If elected, I will put machinery in place to strengthen the association and consolidate on the achievements of the present leadership of the NBA.

JULY 11, 2016

He Is A Strong Contender For The Presidency Of The Lawyers’ Umbrella Body, The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA). Chief Joe-Kyari Gadzama, (SAN), In This Interview With FOLUSO OGUNMODEDE, Speaks On Ogoni Clean-Up Exercise, Pro- Biafran Agitators, Economy, Corruption, NBA Election And Sundry Issues

This year is crucial for the Bar and the Bench. The Bar will change its leadership after two years while the Head of the judiciary will retire to pave the way for a new Chief Justice of Nigeria. What qualities do you expect from the incoming NBA President?

I expect the incoming President of the Nigerian Bar Association to among other qualities, to be intelligent, innovative, visionary and pragmatic to be able to take the Bar to greater heights. The incoming President must be a consummate Bar man that cuts across all groups of lawyers and should also be active at the local, national, regional, continental and international levels of the legal profession. He must also be conscious of the role the rule of law must perform to stimulate the desired positive change in the Society.

How would you appraise the outgoing leadership of the Bar?

Assessment of the present administration is actually a relative one. One can say that this present administration has performed well especially in the area of stamp and seal, building of the new NBA secretariat and the introduction of universal suffrage. There is however still room for improvement. It is said that the room for improvement is the biggest room in the world and we cannot rest on our oars.

Election of the NBA is some days away and you are a strong contender. What value do you intend to add to the association?

If elected, I will put machinery in place to strengthen the association and consolidate on the achievements of the present leadership of the NBA. If elected, I will ensure a more effective, efficient and purposeful NBA committed to protection and promotion of the rule of law and maintenance of the best traditions of the Bar.

Accountability and transparency is cardinal on my agenda and if elected, the affairs of NBA will be run in an open and transparent manner. Under my leadership, there will be strict compliance with Section 18 (3) of the NBA Constitution which stipulates that “no expenditure shall be incurred for any purpose unless such expenditure has been approved generally by the National Executive Committee in the annual budget or any supplementary budget of the association”.

Also worthy of note here is Section 19 (6) of the NBA Constitution which provides that all property of the association, freehold or leasehold, or other interest in land acquired for the use and benefit of the association shall be vested in the Trustees of the association who shall deal with same in line with the resolution of the Annual General Meeting as contained in Section 19 (7) of the Constitution.

If elected, I will ensure that the association’s assets and resources are prudently managed in line with provisions of the Constitution for the overall benefits of members. Efforts will also be geared towards doing things more cost effectively without compromising standard.

The duties of the NBA President are set out in Section 8 (5) (a) of the NBA Constitution 2015. I will sustain and consolidate on the achievements of the present NBA leadership. Laudable projects like the NBA stamp & seal policy, the insurance project etc will all be enhanced for greater benefits for members of the association. On the issue of stamp and seal, the policy which has fought impersonation and quackery to a standstill is very commendable and must be sustained.

If elected, I will put machinery in place to enhance the policy by ensuring that all stamps are produced and promptly delivered to the respective branches/members in good time upon application. Some members have also complained about the issue of expiry date on the stamp and to this end, I will address this holistically considering the Relevant Rules of Professional Conduct (RPC) and the general concerns of members.

Quite a number of lawyers have also complained about the cost of procuring these stamps and in this regard, I will consider reviewing the cost in line with current economic realities and in the overall interest of members, especially young lawyers.

Another issue of concern is the delay in the production and delivery of the stamps. I shall drastically reduce, if not totally eliminate, all delays and bottlenecks in the production of the stamps in order to ensure that the stamps are delivered promptly upon application.

The NBA car stickers is also another area of concern and I intend to put machinery in place to ensure that the car stickers are serialized and customized for lawyers to avoid its abuse by non-lawyers as is presently the case.

The welfare of young lawyers is very dear to my heart and that explains why it features prominently in my manifesto. I will champion the establishment of a wage baseline for young lawyers considering the location of practice and business environment, if elected.

I intend to accomplish this by engaging and consulting the management of law firms across the country and working in concert with the various branches of the NBA. There has to be a discourse where all and sundry will actively participate in, and majority will reach a consensus on a wage baseline for young lawyers.

All concerned parties, that is the senior lawyers, management of law firms, various NBA branches and the young lawyers themselves will participate in this process and I am optimistic that it will yield a positive result. I have come to realize that finance is one of the challenges that young lawyers face in this profession.

To this end, I intend to set up a loan board that will be saddled with the responsibility of disbursing soft loans to deserving lawyers, especially the young ones in order to assist them in setting up law firms and partnerships.

This will be done in conjunction with partnering banks. The NBA under my leadership will ensure that these facilities are easily accessible to lawyers by making the process less cumbersome. The Health Insurance Policy is also one of the programmes that I have in terms of welfare of lawyers.

I believe that young lawyers will greatly benefit from this programme which I will implement if elected. I intend to achieve this through effective collaboration with the National Health Insurance Scheme to guarantee easy access to quality healthcare and benefits at subsidized cost.

I believe that the welfare of young lawyers will be greatly improved by enhancing their skills and developing their capacities. To this end, I will replicate on a larger scale for the NBA, what my firm; J-K Gadzama LLP has been doing over the years.

That is to develop a mentorship programme for young lawyers with a resource base drawn from senior lawyers and judges of superior courts (both serving and retired) and also establish a Cross-Border Mentorship Programme for them. Our young lawyers must be equipped with the requisite skills and abilities to address contemporary legal challenges and access enhanced benefits.

This can only be achieved by training and re-training. There are many opportunities for young lawyers to explore which are currently being untapped. I will create a platform and the needed support for young lawyers to explore these opportunities and empower themselves.

Young lawyers will be appointed to various committees of the NBA and will also be an integral part of my administration if elected. My administration will also work out modalities to sponsor young lawyers to attend the International Bar Association Conference, regional conferences and even national conferences.

Additionally, the NBA under my leadership will ensure beneficial, wellinformed, timely and coherent contributions to debate on national issues and promotion of democratic tenets.

Why do you think you are the most qualified to lead the Bar at a time many believe the association has lost its voice?

It might not be totally correct to say that the NBA has lost its voice. This is because in the past years, the NBA has recorded a number of achievements and made its impact felt in the area of promotion of the rule of law, protection of the rights of members, advancement of the interest of members amongst others. However, there is always room for improvement. If elected, I will put machinery in place to strengthen the Association and consolidate on the achievements of the present leadership of NBA.

If elected, I will ensure a more effective, efficient and purposeful NBA committed to protection and promotion of the rule of law and maintenance of the best traditions of the Bar. I believe that I am more experienced and capable to lead the NBA, as I have successfully served the association in the past in various capacities. I have the interest of the Bar at heart and I do not represent any sectional interest. If elected, the members of this branch and all members of the association will be carried along and treated fairly.

I will give all members a sense of belonging. My programmes and vision for the Bar are well thought-out and very practicable. I also have a feasible blue-print for the implementation of my programmes. In putting up my manifesto, I made wide consultations to identify the needs and yearnings of the Bar and all these are encapsulated in my manifesto which I have undertaken to implement to the fullest if elected.

If elected as the 28th President of the Nigerian Bar Association, my main focus will be on the empowerment of members, promotion of professional development and continuing legal education.Members will be economically empowered by exposing them to business opportunities, training and capacity building in diverse areas of law, as well as capacity building to enhance skills and increased productivity in line with modern realities of legal practice.

This I intend to achieve through capacity building workshops, networking programmes, seminars, courses and conferences amongst others. I am also of the view that the current Rules of Professional Conduct 2007 (RPC) is due for a comprehensive review to bring it in tandem with current trends and reflect modern realities.

How do you intend to turn the association around should you become the next NBA President? Why must your colleagues cast their vote for you ahead of your brother silk?

My mission in this race is to serve with integrity and run an inclusive NBA dedicated to the advancement of the interest of its members and protection of societal norms and values. I have also developed a number of welfare support programmes for members of the Bar if elected.

Some of these programmes include the provision of loans to members of the Bar through partnering banks for setting up law firms and partnerships. Special health programmes will also be introduced for aged and incapacitated members of the Bar.

Also germane is the issue of discipline in the profession which I will holistically address if elected. I have also successfully served the Nigerian Bar Association in various capacities, notable among which are Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Abuja branch, Chairman of the 2005 NBA Annual General Conference Planning Committee, Jos, Chairman of the Organising Committee of the 2006 Maiden Conference of the NBA Section on Legal Practice (SLP), Vice Chairman of the NBA Section on Legal Practice (SLP) and Pioneer Chairman of the NBA Section on Public Interest and Development Law (SPIDEL) from 2006 to 2010.

The welfare and capacity development of young lawyers will also be paramount if elected and in this vein, I will champion the establishment of a minimum wage baseline for the engagement of young lawyers considering the location of practice and business environment.

The practice of paying young lawyers paltry sums as salary must be discouraged in all ramifications. I have also marshaled out plans to empower lawyers and build their capacity by exposing them to emerging areas of law which are currently untapped.

Some of these areas are sports law, competition law (anti-trust), entertainment law, medical law e.t.c. This I will achieve by ensuring training, capacity building and networking through organising of relevant workshops, conferences and seminars.

Another area of interest which I will address is initiating a Health Insurance Policy in collaboration with the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) for all interested lawyers and their family members to guarantee easy access to quality healthcare and benefits. This will go a long way in addressing the health needs of lawyers and their family members.

Under my leadership, the NBA stamp and seal policy will be enhanced by tackling all attendant delays in its production by ensuring that the stamps are produced and made available to lawyers promptly upon application.

The NBA car stickers is also another area of concern and I intend to put machinery in place to ensure that the car stickers are serialized and customized for lawyers to avoid its abuse by non-lawyers as is presently the case.

If elected, I will run the NBA in a transparent manner by ensuring accountability and openness in all dealings and affairs of the Association. Generally, I will run an inclusive NBA, promote the rights of members and consolidate on the achievements of the present leadership of the NBA in the overall interest of the Association.

For the first time, lawyers will abandon posters, flyers and other mechanism for campaign, how has this helped or hindered your campaign for the office of the NBA President?

The banning of campaign posters and media adverts is actually a welcome development. To an extent, it has reduced the cost of electioneering. It has also brought a level of sanity in the process. It has not in any way affected my campaign negatively.

I have been able to successfully reach out to lawyers in almost all branches of the NBA in all states of the federation. I have always honoured invitations from various NBA branches, participated in their activities, consulted elders of the Bar, paid courtesy calls and visited various branches of the NBA and in so doing, I have been able to reach out to majority of lawyers in the course of my campaign.

Name (required)

Chief J-K Gadzama‏@J_KGadzama

A visit to J-K Gadzama Court by the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, CFR

 

WHO IS JOE-KYARI GADZAMA, SAN.

J-K Gadzama: Law is his life!

J-K Gadzama: Law is his life!

6/17/2016 11:16:00 am

By Abdulrazaq Magaji

 

< 234-805-138-0793>

 

From the quantum of high and not-so-high endorsements he has received so far, it is almost certain that Chief Joe-Kyari Gadzama is only waiting to be crowned the next president of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, next month. Within the learned circle of lawyers, the reasoning is that if he could affect the legal profession so positively in his private capacity, Chief J-K Gadzama could be trusted to use the structures of the NBA to do more. The optimism is well-placed.

 

Arewa Lawyers Forum, ALF. When it took the decision last March, ALF said it was swayed Chief J-K Gadzama’s First to come was a critical endorsement from his base, the antecedents as a lawyer who has worked assiduously to push the frontier of the NBA and his efforts in improving the lot of NBA members. On June 14, the ALF sent a formal letter to that effect to regional NBA fora to notify them of the decision. Insiders say the endorsement flowed from the belief that, with NBA structure, Chief J-K Gadzama could do more for many more for an even greater number of young and not-so-young lawyers.

 

Similar reasons were cited in endorsing Chief J-K Gadzama by individuals and regional law bodies. Hear Aare Afe Babalola, SAN, eminent jurist, statesman, and founder/chancellor of Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti: “ Of all the SAN’s around, none is better qualified to lead the NBA especially at this critical point in time than Chief J-K Gadzama. He has displayed the capacity and commitment to lead. Law is all he knows; he lives it and dreams it. Chief J-K Gadzama is committed to the profession and we trust his presidency will be the beginning of greater things within the NBA family.’’ Aare Babalola’s endorsement came hot in the heels of similar ones by individuals and regional lawyers fora.

 

Take Adegboyega Solomon Awomolo and Bandele Aiku, both Senior Advocates of Nigeria and like Aare Babalola, prominent members of Egbe Amofin Oodua, a major affiliate of the South West Lawyers Forum. Both legal luminaries were emphatic in their endorsement which they hinged on the belief that the NBA will provide Chief J-K Gadzama with necessary structures to do even more to advance the course of the profession.

 

At its recent meeting in Abeokuta, Ogun state, and the one preceding it in Ile Ife, Osun state, the South West Lawyers Forum literally rose in unison to pledge their support for the presidential bid of J-K Gadzama. The endorsement by the SWLF, though informal, was predicated on several innovations by the law firm of Chief J-K Gadzama to help lawyers, especially young ones, to hone their skills which several members from the zone say they have benefited from.

 

It is not for fun that the Otu Oka-Iwu of the South East Lawyers Forum, SELF, refers to J-K Gadzama as ‘friend and ally of Ndigbo’. He is so recognised for the opportunity he gave to numerous young lawyers of Igbo extraction who cut their teeth under his tutelage. Indeed, it takes a detribalized Nigerian in the mould of Chief J-K Gadzama to name an important mentorship programme after Justice Chukwudifu Oputa! Long before he was so recognised by Otu Oka-Owu, Ndigbo had, in 2003, honoured him as Okwulora of Ukpo for being ‘’an authentic and reliable mouthpiece of the people.’’

 

For the best part of the thirty years he has spent on the bar, Chief J-K Gadzama has carved a niche for himself as a lawyer who has committed himself to the development of the legal profession. With state-of-the-art facilities and a purpose-built moot court for lawyers to practice before they attend court sessions, his ultramodern head office in Abuja has some of the best infrastructure for law practice in Nigeria and compares favourably with some of the best law firms around the world. Little wonder Chief J-K Gadzama was last year listed among the top five hundred lawyers in the world.

 

J-K Gadzama LLP has one of the largest pool of lawyers in its employment: at present, there are fifty out of which forty are juniors. The firm regularly takes in dozens of youth corps members and, on an annual basis accepts a sizeable number of students from the Nigerian Law School on law office attachment. J-K Gadzama Annual Lectures, already in its ninth year is one big informal training ground for lawyers considering the wealth of ideas exchanged at the sessions. Equally important is the prestigious J-K Gadzama Award for best graduating student which he instituted at his alma mater, University of Maiduguri and the Nigerian law School.

 

Other innovations that endeared Chief J-K Gadzama to the heart of people within and outside the legal profession is the Honourable Justice Chukwudifu Oputa Mentorship Scheme, a quarterly training and mentorship programme coordinated by Dr. Tahir Mamman, immediate past director general of the Nigerian Law School and senior partner at J-K Gadzama LLP. The Justice Oputa mentorship training session, a quarterly training session aimed at honing the skills of young lawyers debuted last April. It is hardly surprising that these and more formed the basis for the endorsements that keep coming the way of Chief J-K Gadzama.

 

.Growing up in the late 60’s and early 70’s, Chief Joe-Kyari Gadzama followed the mind of his friends and wanted to pursue a career in the military. In fact, teachers and classmates from that era grew up believing it was a done deal that young Gadzama would one day end up as a General in the Nigerian Army. To friends from that that era, gaining admission into the Nigerian Military School, Zaria, in 1975 was like a dream come true.

 

But this was five years after a better-forgotten civil war. It was also the year of Nigeria’s third military coup, this time a bloodless one that brought late General Murtala Ramat Muhammad to power. But young Gadzama’s mother, like all loving mothers, would have none of this as she was not going to sign away another family member. The elder Gadzama was at the time a high-ranking police officer. His mother had her way

 

Chief Joe-Kyari Gadzama has turned full circle. Today, he is a General of sort, being the deserving recipient of the prestigious Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, at age 37, one of the youngest to be so honoured in 1998. And like any battle-tested General, he is in full control of an equally battle-tested battalion of lawyers at his command post, the octopoid  J-K Gadzama LLP in Garki11 district of Abuja. He holds two national awards:  Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic, OFR, and Member of the order of the Federal Republic, MFR. He is the Sardauna of Uba in Borno state.

 

Born Tuesday, November 28, 1961 in Mubi, in present day Adamawa state, Chief J-K Gadzama hails from Lassa in Borno state. He was educated in Kaduna, Song and Maiduguri where he took a Second Class Upper division degree in law at the University of Maiduguri in 1985 emerging, in the process, as the best graduating student in Common Law. Chief J-K Gadzama was the first of the nearly 1700 lawyers in the 1986 class of the Nigerian Law School to become a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, in addition to being the pioneer Chairman of the class.

 

 In 2006, Chief Gadzama took a post graduate diploma in International Commercial Arbitration from the Keble College of the Oxford University in the United Kingdom after which he was admitted into Lincoln’s Inn. In 2013 and, in recognition of his arbitration and dispute resolution skills, Chief J-K Gadzama was named as a member of a high-powered committee set up by the Federal Government to investigate and proffer solutions to the insurgency in north eastern Nigeria. Today, the Sardaunan Uba maintains law chambers in the United States of America and the United Kingdom where he practices law.

 

Outside his native Lassa, J-K Gadzama’s is a big voice in north eastern Nigeria where he regularly executes people-friendly projects. And the gesture is not lost on appreciating members of the communities who, in appreciation, have continued to recognise him. In December 2007, he was the sole recipient of the Southern Borno Community Merit Award for meritorious service to community and the fatherland.

 

J-K Gadzama has every reason to expect a positive outing next month. Over the years, he has proved to be one Nigerian who is passionate about the Nigerian project and continues to do his bit in its actualisation. And some of his suggestions to drive the Nigerian project, just as his antidote to the high cost of governance, are as revolutionary as they are realistic. First, he believes Nigeria must get it right through enthroning the ideals of free, fair and transparent elections.

 

Again, Chief J-K Gadzama believes the nation has no business with the needless religious and ethnic strife. Thirdly, corruption should have no place in the land as it shades competence. What is more, Chief J-K Gadzama believes the nation will achieve quality legislation at low cost if legislative duties and remunerations are on part-time basis or, as is the practice in some emerging democracies, for legislative seats to be reserved for professionals. This, Chief J-K Gadzama believes, will enrich the legislative process and deepen the nation’s democracy.

 

These and more are possible but it will take a proactive national leadership of the NBA to push them through. The success story of J-K Gadzama LLP attests to the fact that this, precisely, is the kind of leadership that J-K Gadzama will provide when he executes the presidency of the NBA. Besides, the NBA presidency will be a welcome feather to a colourful cap! The individuals and groups that endorsed J-K Gadzama cannot be wrong.

 

Nigerian lawyers cannot be wrong!

 

 

Magaji < magaji777@yahoo.com.> is based in Abuja, Nigeri

I Will Run an All-Inclusive NBA Dedicated to Members’ Interest--J.K.Gadzama,SAN

‘I Will Run an All-Inclusive NBA Dedicated to Members’ Interest’ June 21, 2016 Chief J.K Gadzama SAN This year’s elections into the national offices of the Nigerian Bar Association is not only a first of its kind in the history of the Association. Lawyers for the first time will vote electronically from any part of the world. The election also promises to be different in many aspects. As Mr. A.B. Mahmoud SAN and Chief J.K Gadzama SAN, two legal titans crisscross the country canvassing the votes of Nigerian lawyers, May Agbamuche Mbu, Jude Igbanoi and Tobi Soniyi asked each of them what they have to offer the Association and its over 80,000 members in their two year tenure.  Excepts; My mission in this race is to serve with integrity and run an inclusive NBA dedicated to the advancement of the interests of its members and protection of societal norms and values. I have also developed a number of welfare support programmes for members of the Bar if I am elected. Some of these programmes include the provision of loans to members of the Bar, through partnering banks for setting up law firms and partnerships. Special health-care programmes will also be introduced for aged and incapacitated members of the Bar. Also germane is the issue of discipline in the profession which I will holistically address if elected. The welfare and capacity development of young lawyers will also be paramount if I am elected and in this vein, I will champion the establishment of a minimum wage baseline for the engagement of young lawyers bearing in mind the location of the practice and business environment. The practice of paying young lawyers paltry sums as salary must be discouraged in all ramifications. I have also marshalled out plans to empower lawyers and build their capacity by exposing them to emerging vistas of law which currently remain largely untapped. Some of these areas are sports law, competition law (anti-trust), entertainment law, medical law e.t.c. This I will achieve by ensuring training, capacity building, organising relevant workshops, conferences and seminars and by networking with development partners, as well as more developed Bar Associations internationally. Another area of interest which I will address is initiating a Health Insurance Policy in collaboration with the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) for all interested lawyers and their family members to guarantee easy access to quality healthcare and benefits. This will go a long way in addressing the health needs of lawyers and their family members. Under my leadership, the NBA stamp and seal policy will be enhanced by tackling all attendant delays in its production by ensuring that the stamps are produced and made available to lawyers promptly upon application. The NBA car stickers is also another area of concern and I intend to put machinery in place to ensure that the car stickers are serialised and customised for lawyers to avoid its abuse by non-lawyers as is presently the case. If I am elected, I will run the NBA in a transparent manner by ensuring accountability and openness in all dealings and affairs of the Association. Generally, I will run an all inclusive NBA by ensuring equal opportunities and participation by Branches, promote the rights of members, reposition the NBA as a frontline professional Association committed to holding government accountable and consolidate on the achievements of the present leadership of the NBA in the overall interest of the Association. Most NBA presidential aspirants have grandiose manifestos and seemingly populist programmes, but these are hardly followed through on assumption of office. What will be your main areas of focus if you are elected NBA President and how will you implement them during your two-year tenure? Two years is actually a reasonable time for any focused leader to make an impact. My programmes and vision for the Bar are well thought-out and very practicable. I also have a feasible blue-print for the implementation of my programmes. In drawing up my manifesto, I made wide consultations to identify the needs and yearnings of the Bar and all these are encapsulated in my manifesto which I have undertaken to implement to the fullest if elected. If I am elected as the 28th President of the Nigerian Bar Association, my main focus will be on the empowerment of members, promotion of professional development and continuing legal education. Members will be economically empowered by exposing them to business opportunities, training and capacity building in diverse areas of law, as well as capacity building to enhance skills and increase productivity in line with modern realities of legal practice. This I intend to achieve through capacity building workshops, networking programmes, seminars, courses and conferences amongst others. I am of the view that the current Rules of Professional Conduct 2007 (RPC) is due for a comprehensive review to bring it in tandem with current trends and reflect modern realities.

	‘I Will Run an All-Inclusive NBA Dedicated to Members’ Interest’ June 21, 2016 Chief J.K Gadzama SAN This year’s elections into the national offices of the Nigerian Bar Association is not only a first of its kind in the history of the Association. Lawyers for the first time will vote electronically from any part of the world. The election also promises to be different in many aspects. As Mr. A.B. Mahmoud SAN and Chief J.K Gadzama SAN, two legal titans crisscross the country canvassing the votes of Nigerian lawyers, May Agbamuche Mbu, Jude Igbanoi and Tobi Soniyi asked each of them what they have to offer the Association and its over 80,000 members in their two year tenure. Nigerian lawyers are now faced with the difficult task of deciding who will lead the Nigerian Bar Association for the next two years. You are in the race with an equally formidable contender. What are your plans for Nigerian lawyers if you become NBA President? I envisage an effective, efficient and purposeful NBA committed to the protection and promotion of the rule of law and maintenance of the best traditions of the Bar. My mission in this race is to serve with integrity and run an inclusive NBA dedicated to the advancement of the interests of its members and protection of societal norms and values. I have also developed a number of welfare support programmes for members of the Bar if I am elected. Some of these programmes include the provision of loans to members of the Bar, through partnering banks for setting up law firms and partnerships. Special health-care programmes will also be introduced for aged and incapacitated members of the Bar. Also germane is the issue of discipline in the profession which I will holistically address if elected. The welfare and capacity development of young lawyers will also be paramount if I am elected and in this vein, I will champion the establishment of a minimum wage baseline for the engagement of young lawyers bearing in mind the location of the practice and business environment. The practice of paying young lawyers paltry sums as salary must be discouraged in all ramifications. I have also marshalled out plans to empower lawyers and build their capacity by exposing them to emerging vistas of law which currently remain largely untapped. Some of these areas are sports law, competition law (anti-trust), entertainment law, medical law e.t.c. This I will achieve by ensuring training, capacity building, organising relevant workshops, conferences and seminars and by networking with development partners, as well as more developed Bar Associations internationally. Another area of interest which I will address is initiating a Health Insurance Policy in collaboration with the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) for all interested lawyers and their family members to guarantee easy access to quality healthcare and benefits. This will go a long way in addressing the health needs of lawyers and their family members. Under my leadership, the NBA stamp and seal policy will be enhanced by tackling all attendant delays in its production by ensuring that the stamps are produced and made available to lawyers promptly upon application. The NBA car stickers is also another area of concern and I intend to put machinery in place to ensure that the car stickers are serialised and customised for lawyers to avoid its abuse by non-lawyers as is presently the case. If I am elected, I will run the NBA in a transparent manner by ensuring accountability and openness in all dealings and affairs of the Association. Generally, I will run an all inclusive NBA by ensuring equal opportunities and participation by Branches, promote the rights of members, reposition the NBA as a frontline professional Association committed to holding government accountable and consolidate on the achievements of the present leadership of the NBA in the overall interest of the Association. Most NBA presidential aspirants have grandiose manifestos and seemingly populist programmes, but these are hardly followed through on assumption of office. What will be your main areas of focus if you are elected NBA President and how will you implement them during your two-year tenure? Two years is actually a reasonable time for any focused leader to make an impact. My programmes and vision for the Bar are well thought-out and very practicable. I also have a feasible blue-print for the implementation of my programmes. In drawing up my manifesto, I made wide consultations to identify the needs and yearnings of the Bar and all these are encapsulated in my manifesto which I have undertaken to implement to the fullest if elected. If I am elected as the 28th President of the Nigerian Bar Association, my main focus will be on the empowerment of members, promotion of professional development and continuing legal education. Members will be economically empowered by exposing them to business opportunities, training and capacity building in diverse areas of law, as well as capacity building to enhance skills and increase productivity in line with modern realities of legal practice. This I intend to achieve through capacity building workshops, networking programmes, seminars, courses and conferences amongst others. I am of the view that the current Rules of Professional Conduct 2007 (RPC) is due for a comprehensive review to bring it in tandem with current trends and reflect modern realities. This year, the NBA’s electoral process is quite innovative; it is a radical departure from the old system. For the first time, voting will be conducted electronically. There will also be universal suffrage which will give every lawyer in Nigeria an opportunity to vote. What are your views on this system? The adoption of universal suffrage is no doubt a departure from the usual modus operandi of elections in the NBA. I think it is a welcome development. Technology has become the order of the day and I think the NBA should move with the global trend. I also see it as a sign of advancement and I am optimistic that if professionally handled, it will turn out to be an effective system of voting. Also, this is going to be the first time that it will be used for NBA national elections and I do not expect that it will be without hitches. It will also interest you to know that the electronic voting system was successfully used for the NBA Abuja branch elections in 2014 and the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (Nigeria Branch) elections a few years ago. It is actually a more convenient and accessible way of voting and in that regard, it is a better option compared to the former voting system. No doubt, the most welcome innovation is universal suffrage which has guaranteed every eligible member the right to vote and in so doing, participate in determining the kind of leadership they want. The welfare of young lawyers features prominently in your manifesto. How do you intend to actualise this welfare package if you win the election? The welfare of young lawyers is very dear to my heart and that explains why it features prominently in my manifesto as you rightly said. As I earlier stated, I will champion the establishment of a wage baseline for young lawyers considering the location of practice and business environment, if I am elected. I intend to accomplish this by engaging and consulting the management of law firms across the country and working in concert with the various branches of the NBA. There has to be a forum where all and sundry will actively participate and majority will reach a consensus on a wage baseline for young lawyers. All concerned parties, that is the senior lawyers, management of law firms, various NBA branches and the young lawyers themselves will participate in this process and I am optimistic that it will yield a positive result. I have come to realise that finance is one of the challenges that young lawyers face in this profession. To this end, I intend to set up a loans’ board that will be saddled with the responsibility of disbursing soft loans to deserving lawyers, especially the young ones in order to assist them in setting up law firms and partnerships. This will be done in conjunction with partnering banks. The NBA under my leadership will ensure that these facilities are easily accessible to lawyers by making the process less cumbersome. The Health Insurance Policy is also one of the programmes that I have designed in terms of welfare of lawyers. I believe that young lawyers will greatly benefit from this programme which I will implement if I am elected. I intend to achieve this through effective collaboration with the National Health Insurance Scheme to guarantee easy access to quality healthcare and benefits at a subsidised cost. I believe that the welfare of young lawyers will be greatly improved by enhancing their skills and developing their capacities. To this end, I will replicate on a larger scale for the NBA, what my firm; J-K Gadzama LLP has been doing over the years. That is to develop a mentorship programme for young lawyers with a resource base drawn from senior lawyers and judges of superior courts (both serving and retired) and also establish a Cross-Border Mentorship Programme for them. Our young lawyers must be equipped with the requisite skills and abilities to address contemporary legal challenges and access enhanced benefits. This can only be achieved by training and re-training. The NBA under my leadership will be an all inclusive one. All members will be carried along, given a sense of belonging and treated fairly. I will ensure that qualified young lawyers are incorporated in various committees, boards and given key positions and tasks in the Bar to expose, empower and improve their skills. The issue of adoption of candidates by ethnic and regional fora is one which at best can be described as a double edged sword. In the past it worked well to produce consensus candidates, but this year, it appears that even your region, the North was unable to agree on a candidate. As things stand right now, the Arewa Lawyers’ Forum is sharply divided over who to adopt. This same scenario played out in the last elections when the South West’s Egbe Amofin could not agree on a candidate. How would this affect this year’s election? It is not correct to say that the Arewa Lawyers’ Forum is sharply divided over who to adopt. I can tell you that there is no division in the Forum. An Internal Electoral Screening Committee of the Forum was initially set up to recommend the adoption of a Presidential candidate for the Forum. We also submitted an addendum giving reasons why we should be adopted as the candidate of the Forum. We were appraised based on seniority at the Inner Bar, contributions towards the progress of the Bar, general acceptance, popularity, attendance at meetings, among several others. The Committee fully and exhaustively deliberated upon the issue and recommended me as its sole candidate but my opponent protested which eventually stalled the process. A meeting was however held on Thursday, 9th June, 2016 at which I was formally adopted as the sole Presidential candidate of the Forum in the forthcoming NBA National officers’ elections. This is a welcome development and it also goes to show that the ALF is one strong and united forum. This development is also an indication that I have the overwhelming support of a majority of the Arewa lawyers. My adoption by the ALF has been formally communicated in a letter signed by the Vice Chairman; Garba Pwul, SAN and the Assistant Secretary; T.T. Hyundu, Esq to the President of the NBA, as well as the respective Chairmen of the following fora; South-West Lawyers’ Forum, Egbe-Amofin, Eastern Bar Forum (EBF), South West Bar Forum and Mid West Bar Forum. In this year’s election, campaigns posters were banned, donations to branches were banned; newspaper and television adverts were banned. How has this affected your campaign so far? How have you been able to successfully reach out to the over 160,000 Nigerian lawyers? The banning of campaign posters and media adverts is actually a welcome development. To an extent, it has reduced the cost of electioneering. It has also engendered some degree of sanity in the process. It has not in any way affected my campaign negatively. I have been able to successfully reach out to lawyers in almost all branches of the NBA in all the States of the Federation. It has been my tradition over the years and long before this election to honour invitations from various NBA Branches, participate in their activities, consult elders of the Bar, pay courtesy calls and visit various branches of the NBA. In so doing, I have been able to reach out to the majority of lawyers before and in the course of my campaigns. My inter-personal relationship with lawyers across board over time, the networks that I have built throughout my practice years have proved a worthwhile investment and some measure of connection to lawyers in almost every part of Nigeria. We have been drawing from these investments. What are your thoughts on the Stamp & Seal policy introduced by the out-going administration which has thrown up over 2,000 fake lawyers within one year? The policy which has fought impersonation and quackery to a standstill is very commendable and must be sustained. If I am elected, I will put machinery in place to enhance the policy by ensuring that all stamps are produced and promptly delivered to the respective branches/members in good time upon application. Some members have also complained about the issue of the expiry date on the stamp and to this end, I will address this issue holistically considering the Relevant Rules of Professional Conduct (RPC) and the general concerns of members. Quite a number of lawyers have also complained about the cost of procuring these stamps and in this regard, I will consider reviewing the cost in line with current economic realities and in the overall interest of members, especially young lawyers. Another issue of concern is the delay in the production and delivery of the stamps. As I earlier stated, I will drastically reduce, if not totally eliminate all delays and bottlenecks in the production of the stamps in order to ensure that the stamps are delivered promptly upon application. Despite the remarkable achievements of the outgoing administration, the NBA Section on Public Interest and Development Law is still somewhat inactive. The Section on Legal Practice is just coming back from a hiatus. What are your plans for the Sections of the NBA and how do you intend to make them viable? The Sections are very key to the Nigerian Bar Association and must be strengthened. Being the Pioneer Chairman of the NBA Section on Public Interest Law (SPIDEL) and Pioneer Vice Chairman of the NBA Section on Legal Practice (NBA), I know that the role and importance of the Sections cannot be overemphasised. Under my leadership, I will create an enabling environment for the various Sections to thrive and institutionalise the process of selecting their successive leadership following democratic tenets and due process. This will engender confidence building and commitment from their respective memberships. The NBA under my leadership will also give all the needed support and assistance to the various Sections to enable them function effectively for increased productivity. There has been a general outcry over the current state of indiscipline and poor ethics of lawyers. How do you intend to improve the professional ethics of lawyers? The dignity of the profession has recently been undermined through some perceived unprofessional acts of some members. This situation underscores the need for the Bar to have a determined leader who can firmly address issues of discipline amongst its members and ensure timely action to preserve the integrity of the profession. Under my leadership, the Legal Practitioners’ Disciplinary Committee will be supported to deliver its mandate more effectively. One consideration is to have disciplinary proceedings conducted in a transparent manner that is open to public scrutiny. This is akin to what obtains in the United Kingdom where members of the public even participate in some stages of the disciplinary proceedings. The current Rules of Professional Conduct for Legal Practitioners 2007 (RPC) also appears to be outdated. I will put machinery in place to make sure that the RPC is amended to meet the current realities of legal practice especially as it affects discipline and the ethics of legal practice. Strict adherence to the RPC will be propagated and the NBA will collaborate with other relevant bodies and authorities to put in place measures that will ensure the highest levels of discipline in the profession. The level of computer literacy of Nigerian lawyers is noticeably low. If you win the NBA elections how would you improve this? I am not entirely sure that this is accurate especially with the younger generation of lawyers who demographically are the significant majority. Having said that, I do acknowledge the deficit which though reflective of a regional problem can and should be addressed. The world is going digital now and Nigerian Lawyers cannot afford to be left behind. According to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), 3.2 billion people, about half of the world’s population are online. However, only 34% of households in developing countries have access to internet. If elected, the use of ICT will be introduced as part of the continuing education programme. Lawyers will be given incentives to attend and participate in workshops on how to use the computer and other modern technological equipments. The young lawyers will also be given increased access to ICT facilities and services available at the National Secretariat at subsidised rates to enhance their ICT competencies. The NBA under my leadership will also work in concert with the various courts on the introduction of electronic filing of court processes, sensitisation and creation of awareness of relevant software and ICT applications among members. The Bar-Bench Forum was introduced to foster a good working relationship between the Bar and the Bench. It was very interactive in many branches, but has gradually become inactive. How can it be revived? This can be revived by creating more awareness of the forum and enhancing the relationship with the Bench. Many members of the Bar are not aware of the existence of the forum and this is a major impediment to its success. Some lawyers have also said that the timing of the Bar-Bench interactions are usually not convenient. These and other factors militating against the success of the Bar – Bench forum will adequately be addressed. All members must also be given a sense of belonging in this process and the NBA leadership under my watch will ensure that resolutions reached at the forum are fully implemented. The out-going Alegeh led administration despite the commendations it has received from several quarters cannot be said to be perfect. What short-comings did you observe in the out-going administration and how do you intend to improve on them? An Assessment of the present administration is actually a relative one. What is not in doubt is that Augustine Alegeh, SAN will be leaving the NBA better than he met it. His administration has performed well though there is always room for improvement. It is said that the room for improvement is the biggest room in the world and we cannot rest on our oars. The myriad political and legal issues facing African countries require collaboration between the various regional Bar Associations. If you become NBA President how will your administration facilitate this? Collaboration between the various regional Bar Associations is very germane and will be sustained under my leadership if I am elected. In this regard, I will consolidate on the achievements of the present NBA leadership. It will also be recalled that the NBA in collaboration with other Bar Associations and Law Societies in Africa hosted the pioneer African Bar Leaders Conference which held on Sunday, 10th April, 2016 in Lagos, Nigeria. Another point of reference is the 2015 Pan African Lawyers Union (PALU) Annual Conference which was held in Abuja from the 22nd to 24th day of September, 2015 which I actively participated in. I will bring the wealth of my experience garnered over the years by my active participation and interaction in these bodies to impact on the fortunes of the NBA. I will ensure that more avenues are created and that the NBA is properly represented in order to brainstorm, dialogue and cross-fertilise ideas with representatives of other regional Bar Associations across Africa and beyond all in a bid to continuously offer practical solutions to political and legal issues facing African countries. Also, the NBA under my leadership will ensure beneficial, well-informed, timely and coherent contributions to the debates on regional issues and promotion of democratic ethos and institutions in the African region.