Less than Fifteen Months to the end of the tenure of the current President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mr AB Mahmoud SAN, the issue of his successor in office has been an issue discussed in open quietness in every gathering of Lawyers.

The Presidential Slot of the Association is expected to be zoned to the Eastern Bar Forum of the Association in 2018 in accordance with the internal zoning arrangement of the Association.

Here are 4 Prominent Members of Eastern Bar Forum Rumored to be nursing the ambition to replace Mr Mahmoud as Number one Officer of the Association.



NO 1:



CHIEF ARTHUR OBI-OKAFOR SAN

A darling of Eastern Bar Forum and a very close Associate and Friend of Mr AB Mahmoud, Chief Obi-Okafor is rumored to be nursing the ambition of replacing his friend in office. Considered as eminently qualified and prepared to contest the election.

Chief Okafor has been in the front burner of news within the Association with his participation in numerous Bar Association events in branches nationwide, a move many consider as form of political awareness in preparation for the election. His Football Tournament is a major social event within the Association in the last two years.

Chief Okafor’s brief Profile has it that he was born into the family of Chief Humphrey Okafor and Mrs. Roseline Okafor (Nee Njeleta) of Abatete, Idemmili Local Government Area of Anambra State.
His desire to become a lawyer took him to the University of Calabar where he obtained his Bachhelors of Laws (LL.B) Hons. in 1990 and from there he proceeded to the Nigerian Law School, Lagos where he obtained Barrister at Law (BL) in 1991.
In 1992, he joined the law firm of Late Dr. Chimezie Ikeazor, (SAN) where he cut his legal teeth and learnt the art of the profession.
He established his current law office at God is great arena, Asaba in 2009 and was conferred with the prestigious rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) in 2010.


He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators Nigeria. Chief Arthur Obi Okafor (SAN) is a recipient of several awards including the distinguished Alumnus Award of the University of Calabar.
Chief Arthur Obi Okafor ( SAN) has served the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in many capacities including: Alternate Chairman Legislative Advocacy Committee of NBA 2012-2014, chairman of the NBA Resources Committee 2016.
Chief Arthur as he is fondly called has been a member of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of NBA since 2012. He is a Member of the NBA Legal Profession Regulation Review Committee which was inaugurated by the President of Nigerian Bar Association to proffer better regulation for the profession.
POSSIBLE STRENGTH: Very Popular in Eastern Bar Forum, Friend of Current Administration of the Association, Seen as Prepared for the Elections, A senior Advocate of Nigeria.
POSSIBLE WEAKNESS: Seen as part of the NBA Political establishment, Not very popular outside Eastern Bar Forum, Not very popular among young Lawyer.

MAZI AFAM OSIGWE

Arguably the most popular and most loved lawyer of his generation, Mazi Afam Osigwe, The immediate past General Secretary of NBA is a household name within the Nigerian Bar Association political circle. He is rumoured to be nursing the ambition of replacing Mahmoud SAN as NBA number one.
Mazi as he is fondly called is the darling of Lawyers of the younger generation within Nigeria. A daring and progressive personality that regards impossibility as nothing.
Mazi is known for his grand generosity to fellow lawyers and daring progressive initiatives.
His brief profile has it that Mazi Afam Osigwe was born on the 25 th of October 1972. He graduated from the University of Nigeria Enugu Campus in 1997 and was called to the Bar in 1999. He started legal practice with Chike Chigbue and Co, Abuja Office in 1999 and left in 2002 to found his firm , the LAW FORTE.

In 2006 he became a Notary Public of the Supreme Court of Nigeria. In 2010, he concluded a face-to- face tutorial at Keble College, Oxford, and obtained a Diploma in International Commercial Arbitration. He became a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (UK) in 2011.

In 2007 he obtained a Master’s of Laws Degree (LL.M) from the University of Jos . Mazi Afam also holds another an LL.M in (Transnational Commercial Practice) from the Centre for International Legal Studies, Austria (in collaboration with the Lazarsky University, Poland). He is yet to complete his doctorate programme.

Afam has appeared as a counsel in many arbitral proceedings as well sat as a sole arbitrator or member of arbitral tribunals in commercial disputes. He is avid reader and researcher.
Mazi Afam was the Publicity Secretary (PRO) of NBA Abuja, from 2006-2008.He became the Chairman of the Branch from 2010- 2012. He was a member of NEC from 2011 to 2013, he was also the Editor-In- Chief of the Unity Voice (the monthly newsletter of NBA Abuja) from 2011-2013. Under his able leadership the Unity Bar FC (the football club of NBA won both silver medal at the Football Tournaments at the Port Harcourt, AGC and Gold medal at the Abuja AGC respectively.

He was the last person to hold office as the Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association, Abuja Branch (Unity Bar) for the whole Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. Bwari and Gwagwalada Branches were created during his tenure as Chairman of the Unity Bar. By consent of the Chairmen of Bwari and Gwagwalada Branches of the NBA, he became the first Chairman of Chairmen of NBA Branches in the FCT, in 2012.


He was sworn in as the General Secretary of the Nigerian Bar Association in August 2014- August 26, 2016. He served under President Augustine Alegeh SAN, under whose tenure the following programmes were successfully introduced:

The NBA personalised adhesive Stamp, approved by the National Executive Committee of the NBA pursuant to Rule 10(1) of the Rules of Professional Conduct for Legal Practitioners, for mandatory use on all legal documents. E-voting, Universal Suffrage and Uniform Bye-Laws for Branches, Sections and Fora in the NBA Constitution; Introduction of a Uniform NBA Identity Card (Bar Card) which functions as a payment card for ATM, POS and Online Transactions and also entitle lawyers to a variety of discounts and other packages negotiated by the NBA; Automatic Insurance cover for all lawyers who have paid their Bar Practicing Fees; Reduction of the Fees for our Annual General Conference; NBA Partner Discounts with Corporate Partners who offer lawyers discounts on their goods and services; Completed of the development of the new NBA House, at the Central Business District Abuja.Matters for debate at NEC to be by Written Proposals/Counter Proposals submitted and circulated to all NEC members.

Mazi Afam Osigwe is seen by the NBA political establishment as too young to aspire to lead the Association as he is not a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN). There is however no legal impediment to his rumoured aspiration.

POSSIBLE STRENGHT: Very Popular within NBA Circles throughout Nigeria, Seen as prepared for the Election, Regarded as generous and progressive minded, A solid and superlative performance as the General Seceratry of NBA, Very popular with Younger lawyers.

POSSIBLE WEAKNESS: Not a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Seen by NBA political establishment as daring.

PROFESSOR ERNEST OJUKWU SAN

The “Teacher/Prof” as he is fondly known is a name very popular among Nigerian Lawyers. As a teacher of Law both at the University and the Nigerian Law School for more than two decades, Professor Ojukwu is regarded by many as father of Nigerian Lawyers of younger generation.
A close associate and friend of the current President, AB Mahmoud SAN, Professor Ojukwu is rumoured to be nursing the ambition of replacing Mr Mahmoud as NBA number one.
A seductive speaker with great oratory ability, Professor Ojukwu has a great record of service to the NBA.
A brief Profile of Professor Ojukwu has it that he was born on September 23, 1960 and hails from Ahaba Imenyi in Isuikwuato Local Government of Abia State in South East Nigeria. He attended the Methodist College Uzuakoli and Government College Umuahia. He also attended Obafemi Awolowo University Ile-Ife where he received the Bachelor of Laws and Master of Laws Degrees in 1983 and 1987 respectively.
Professor Ojukwu is the immediate past Deputy Director-General and Head of Campus of the Nigerian Law School, Augustine Nnamani Campus, Agbani Enugu. Before his appointment at the Nigerian Law School, he was Associate Professor and Dean Faculty of Law, Abia State University, Uturu from 1995-2001. He is Partner at the Law Firm of OFY Lawyers and Professor of Law at Madonna University.

Professor Ojukwu began his career in 1985 when he simultaneously joined the services of Abia State University as an Assistant Lecturer and began to practice Law in the chambers of Chief G. N. Atulomah. In 1988, he left to establish with his friends, a Law firm named Eleuthera Chambers. He rose to the position of Dean of the Faculty of Law in Abia State University where he served from 1995-2001.


Professor Ojukwu has also been a very active member of the Nigerian Bar Association, with a tremendous record of service at the local, regional and national levels, and has at one time or the other held the following positions:

Chairman NBA Aba Branch 1997 – 1999; Secretary NBA Aba branch 1992-93; Chairman NBA Law Reform Committee 2003 to 2004; Chairman NBA Academic Forum 2006 to 2010 & 2012-2014; Chairman NBA Editorial Committee 2006-2008; Chairman NBA Legal Education Committee 2006-2008; Chairman NBA Strategic Plan Working Group 2012; Project Director NBA Institute of Continuing Legal Education (Set up the Institute of Continuing Legal Education and commenced the MCLE as the Pioneer Director) 2006 to 2010; and 2012- 2014; Alternate Chairman 2003 NBA Annual Conference Planning Committee; Alternate Chairman/Editor-in-Chief, Editorial Board Nigerian Bar Journal, October 2002 to 2004; Alternate Chairman NBA Summit on the future of legal education in Nigeria 2006; Member NBA Special National Committee on Abuse of Executive, Legislative and Judicial powers, 1998 to 2000; Member, Joint working committee of the NBA & CLEAN on continuing legal education for practicing members of the legal profession August 1999 to 2000; Sole Member, NBA Standing Sub Committee to investigate complaints against legal practitioners October 1999; Member NBA Legal Education Committee, 2002 to 2004; Member Steering Committee of HURILAWS-NBA National Action Plan for justice sector reform in Nigeria, 2002; Member 2002 NBA Annual Conference Planning Committee; Member NBA Practicing fee, stamp and seal committee, Jan 2003 to 2004; Member NBA Committee on the state of the NBA, March 2005; Member NBA Special Committee on the Review of the Rules of Professional Conduct 2006/07; Member NBA Working Group on the Review of the Legal Practitioners’ Act and Council of Legal Education Act, 2011; and Pioneer Chairman/Founder NBA Eastern Bar Forum (EBF) 2004-2011.

Professor Ojukwu is currently a member of the recently inaugurated NBA LEGAL PROFESSION REGULATION REVIEW COMMITTEE and the Chairman of its sub-committee- THE FUTURE OF THE LEGAL PROFESSION.

Professor Ojukwu is seen by many as a legend within the legal profession and one of the brightest minds in his generation.

POSSIBLE STRENGTH: Widely accepted within the legal Profession, Seen as a father to many Lawyers he tutored as a law teacher, A father of the Eastern Bar Forum, Regarded as A seductive Orator, Popular with Young Lawyers, Close to current administration of NBA, A Senior Advocate of Nigeria.

POSSIBLE WEAKNESS: Many doubt his financial strength to execute the expensive NBA Presidential Campaign.