NBA president-elect Afam Osigwe accepts victory, restates reform plans

The Nigerian Bar Affiliation (NBA) president-elect, Afam Osigwe, has accepted his victory in Saturday’s election, restating his marketing campaign vow to push for the reform of the Nigerian judiciary.

PREMIUM TIMES reported that Mr Osigwe, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), polled 20,435 votes, greater than half of the ballots forged for the presidential place, to defeat his two rivals.

Tobenna Erojikwe got here second with 10,998 votes, and one other SAN, Chukwuka Ikuazom, who introduced withdrawing from the race in the course of the election on Saturday, got here third with 9,018 votes.

In his victory remarks in an announcement shared through his X account on Sunday, Mr Osigwe stated he would tackle urgent points in Nigeria’s legal justice system, together with delays in case processing and corruption.

Mr Osigwe, 51, who can be inaugurated because the thirty second NBA president in August, additionally stated he’s dedicated to addressing the challenges impeding the capability of Nigeria’s authorized system to ship justice.

“Our authorized system is suffering from inefficiencies and corruption that impede justice,” Mr Osigwe stated. “We are going to confront these obstacles head-on and reply to rising developments that impression authorized follow.”

Mr Osigwe proposed a strong mentorship programme aimed toward growing the abilities of younger attorneys, which he believes is essential for skilled progress and bettering the standard of authorized follow.

Know-how in courtroom programs

He additionally promised to push for the modernisation of Nigeria’s courtroom programs in his marketing campaign. He stated he would help integrating digital applied sciences to expedite case administration and guarantee environment friendly justice supply.

Mr Osigwe promised to steer a proactive Bar dedicated to vigilance and innovation.

“Beneath my management, our Bar will concentrate on addressing potential challenges earlier than they escalate,” he said.

Gratitude

He thanked his marketing campaign crew, advisers, and supporters, acknowledging their essential roles in his success.

“This election demonstrates our shared dedication to advancing justice and fostering a extra inclusive authorized neighborhood,” Mr Osigwe remarked. “We aren’t simply dealing with challenges; we’re seizing the chance to remodel our authorized system.”

Mr Osigwe additionally praised his fellow candidates, Mr Ikwuazom, a SAN, and Mr Erijiokwe, for his or her dedication and contributions to the marketing campaign.

“Your engagement and keenness for the occupation ensured that our focus remained on significant reforms,” Mr Osigwe stated, including, “Thanks to your belief and help. Collectively, we’ll embark on a journey of excellence and proactive management.”

Inauguration and different points

PREMIUM TIMES reported that the inauguration of the brand new president and different nationwide officers can be held throughout the NBA 2024 Annual Convention between 23 and 28 August in Lagos.

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Mr Osigwe, who campaigned for workplace to sort out corruption within the bar and on the bench, is predicted to revive the dwindling NBA’s conventional function of holding public officers accountable and taking management on different public curiosity points.

His NBA management comes when public confidence within the judiciary and the authorized occupation, typically, has stored a downward spiral fuelled by a collection of perverse courtroom selections, crashing skilled and moral requirements, and irritating delays circumstances endure in courtroom.

Mr Osigwe, who turned a Senior Advocate of Nigeria in 2020, will even inherit the welling discontent of varied curiosity teams threatening to interrupt the NBA into splinters.