ONLY A SEASONED BAR MAN CAN LEAD THE IKEJA BAR WELL

On Saturday the Squib held an interview with Yinka Farounbi esq., the 1^st Vice-Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association Ikeja branch. Farounbi is a candidate for the post of chairman in the forthcoming elections of the branch which will take place on the 7^th May 2012.

He spoke about his aspiration and the Ikeja Bar among other things. Please read on.

QUESTION: PLEASE CAN WE KNOW YINKA FAROUNBI BETTER?

ANSWER: My name is Olayinka Oyeniyi Farounbi. I am from Ora-Igbomina Osun State. After my secondary school education, I worked for about five years as a factory operator with Poly Ventures Nig. Ltd. Lagos from where I gained admission to the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife to read law. I graduated in 1992 and was called to the Bar in 1993. I did my National Youth Service with Fola Ajijola & Co at 5, Adesina Street, Ikeja, Lagos. I thereafter joined the chambers of Olubunmi Oyewole & Co (now Hon. Justice Olubunmi Oyewole) from 1995 to 1999 before I became the Principal Partner of Messrs. Yinka Oyeniyi Farounbi & Co of 114, Ikorodu Road, Fadeyi, Lagos. I am the legal secretary to Osun North East of the Anglican Diocese. Ever since I was called, I have been in active private legal practice and I have handled cases in all our courts.

I am married to Biodun Farounbi, a caterer of exceptional quality. To the glory of God we have children of both sexes. I am the incumbent 1^st Vice Chairman of NBA Ikeja Branch. Before this, I was the Auditor of the branch between 2000/2002. Again I was the Assistant General Secretary between 2002/2004 and between 2006/2008 I was the Financial Secretary of the branch. I joined and was actively involved in the activities of the branch since 1998; that was about five years after my call to the Bar. Ever since then I have been attending the national NBA meetings and the NEC (National Executive Committee) meetings also.

QUESTION: WHAT DO YOU UNDERSTAND BY THE TERM “BAR MAN” AND HOW FAR APPLICABLE IS IT TO YOU?

ANSWER: Someone that is not just a legal practitioner and merely a financial member of the N.B.A. he is someone who participates in what can be termed the day to day affairs of the organization. He is someone who cannot be regarded as a stranger to the affairs of the organization. As I said earlier, I have been participating fully in the affairs of the NBA Ikeja since 1998 though prior to 1998 I have been attending most of the meetings of the branch but I became very actively involved in 1998. Since 1998 till date the number of meetings of our branch that I did not attend can be counted on the fingers of one hand ditto the conferences and NEC meetings. It is only a “Bar Man” to the core who is dedicated to the affairs of the organization that can go through the things myself and my colleagues go through in the service of the NBA. For the sake of the Bar we have had cause to leave our homes for days on end in the service of the Bar.

QUESTION: IN YOUR VIEW, HOW RELEVANT IS THE BAR TO THE ISSUE OF NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT?

ANSWER: The Bar is very relevant indeed to the development of the nation. By our training, lawyers are natural leaders are operators of the political system of democracy that we practice.

You will note that a third of government, that is, the judiciary, is exclusively manned and maintained by members of the Bar, legal practitioners. Even in the executive arm of government, the very important post of Attorney General and Minister of Justice is exclusively reserved for legal practitioners.

In short in a society of laws, the Bar must be very relevant. We are the enlightened ones and we are the wise men of our community. And you will also note that there is very high ethical content in our legal training and if we would not encourage mismanagement, corruption and other vices in our leaders and society, our country will be much better for it.

QUESTION: PLEASE ASSESS THE IKEJA BAR IN THE COMMUNITY OF OTHER BRANCHES?

ANSWER: This question is a little difficult for me to answer not because I do not know what to say but because my answer could be regarded as self serving. However which all due respect, Ikeja is first among equals among the 96 branches of the NBA. Ikeja stands like a colossus. Locally, nationally and internationally, Ikeja is known for its objectivity, activism, courage and welfarism. But for the Ikeja Bar, there would not have been NBA today. In 1992, in the aftermath of the disrupted Port Harcourt conference, the NBA went into limbo and it was the Ikeja Bar that provided the leadership for the restoration of the Bar. It is on record that Ikeja again provided leadership and even the muscle at the 2011 Annual Conference to frustrate the plans of the current national leadership of the NBA to impose unpopular policies like the creation of State Bar on Nigerian lawyers.

Our Bar is one of the biggest branches and we are not big for nothing. We take care of our members during conferences and NEC meetings and we have successfully built an attractive and imposing secretariat, which even now not fully developed is already the envy of others.

Our voice in and outside the legal profession is highly respected and in fact to so many members of the public the only NBA they know and care for is NBA Ikeja Branch.

QUESTION: YOU ARE ASPIRING TO BECOME THE NEXT CHAIRMAN, WHY?

ANSWER: Thank you very much for this question. Candidly NBA Ikeja Branch at this period of time needs a dedicated and experienced “Bar Man” to lead it and I have got the qualification. I have worked successfully with no less than four administrations an during this period I have not only understudied them I have equally cut my teeth as an administrator within these periods. The NBA assignment is not one to be taken up over night otherwise no success will ever be recorded, it is not at five minutes to twelve midnight that you can adjust to the demands of that office if you are not hitherto used to the system as a “Bar Man” it will be impossible to make any meaningful impact in that office, you will just be “A stranger in the Bar.” It has happened before at the national level and we all paid dearly for it. No matter what detractors may say, our Branch, the Ikeja Bar is already a success story.

The reality of this success story is evident to all except those who out of malice, ignorance or mischief choose to close their eyes to it.

Internally and externally, for reasons I have enumerated earlier in this interview, the Ikeja Bar is a force to be reckoned with in the NBA and in the country. I wish to say with due modesty, that I am one of the architects of the success story of the Ikeja Bar. I have the requisite standing, experience and knowledge not only to maintain and sustain the present standards but to excel them.

I am not a newcomer to the affairs of our dear Branch. I am not going to be an experimenter or somebody learning on the job, using “try and miss” tactics. Remember I have been part and parcel of four different administrations in the past ten years and I have understudied all of them, in fact it will be a waste of my years of tutelage if someone like me chooses not to offer myself to the extremely tasking service of Chairman of the Ikeja Bar.

It is now that Ikeja Bar is admired all over the world that some people want to join the train, thinking only of the glamour of the office of Chairman. I have been tested and tried. This is the time to serve the Ikeja Bar at its highest level.

QUESTION: WHAT ARE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING THE ELECTION?

ANSWER: My chances are very bright. Our colleagues know their true leaders, they know those who have been serving them with dedication, industry, integrity an intelligence. They have accepted our candidacy and bought into our programme.

We don’t need to tell them lies or exaggerate on our strengths and capacities. I am very sure of the wide acceptability of the Omole Regime in which in which I now serve as the immediate Deputy and I am sure that the electorate will not ignore or disregard our record of service. By the grace of God on May 7^th 2012, we shall be elected into office as Chairman to continue the good work. Remember, nobody changes a winning team.         

“IKEJA BAR’S TRIP TO GHANA WILL BE WONDERFUL” Amina Imana

On Wednesday the 12th November 2008, the Squib spoke with pretty Barrister Amina Imana an active member of the Nigerian Bar Association Ikeja Branch and the Secretary of the Junior Lawyers Forum of the Ikeja Bar on a few issues including the forthcoming December 2008 Excursion of the Branch to Accra Ghana. Amina is the co-ordinator of the Trip to Ghana. Please read on.

Squib: Our readers will like to meet Barrister Amina Imana.
Imana: My name is Amina Ohiovoluwa Imana. I was called to the Bar in November 2006 after graduating from the Lagos State University (LASU) Ojo Lagos. I am presently an associate in Adekunle Ojo & Co. Legal Practitioners. Before now I was with Olatunji Sofowora & Co. I did a stint with the U.N Information Technology Services (UNITES). After freelancing with UNITES them I joined Adekunle Ojo & Associates.

Squib: Can you tell us a little about the Junior Lawyers Forum (JLF) of the Ikeja Bar since you are the secretary?
Imana: I am the Publicity Secretary of the JLF of the Ikeja Bar. The JLF is a platform for the new-wigs to get to know what it entails to be a lawyer. In short getting to know the ropes of being a very good lawyer. Our chairman is Olawunmi Oluwaseyi. We meet every last Friday of the month to discuss issues, relevant to junior lawyers; issues like how to handle briefs well, how to over come court room fright. It is also a forum for young lawyers to ventilate their grievances in the profession and make known their observations. The JLF also presents the opportunity for young lawyers to embrace continuous legal education

Squib: We understand the NBA Ikeja is planning to take interested member on a one week visit to Ghana in December?
Imana: Yes that is true. In fact I was directed by Mr. Dave Ajetomobi the chairman of the branch to co-ordinate the plans to take our members to Ghana. The branch wants to use this travel programme to bring her members together in a serene and relaxed atmosphere whereby the seniors and juniors can mix freely. We want to create a situation where lawyers will for a little while abandon the normal high pressure life style of their work. To that end the leadership intend to take interested members to a seven day visit to Accra the capital of Ghana. We intend to visit the Ghana Parliament and the Supreme Court. We shall also visit the Elmina Castle, Kakun Park, (a game reserve) and the famous Mokola Market.

Squib: What's the cost implication of the trip?
Imana: It is not expensive. For only N50,000.00 participants will, for 7 days be transported, accommodated and secured in and about Accra, Ghana. You will agree with me that the fee of N50,000.00 is very reasonable. I hope none of our members will missed out of this wonderful opportunity.

“LAW IS A WONDERFUL PROFESSION” - Stephen Oteju

On Friday, the 7th November 2008, the Squib had a short but very interesting interview with Stephen Afolabi Babalola Oteju, Esq. a member of the 1968 graduate set of the Nigerian Law School in his expansive Palmgrove Estate Lagos home. Now about 74 years old, Mr. Oteju a widely traveled and successful businessman was the best over all student at the Law School (Bar Part 1) but practiced law for only a few months after qualifying as a solicitor and barrister of the Supreme Court of Nigeria. Mr. Oteju hails from Ikorodu, Lagos State.

SQUIB: In your time how was the legal profession regarded?
OTEJU: The law profession as at that time, just like now was highly regarded. Most people who went into law did so because we realised it is a field where you can be many things at a time. As a lawyer, you can also be a businessman. A lawyer can really be anything he wants. The very nature of law and the training make this so. I read law, I wanted to be lawyer all my life. At the same time, even when I was in London I was doing business. When I came back and qualified I practiced for some months before going back to business. But even as a businessman, I am very much interested in the law profession. The knowledge of law has been very useful to me in my life as a businessman. Two of my children are lawyers. This is a field that I very much admire. To me law is a wonderful profession. I was in London between 1961-1966 for my legal studies, I studied law at the Holborn College of Law. You must have the University degree of that College before coming back to Nigeria to qualify from the Nigerian Law School. We are the first set to do nine months of training at the Law School but usually it was three months. We are the 1967-1968 set.

SQUIB: What is your memory of the Nigerian Law School?
OTEJU: The Law School then was very strict, and we were very careful. Those of us who came from outside Lagos were accommodated in the legislative quarters at Victoria Island. Most of us were using one bedroom flat apartment. Dr. Orojo, was the Director of the Law School then. It was a beautiful arrangement.
The training then, was very good. People like Ogendegbe, Ibironke our lecturers.The lecturers were very dedicated. G.O.K Ajayi was also one of them though he was a part time lecturer. I remember that we were just a little above 100 students in our class but have lost 34 of us over the years.
If you don't pass Bar part one, you can not go to Bar part 2 then. Lawyers have always been looked up to, the society respects lawyers. Some people believe they are clever, intelligent. In our time many parents prefered their children to become either lawyers or doctors.
Dr. Elias the Attorney-General of Federation then, was a pillar of Nigerian Law School, I had the privilege of coming first in our Bar part one examination and I got a prize from Elias.
The Director of the Law School then Dr. Orojo was so pleased with me, after we qualified that he advised me and introduced me to Gani Fawehinmi (three years my senior) to practice with him. Gani and I were to form a partnership but the arrangement did not work out. After about six months of practice, I left to join my family in the U.K. I love law but my inclination has always been business. But I make sure that two of my children became lawyers.

SQUIB: Can you remember some of your Law School mates?
OTEJU: Some of my classmates, for instance are Kolapo Gambari (now Emir of Ilorin). I remember James Ogebe and Umaru Abdulilah (they are the one who organized this great occasion.) Goodie Ibru, James Ademiluyi and his wife (they met at the Law School). Moshood Olugbani, Mustapha the Court of Appeal. Are also my mates at the Law school
Of course when we met in Abuja, November 1, 2008 after 40 years of leaving the Law School, we were all happy to see one another. It was our first re-union. We all have changed. Our hairs are now white, but we related as if we were still students. it was a great occasion. We were so happy meeting ourselves. I really appreciate the organisers of the 40th anniversary celebration for our set, James Ogebe and Umaru Abdullahi. I told our people that we must continue this re-union and make it biennial. We must also do something for the Law School, and for the Nigerian Bar Association. We must improve the practice of law. We must make our mark in that area. Those of us at the bar and on the bench, must not abuse our powers. Law is a wonderful profession. I must not forget to appreciate Goodie Ibru too. He gave us free dinner at the Sheraton Hotel.

BODE MAKINDE ESQ 3RD VICE PRESIDENT CANDIDATE

PERSONALITY PROFILE
BODE MAKINDE

MISSION STATEMENT
* To effectively coordinate with every sense of responsibility and commitment the branches assigned to me as the 3rd Vice President of the Nigerian Bar Association.

*To impact positively on these branches for growth, efficiency and development.

* To support the incoming President in all his programmes and efforts to build a greater Bar and a better society.

* In paying periodic visits to branches assigned to me, I shall encourage the branches to support the President thereby ensuring an effective delivery or execution of the programmes of the incoming administration to the overall benefits of members in the branches.

BRIEF PROFILE OF BODE MAKINDE

1. Call to the Bar in November 1990

2. Happily married with two children

3. Social Secretary NBA Yola Branch 1992

4. Publicity Secretary NBA Yola Branch 1994

5. Secretary NBA Yola Branch 2003 to 2005

6. Member Conference Planning Committee NBA Annual General Conference Jos 2005

7. Member Council of Legal Education 2004 to 2006

8. National Financial Secretary NBA 2006 to 2008

9. NBA NEC member 2003 to date

10. Member Nigerian Bar Association Election Working Group

11. Founder Action for Justice and Human Rights, a non governmental organisation (NGO)

12. Has attended nearly all NEC meetings and Bar Conferences of the NBA since 1992 to date.

GC IGBOKWE ESQ GEN SEC CANDIDATE

Who is G.C. Igbokwe?
I am a Benin City based legal practitioner, called to Bar in 1985 and have been in serious active practice since then with a bias for litigation. I am from Anambra State, born on the 17th day of June 1962 and married to Mrs. A.S Igbokwe, a Magistrate, with 5 kids. I got my LL.B Hons. from University of London and did my postgraduate course in University of Ekpoma. I am a Notary Public.

In what ways are your antecedents in the bar relevant to your present aspiration?
My antecedents in the NBA constitute what I call relevant experience. They stand me out in the field of contestants. I started my NBA activities with my branch Benin where I served as the Social Secretary form 1989-1990 and later as Secretary from 1996-1998.
At the national level I was elected the 1st Assistant Secretary in 1990 and served in that position till 1992. In that office I was privileged to serve under two very vibrant and respectable General Secretaries in the persons of Obafemi Adewale Esq. and now Hon. Justice Suji Olateru-Olagbegi. In that same office I also served under three very divergent but principled and committed leaders of the bar as presidents namely Charles Idehen, Sir Clement Akpangbo SAN (of blessed memory) and the indomitable Chief (Mrs) Pricilla Kuye SAN. Again in the year 1998, I was elected as the national publicity secretary. These positions give me an edge over other candidates for this position who cannot boast of equivalent exposure. The Association places very high premium on experience and cannot mortgage it for any other consideration. With this background and history of service, I understand the running of the Secretariat and the ideology of the leaders past and present.

If the office of the General Secretary of the bar is the engine room of the association, what special qualities are you bringing to that office?
If elected, I will bring my entire experience to bear on the affairs of the Secretariat. I am mature, dedicated, committed, resolute, realistic, competent, dependable and accountable. I have been tried, tested and trusted in my past activities and offices. I’ll run the Secretariat with so much candour and objectivity that members will be amazed at the level of inattention they had received in the past.

Can you expatiate here on your key programmes and how you intend to achieve them?
My major programme will be to take the Association back to the members who are its primary constituency and have been alienated from it for a long time. I will give them value for their membership by giving them what I term freedom of information on all NBA activities including publication of a comprehensive list of our representatives in corporate bodies including their branches and rationale for appointment so that they can personally aspire to equally be appointed to represent the Association. I will establish and sustain a newsletter that will publicise all the activities of the NBA. I will create periodic fora for interactions with members through their branches for questions and answers on NBA affairs, policies and activities. I will create an avenue for recognizing, honouring and acknowledging members both old and new who have rendered invaluable and selfless service to this Association. In fact, in all ramifications, my regime will be members oriented without losing sight of the secretariats oversight functions.

In your view, how can legal education be strengthened in Nigeria and how can the practice of law be made more lucrative for legal practitioners?
Legal education can be strengthened in Nigeria with a strict control and monitoring of law faculties of our universities. Admission quota must be respected and strictly adhered to while accreditation must be reviewed periodically with a direct involvement of the NBA and other professional organs like the council of Legal education and the disciplinary committees.
As to making legal practice more lucrative, it is high time legislation come in to restrain the encroachment of other professions into areas of practice of lawyers. Accountants and other professions are seriously encroaching into the areas of practice of lawyers with impunity. This has to be stopped. The Legal Practitioners (Documentary Service) Remuneration Act has to be strictly enforced and then the courts must be prepared to assist whenever a lawyer approaches them for relief. Besides, this, the rule of law, sustained democracy and strong judiciary when firmly in place will increase the confidence of the public in adjudication and need for lawyers. These we must fight for with all our strength and with all arsenal at our disposal. We must be courageous in the struggle for enthronement of constitutionality and respect for rule of law in all aspects of life.

You are contesting the office for the third time; why the insistence?
This is my 3rd attempt at this office and this is my golden opportunity. I have not seen any improvements in the service I wish to offer the Bar as General Secretary. Deacon Dele Adesina SAN became secretary on his 3rd attempt and is arguably the best secretary in recent history. I am encouraged because the loss in the last two attempts was not because of incompetence or rejection but as a result of political alignments and realignments bordering on zoning. Now the coast is clear and there is no impediment for my victory.

As a Benin based lawyer, how do you hope to effectively discharge the heavy burdens of the office of the General Secretary of the NBA?
The Association has grown beyond fixed secretariat or restricted operations. With IT era, the whole world is a global village and Nigeria is certainly one. Since we won, the battle to make the position of General Secretary open, the Association has not been disappointed. And don’t forget that for all service practitioners, the whole federation is their constituency.

Again, I am equipped with enough information technology to operate a network of services. I have a staff strength of Ten lawyers and associates to manage my chambers. Besides, I perfectly understand that I am offering selfless service to the Association that will cause some inconveniences in my legal practice. Again, the immediate past and last General Secretaries come from Port Harcourt and Ilorin respectively. They have done well from branches that are further to Lagos than Benin. Sincerely, expect to do as well if not better than them in the service of the Association.

G.C., can you win this office, this time?
Yes, I can win this office. I am in the race and running to win by the Grace of God and goodwill of all well meaning and objective delegates who believe in history of service, experience and maturity. This is my time and I’ll surely make it.

CAROL AJIE GEN SEC CANDIDATE

In a few days Ms Carol Ajie, the Nigerian Bar Association will be electing a new set of officers to run the affairs of NBA for two years. What policy direction would the new EXCO follow; an EXCO that you expect to be a part of, if elected?

As you know the President of NBA is the head of the administration, the General Secretary is there to take instructions from him and the National Executive Committee looking at Article 13(3) of the NBA Constitution 2001, the Chief Scribe is not the boss or power-house but may influence decisions only as long as it does not conflict with the President because the NBA is not like party politics where those who should serve engage in ego war. ln my twenty one years of Bar activism, the General Secretary only had leadership tussle only during the 2004-2006 regime. Those who have been groomed to serve NBA know the limits of the power of the Chief Scribe and would badly avoid a conflict because it has the tendency to de-stabilize the association. Also a General Secretary who is stuck on alcohol or associated with the use of thugs during campaigns, will not be able to serve and the association will be worse for it, whoever their sponsors are. The President will be the one to issue policy direction, not the General Secretary.

How ready are you for service to NBA? What are your credentials? Are you hoping to draw on sentiments to win because you are a woman or the most popular candidate?

Not a stranger to Bar activism, l got appointed into the National Executive Committee at a very young age of 3 or 4 years post-call by dint of hard work. Sir Clement Akpamgbo SAN of blessed memory was the first who recognized my potentials and then Mrs Priscillia Kuye followed, both brought me into NEC at a young age and greatly encouraged me to serve the only association we have. I am profoundly greatful to them and many others who helped me build-up and improve on my abilities. As the Secretary of Lagos premier branch, the most populous branch in NBA, l was the Editor of the maiden edition of the Bar journal Lagos Branch and a member of the
national editorial board. As secretary of Lagos branch, l gave puntuality prizes to the first twenty lawyers who arrived the venue of the meeting to encourage attendance and participation at meetings, at no cost to the branch. l was also good at fund raising and thereby brought us to the million Naira club range which we have maintained to date. My minutes were clear, my reports well articulated and information flow was free because we need a knowledgeable NBA, not one gropping in the dark over simple and unharmful information.

The Chief Scribe should keep an update of record of members and being in the internet age, being internet savvy, being computer literate that l am are great advantages to working an efficient and effective secretariat. in 1994, l joined the lnternational Bar Association and remained thereon till date. I started being rapporteur to conferences of NBA and African Bar Association when l was under ten years post-call. l bagged the distinguished service award of NBA in June 2004. l belong to several service and professional bodies and have traversed the continents of Africa, Asia, Europe, the Pacific Rim and America attending professional events and conferences. The experience and exposure garnered l will put at the doorstep of my colleagues. l have the time to give to NBA the best it deserves.

As the Executive Secretary of Rules Watch 2004 to date, l did organize successful international workshops and brought resource persons from UK and USA to talk about antitrust law, to compare our new court rules with those propounded by Lord Woolf in
England from where the Lagos High Court Rules was modelled. We shall not rest on our oars until we get our National Assembly to enact a legislation on antitrust, the new economic world order.

I am not running this election on sentiments. Women are human beings with right to aspire to be any position in life, so says Hillary Clinton.They say what is good for the goose is also good for the gander. Let us not fight a gender war; women are our mothers, wives, sisters and daughters; men are our fathers, husbands, brothers and sons. We are in this world for each other, in the legal profession to recognize and complement one another and create semblances of gender balance following global trends where the merit of the situation allows it. Let us advocate for competence irrespective of sex, let us not see competence and de-recognize it because the cloak is a lady's, that will break the heart. We have elected a male President for NBA free of rancour, giving him a capable woman General Secretary becomes a natural choice. ln Nigeria women head sensitive ministries. A woman is EFCC Chair, women have been Presidents of ICAN, CIBN etc and the NBA is not an exception to empowering women. We had a woman General Secretary of NBA in the person of Hon. Hairat Balogun thirty years ago, great woman, great achiever, competent secretary she earns my profound respect any day any time. Many think it is time to try another woman after thirty years, if they found one that is competent and that squarely rests on me, l have been adjudged a competent secretary, even the lawyers who support other candidates concede that l am the best secretariat material this year.

OKEY OWHONDA ESQ - GEN SEC CANDIDATE

On Friday the 27th June 2008, The Squib met with Mr. Okey Owhonda former chairman of the NBA Port-Harcourt branch and a leading candidate for the post of Secretary General of the NBA in the forth coming elections of the association in August. A veteran bar man, Owhonda in this engaging interview spoke about his aspiration to become the next General Secretary of the Nigeria Bar Association and what he hopes to achieve in office if elected.
Can we meet you sir?
My name is Okey Owhonda. I was born in 1963 and I am from Rumuigbo Obiakpor Local Government in Rivers State. I attended Federal Government College Warri. I proceeded to the University of Ife in 1979 and graduated in 1983. I went to the Law School and was called to the bar 1984. I did my Youth Service with the Legal Aid Council in Enugu between 1984-1985, thereafter, I returned to Port-Harcourt and joined the firm of Okocha and Okocha in 1985, and rose to become the deputy managing solicitor there. In 1988 I went back for Masters and graduated in 1989. I opened my own firm, Okey Owhonda and Co. about September 1994. The firm has grown now, to 11 solicitors and paralegals aside myself. I am married to Irene with whom I have 3 children.

You are a member of the NBA, do you also belong to any other professional bodies?
Apart from being a member of the NBA, I also belong to the International Bar Association and the Commonwealth Lawyers Association. I participate well and attend their conferences and their activities. I am also an active member of Jaycees, a leadership training association.

Your religion?
I am a Christian (Anglican communion)

You are aspiring to a post at the National level of the NBA, what are you antecedent at the NBA, asides being a member?
Aside being a member, I have tried to play a role at all levels. First, I have taken interest in the activites of NBA such that when I was called to the bar, from my first year at the bar, I have attended every bar conference, from 1985 to date. In my branch I have been a member of many committees, such as welfare committee, dinner committee and human rights committee, all this between 1985-1996. In 1996 I became the secretary of my branch
I was also a member of the decision and resolution to get the NBA back on track. That motion was moved by Chief Akuro George in Jos for the resuscitation of the NBA. The committee of chairmen and secretaries to the NBA was set up to achieve this purpose. I was a member of that committee and we rounded up our work, by organizing the Unity Conference of 1998, in Abuja, where new excos were elected. I was one of those given awards for contributing well to the growth of the NBA.
I have remained a member of the National Executive Committee (NEC) from 1996 and since then have attended all NEC meetings of the NBA as a NEC member except the meeting in Yola in 1998. In 2000, I was appointed the Secretary of the Constitution amendment committee. It is on record, that, that committee has turned out the only successful amendment of the 1998 constitution so far. This feat was achieved under the chairmanship of B.M. Wifa S.A.N at the Calabar conference 2001.
I have never held any office just for the sake of it. In every opportunity I have been given to serve, I have worked for positive change. When I was secretary of Port-Harcourt branch we raised participation of our members in the branch activities to a high level. And when I was the vice chairman of the same branch we started developing the branch's permanent structure and institution like the human right scheme. When I became branch chairman from 2002 to 2004, everyone of the bar then, can attest to the fact that we served excellently well, we did not hold anything back. Am also a member of three very important committees of the NBA-Constitution review committee, National Law centre committee and National Privatisation committee. And I was also the alternate chair of the National Planning conference committee Port-Harcourt 2006
Now it's our intention, if elected, firstly that our secretariat will function efficiently and profusely, in keeping records, keeping minutes, summoning meetings, e.t.c. We will not provide excuses for not doing this, and for the very first time, everybody would see that the NBA can have an efficient secretariat.

How do you want to achieve that, even with the current structure?
To me the NBA, has enough staff and competent desk officers, to do the work.

So, you are saying we have adequate staff?
Owhonda: Yes, some are even lawyers, I think, it is an advantage for us to utilize them, one of the areas they have not addressed adequately is the conference planning desk, both locally and internationally. We should have a permanent conference department desk to organize conferences. We must be able to have plans for the next conference, immediately when one finishes.
I think, with the contribution of NBA to IBA, CLA, our association is not getting enough from them. They should be able to give programmes that would benefit our members. Our profession should be more developed, specialised and focused so that our practice would be more organized and we will earn better incomes. Barrister Chijioke Orji has brought up a programme of welfare for our lawyers in a document called MEMORANDUM FOR THE ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT OF LAWYERS, by the grace of God we shall resurrect that paper

Why do you think you can head the NBA's Secretariat?
I have served, in our branch as the secretary, vice chairman and chairman. I have also served as a member secretary and chairman of various national committees. I am a team player by nature, I know how to operate in a team environment, I also know that in NBA, once officers were elected the preliminary thing, they do, is to collate their ideas, I appreciate that the president of the organization is the leader so the leader, also ask the members to contribute their ideas. At that stage, we can use all these ideas, to contribute to the greatness of our bar.
When I became the chairman of our branch, I called our opponents, even though they are not part of the exco, collected their ideas, and adopted them as our own, so far, it would affect our member positively, so in a nutshell, I can operate under anybody, relate with anybody.
I have been a change agent and I know how to drive successful change. To succeed in bringing positive change to the people, the honestly of purpose driving the mission to serve the people and the capacity must also be there on the part of the leader. I humbly believe I have all these qualities. Experience has shown that mankind are more disposed to suffer why evils are sufferable, than to change, the system, they are used to. What that means is this-every group of human beings would rather stay with what they are doing now, if they can bear the inconvenience rather than change. My experience, in life generally, is that for you to effect change successfully, as a leader, you must have the vision and the mission, which is the good intention.

Lets assume, you win, what are we to expect at our NBA NEC meetings?
Owhonda: Everywhere we go on our campaigns, this question always comes up. The larger number of our members are yearning for the old days NEC meetings. We would take the advantage of what is happening now. Frankly speaking the pre-meetings documentation is better that what we used to have in the past, and we would adopt that, to have the documents in place, and make sure all members have their documents before the next NEC meeting but we will also make sure that decisions are made at the larger house, because some members are beginning to think, that only a small class of select people are the ones making decisions for the whole house.
We will also want to use NEC meetings as relaxation time for our members, in effect our Thursdays and Fridays for NEC meetings, will be fully utilized for NEC meetings. Another thing is also that, we are going to have calendars, at least for the next 2 years, and if possible identify the venues, so that members can have enough time to prepare their diaries.

If you become the next General Secretary what direction will you influence Exco to go with respect to national issues?
I believe that the NBA has a critical role to play in ensuring that constitutional democracy succeeds in Nigeria. And so the NBA must act as a watch dog. We (NBA) must speak out so clearly on the side of legality, justice and due process that the average man on the street, will see any lawyer and imagine he had seen another Gani Fawehinmi. It is the failure of the NBA, that has led to the presence of all those unscrupulous people, claiming they are fighting for human rights, whereas they are fighting for their pockets. So in a nutshell if we are elected into office I will serve the NBA to regain her voice.

If you become the General Secretary of the NBA and you are now given government appointment, will you take it?
People who know me, know me for my passion for the bar. They also know that as matter of policy, I have set out the first 25 years of my career for the bar, which has brought me to the position I am so far. I would have been lured into partisan politics before now but I chose to stay in my profession. I was one of those who in 1997/1998 included that clause in our constitution, that nobody who holding any national office in the NBA, should go for any political position. So I can not go against that clause. I think it is immoral. I am also against partisan politicians holding offices in the NBA. In my branch, you can't be a card carrying member of a political party and hold any of our offices at the same time. We have a case Chinwo vs Owhonda & 2 ors pt 1064 of NWLR still pending in the Supreme court on this issue.
We won in the High Court, even at the Appeal court over this point and under my chairmanship, the rule was included in our bye-laws.

How do you rate your chances of getting elected, if cleared to run?
Our chances are quite high. First our colleagues have quite appreciated our past records of service. Secondly, those who have served with me can attest, to my passion for the bar and my commitment. More importantly, we didn't just join the race. Before we did so we consulted widely, and we are still reaching out to every branch for support, without undermining any quarters and we have been getting good response. With all this we are believing God to win this election.

I was told that under the presidency of Agbakoba, that the Secretariat has become 'ethnicised', that is people of his ethnic group have taken over the secretariat say, what should we be looking for under you?
When I became the chairman of my branch a question was put to me that, supposing a judge of my ethnic background is involved in corruption, as the NBA chief, can I support his removal? Then I answered that, I know that corruption has no brother, a corrupt judge is a disgrace to the bar. One corrupt judge at least puts 200 lawyers out of work. If we win and enter office, we will not remove anybody, doing well at his or her work but if we notice that any staff is working below acceptable standards we will disengage such. So our main concern is merit and competence of our staff and not their ethnic backgrounds.