Nigeria now has 170 life members on the Body of Benchers with 15 more prominent legal practitioners getting elevated to the status.
On the list of the latest additions is the Leader of the Senate, Sen. Opeyemi Bamidele; Mr Mike Ozekhome (SAN); Director General, Nigerian Law School, Prof. Isa Chiroma; Emir of Lafia, Justice Sidi Bage; retired Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Ejembi Eko; and former United Nations Special Rapporteur on Trafficking persons in Africa, Prof. Joy Ngozi Ezeilo (SAN).
The Body of Benchers, which is chaired by Chief Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), is responsible for the “admission of successful candidates at the Nigerian Law School Bar Final Examination into the Legal Profession.”
Those serving as members of the body are called Benchers.
It “also regulates the call of graduates of law school to the Nigerian Bar as well as the regulation of the legal profession in Nigeria.”
The confirmation of Sen. Bamidele and the 14 other life entrants was released on January 23, according to a statement by the Senate Leader’s Directorate of Media and Public Affairs in Abuja on Sunday.
The directorate wrote, “The elevation of the new life benchers is obviously in recognition of their outstanding contribution to the development of the legal profession in the country and for upholding the integrity and excellence of the legal profession.
“Bamidele, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters in the Ninth National Assembly, was first appointed into the Body of Benchers as a Bencher in November 2019.
“His tenure as the Chairman of Senate Committee on Judiciary and Legal Matters witnessed remarkable reforms, working closely with the leadership of both the judicial and executive arms of the Government.
“Among others, there was greater attention to the welfare and working conditions of judicial officers and staff through increased budgetary provisions to the Judiciary.
“The Bill for the increase in the retirement age of judicial officers from 65 to 70 was also passed by the legislature and assented to by the executive.”
It added that the Senate leader, who was called to the Nigerian Bar in July 1992, actively maintains his membership of the Nigerian Bar Association, American Bar Association, New York State Bar Association, and International Bar Association.
“He is also a Fellow, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (Nigeria); Fellow, Chartered Institute of Management Consultants, and Fellow, Chartered Institute of Local Government and Public Administration, Nigeria.
“At different times, Bamidele has distinguished himself in public service having served as the Commissioner for Youth, Sports & Social Development under the administration of Governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Commissioner of Information & Strategy under the administration of Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola and Chairman, House Committee on Legislative Research and Budget in the seventh National Assembly,” it said.
