| Adegboyega Awolomo. |
A
fresh crisis is brewing within the Body of Benchers, the apex regulatory body
for the legal profession in Nigeria, as the new Chairman, Asiwaju Adegboyega
Awolomo SAN, is accused of unilaterally reconstituting all committees without
the customary approval of the Board.
Awolomo’s
decision to dissolve all existing committees and appoint new members, allegedly
bypassing the established protocol of seeking Board approval, had elicited
strong reactions from members, with some likening his actions to those of a
dictator.
One
prominent committee affected by this action is the Membership Committee, which
Austin Alegeh SAN headed. Alegeh, a former President of the Nigerian Bar
Association (NBA), was appointed for a three-year term under the tenure of the
immediate past Chairman, Honourable Justice Mary Peter-Odili. Awolomo’s
decision to disregard this and other ongoing appointments has sparked
considerable discontent among members, our correspondent reliably gathered.
Irked
by the unilateral action, Alegeh wrote a protest letter dated May 2,
2024, to the Secretary of the Body, complaining about the illegality of
Awolomo’s steps and demanding a reversal our correspondent reliably learnt.
Nonetheless, this protest has reportedly been ignored by Awolomo, who has
refused to reverse his actions.
However,
speculation suggests that Awolomo’s actions may be fueled by anger over the
Membership Committee’s previous refusal to approve his wife, Chief Mrs Victoria
Awomolo SAN, as a member of the Body of Benchers.
It
will be recalled that there was stiff opposition to the emergence of Chief
Awomolo as Vice Chairman of the Body Benchers by the NBA who had instead put
forward Mrs. Funke Adekoya SAN as its preferred candidate as approved by its
NEC.
The
Body eventually approved his appointment after the intervention of well-meaning
members including the then Chairman Chief Wole Olanipekun SAN.
Many
members have threatened to have a showdown with Awomolo at the next meeting of
the Body with some said to be contemplating legal action against him and the
Body.
Our
correspondent also gathered that the next meeting of the Body of Benchers has
been fixed for 27th June 2024 and promises to be a very heated session.