The outgoing president of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mr. Olumide Apata has expressed concern that the Bench does not agree with the Bar on having senior lawyers elevated as Justices of the Supreme Court.
Mr Apata gave expressed his concern during the first plenary of the second day of the Annual General Conference of the association, with theme “NBA in Transition; Conversation with NBA Presidents.”
He said that his administration wrote the former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mohammed Tanko and the current one, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola on the matter and that nothing concrete had come out of the efforts.
The outgoing NBA president however expressed optimism that with constant dialogue, the Bar could still take the matter to the National Assembly for intervention.
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Mr. Apata explained that having senior lawyers elevated to the Supreme Court Bench would enrich the judiciary and aided speedy and just dispensation of cases.
Contributing, the incoming NBA President, Yakubu Maikyau, SAN, promised that his administration would pick up the matter and pursue it.
Mr Maikyau said that he was committed to taking the association to greater heights, saying his administration would ensure a robust welfare package for members.
He praised the outgoing administration for restoring the voice of the Bar and promised that his tenure would build on the tenets of accountability, regulation and transparency.
