls & complaints from lawyers and Nigerians generally about the recent public parade of hundreds of persons arrested and detained by the @PoliceNG on the suspicion of taking part in the looting and destruction of public buildings... ... and private businesses and/or for contravening the curfew declared by various State Governors in the aftermath of the #EndSARS protests that unfortunately turned violent. As I have continuously maintained, the @NigBarAssoc is completely opposed to any act of arson...

This afternoon I addressed the Members of the Press to outline what the @NigBarAssoc is doing in support of the #EndSARS movement and the call for Police Reforms in Nigeria. Below are some of the points I addressed. 1. The NBA condemns any ban on the right of citizens to peacefully assemble and protest.

This is to assure Nigerians that the @NigBarAssoc remains very interested in, and committed to, the peaceful and holistic resolution of all issues that resulted in the #EndSARS protests. I have spoken with the Attorneys General of Ogun, Edo & Lagos States in the last two days to secure their commitment to ensure the release of protesters, and this has resulted in the release of several protesters in Ogun & Edo States.

The @NigBarAssoc welcomes the dissolution of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) by the Inspector General @PoliceNG. We now look forward to the constitution of the Investigative Team to review all reports of crimes committed against Nigerians by the defunct Unit and the appropriate punishment of all those found culpable.

The @NigBarAssoc (NBA) condemns unequivocally the brazen & serial breaches of the fundamental rights of Nigerians, including the right to life, by officers of the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS) a specialist unit of the @PoliceNG and other security agencies. The NBA welcomes with cautious optimism the latest statement from the IGP of @PoliceNG banning FSARS, STS and IRT from routine patrol on the streets, amongst other measures and promising to apply sanctions in cases of breach...

Last night, I received reports that Paulette Bisola Ajayi, a lawyer & daughter of Ngozi Ajayi (also a lawyer) was abducted by at least 4 gunmen dressed in combat fatigues & dark t-shirts in front of her home in Rumukurushi PH, as she was waiting for her gate to be opened. Her mother and others who tried to prevent her from being taken away were brutalised and shot at by these men who eventually dragged Bisola out of her car and took her away in their own car...a white Toyota Venza.

I have been inundated with complaints from various quarters over the past few weeks regarding lawyers' experience at, and with, the @cacnigeria1 Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) which paint an unfavourable picture for the ease of doing efforts of the FGN. I understand that the goal of the @cacnigeria1 is to ensure that lawyers and the general public are able to transact their businesses at the CAC in a seamless and convenient manner. The recent reports are suggestive of a disconnect.

Yesterday 23 September 2020, I held one of the most fulfilling meetings of my tenure so far as @NigBarAssoc President when I hosted the national officers of the Association of Lawyers with Disability in Nigeria (ALDIN) led by ALDIN President, Daniel Amaechi Onwe Esq. I tendered an unreserved apology, on behalf of the NBA, to all lawyers living with disabilities for the indignity that they have historically suffered in a profession that has before now failed to treat them as equal members of the Bar.

This afternoon, I attended the ceremony marking the formal call to Bar of the newest lawyers in Nigeria. I wish to commend each of them for their efforts and resilience in the face of the tortuous journey to fulfilling their dreams and attaining their rightful seats as a ministers in the Temple of Justice...

On Friday 28 August 2020, I was sworn into office as 30th President of the Nigerian Bar Association, the foremost professional membership association in Nigeria and the most influential network of legal practitioners in Africa. I use this opportunity to express my profound gratitude to God; to the entire membership of the NBA for their mandate; and to the Nigerian populace for their interest and goodwill.

I welcome with great delight, the news of the assent into law, by President Muhammadu Buhari, of the Companies and Allied Matters Bill 2020. This is undoubtedly a welcome development for legal practitioners in Nigeria and the wider Nigerian economy. Hopefully, the proper implementation of the innovative provisions of the Act will go a long way towards settling the ongoing tension between lawyers and the CAC which is one of the first things I pledge to tackle upon assumption of office.

This next video is me, making clear my plans for the welfare of members of the Nigerian Bar Association.

My approach is multi faceted for the different needs of our Bar members. You can count on me to #MakeTheBarWorkForAll. #NBAForAll #OluForAll

Just like you, I was shocked to see the recent newspaper advert by a Nigerian commercial bank calling on Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) in Nigeria to subscribe for legal services, including the preparation and review of legal documents. Understandably, this caused quite a stir in the legal community for not only being an unlawful encroachment of the business of lawyers and a breach of the provisions of the Legal Practitioners Act, but also for being beyond the statutory mandate for which banks are established.