The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) is a non-profit, umbrella professional association of all lawyers admitted to the bar in Nigeria. It is engaged in the promotion and protection of human rights, the rule of law and

good governance Good governance is the process of measuring how public institutions conduct public affairs and manage public resources and guarantee the realization of human rights in a manner essentially free of abuse and corruption and with due regard for th ...

in Nigeria. The NBA has an observer status with the African Commission on Human and People's Rights, and a working partnership with many national and international non-governmental organizations concerned with similar goals in Nigeria and in Africa. The NBA is made up of 125 branches, three professional sections, two specialized institutes, six practice-cadre forums, and high-level leverage in the political society in Nigeria. Its National Secretariat is managed from Abuja. Its organizational structure comprises a National Executive Committee, a National Officers/Management Board, sections, forums, committees, working groups and a National Secretariat with a manpower strengthening of 34 staff as at June 2010. The current president of the Nigerian Bar Association is

Yakubu Maikyau Yakubu Chonoko Maikyau (born 6 February 1965) is a Nigerian legal practitioner, Senior Advocate of Nigeria and founder of Y. C. Maikyau & Co. In July 2022, he was elected as the president of the Nigerian Bar Association. Early life Maikyau ...

. and the current General Secretary is Adesina Adegbite.

Former chairmen and presidents

Past chairmen of the association were: *

Christopher Sapara Williams Chief Christopher Alexander Sapara Williams (14 July 1855 – 15 March 1915) was the first indigenous Nigerian lawyer, called to the English bar on 17 November 1879. In addition to his legal practice, he came to play an influential role in the ...

(1900–1915) * Sir

Kitoyi Ajasa Sir Kitoye Ajasa (also spelled Kitoyi; 10 August 1866 – 1937) was a Nigerian lawyer and legislator during the colonial period. He was conservative, and worked closely with the colonial authorities. He thought that progress would only be possi ...

(1915–1937) *

Eric Olawale Moore The given name Eric, Erich, Erikk, Erik, Erick, or Eirik is derived from the Old Norse name ''Eiríkr'' (or ''Eríkr'' in Old East Norse due to monophthongization). The first element, ''ei-'' may be derived from the older Proto-Norse ''* ain ...

(1937–1944) * E.J. Alex Taylor (1944–1950) * Sir Adeyemo Alakija (1950–1952) * Jubril Martin (1952–1959) Presidents of the Bar Association, who had the same authority as the former Chairmen, were: * Frederick Rotimi Williams (1960–1968) * Peter Thomas (1968–1969) * Chief B.M. Boyo (1969–1970) * Chief Richard Akinjide (1970–1973) * Chief

Adebayo Ogunsanya Adebayo, also spelled Adébáyọ̀ or Adebayor in French, is a given name and surname. It is a traditional Yoruba name which could mean any of the following “he came in a joyful time”, or "the king/crown/royalty meets joy" or "greatness/nobilit ...

(1973–1974) * Dr. Mudiaga Odge (1974–1975) * Dr. Nwakanma Okoro (1976–1978) * Chief

B.O. Benson Bo or BO may refer to Arts and entertainment Film, television, and theatre *Box office, where tickets to an event are sold, and by extension, the amount of business a production receives *'' BA:BO'', 2008 South Korean film * ''Bo'' (film), a ...

(1978–1980) * Chief Adetunji Fadairo (1980–1982) *

A.N. Anyamene An, AN, aN, or an may refer to: Businesses and organizations * Airlinair (IATA airline code AN) * Alleanza Nazionale, a former political party in Italy * AnimeNEXT, an annual anime convention located in New Jersey * Anime North, a Canadian a ...

(1982–1984) *Prince Bola Ajibola, (1984–1985) * Ebele Nwokoye (1985–1987) * Alao Aka-Bashorun (1987–1989) * Charles Idehen (1989–1991) *Chief

Clement Akpamgbo Clement Akpamgbo, SAN was a Nigerian lawyer who was Attorney-General of the federation between 1991 and 1993 during Nigeria's failed transition from military to democratic government. Before his ministerial appointment, he was the president of th ...

(1991–1992) *

Priscilla Kuye Dame Priscilla Olabori Kuye (born 18 August 1940) is a Nigerian lawyer and the first and only female president of the Nigerian Bar Association (1991-1992). She served the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) as National Financial Secretary, 3rd Vice, 2 ...

(1991–1992) Between 1992 and 1998 the NBA had no president, functioning only in branches. After the crisis, presidents were: * Chief T.J.O. Okpoko, SAN (1998–2000) * O.C.J. Okocha, SAN (2000–2002) *Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN (2002–2004) *Chief Bayo Ojo, SAN (2004–2005) *Prince

Lanke Odogiyon Lanke may refer to: * Lanke, manor by Bogensee, Brandenburg, Germany, once owned by Joseph Goebbels * Lanke Cup The Quzhou-Lanke Cup is a Go competition in China. Outline The Quzhou-Lanke Cup is sponsored by the Chinese Weiqi Association Chine ...

(2005–2006) *

Olisa Agbakoba Olisa Agbakoba is a Nigerian human rights activist, maritime lawyer and former President of Nigerian Bar Association. Early life Olisa Agbakoba was born on 29 May 1953 to Chief Justice Godfrey Ubaka and Mrs Phina Agbakoba in Jos. He later ...

(2006–2008) *Chief

Oluwarotimi Akeredolu Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu (born 21 July 1956) is a Nigerian lawyer and politician who is currently the Governor of Ondo State, in office since 24 February 2017. His adopted prefix is "Arakunrin", while his nickname is "Aketi". He is a Sen ...

, SAN (2008–2010) *

Joseph Bodurin Daudu Chief Joseph Bodurin Daudu, SAN, (born December 27, 1959) is a prominent Nigerian Jurist, Bencher and former President of the Nigerian Bar Association. Early life Daudu was born on December 27, 1959, at Ogori-Magongo local government area of ...

, SAN (2010–2012) *

Okey Wali Okey Wali, SAN (born October 29, 1958) is a Nigerian lawyer and the 26th president of the Nigerian Bar Association. Early life Wali was born on October 29, 1958 at Obio-Akpor local government area in the metropolis of Port Harcourt, a southe ...

, SAN (2012–2014) * Augustine Alegeh, SAN (2014–2016) * Abubakar Balarabe Mahmoud (AB Mahmoud), SAN (2016–2018) *

Paul Usoro Chief Paul Usoro, SAN, (born September 7, 1958) is a Nigerian litigator, communication law expert and president of the Nigerian Bar Association. Early life Usoro was born on September 7, 1958, at Ukana Ikot Ntuen town in Essien Udim local ...

, SAN (2018–2020) *

Olumide Akpata Olumide Akpata (born October 7, 1972) is a Nigerian legal practitioner and politician. He was a senior partner and the Head of the Corporate and Commercial Practice Group at Templars law firm in Nigeria until his resignation on 31 August 2023 to ...

, (2020–2022) * Yakubu Chonoko Maikyau (2022–present)

References

{{Authority control Law of Nigeria 1933 establishments in Nigeria African bar associations Organizations established in 1933

Former chairmen and presidents

See also

References