The Body of Benchers has marked a significant milestone in its 54-year history, with outgoing Chairman, Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN, reflecting on a year of transformative initiatives and reforms. In a comprehensive scorecard presented to the Body, Awomolo highlighted key achievements spanning infrastructure development, welfare programs, legal education, and administrative restructuring.
Among the notable milestones was the commissioning of the Hairat Aderinsola Balogun Auditorium (HABA), named in honor of the first female Chairperson of the Body. Awomolo emphasized its importance as the primary venue for plenary meetings of the Benchers, underscoring its symbolic significance.
A major welfare initiative introduced under his leadership was the Welfare Visitation to Old Benchers, ensuring that pioneer members of the Body receive recognition and appreciation for their contributions. The program saw delegations visit elder statesmen in various states across Nigeria. Similarly, a Welfare Support Scheme for the Families of Departed Benchers was instituted, extending financial and moral support to their loved ones.
Recognizing the future of the profession, the outgoing Chairman strengthened ties with the Nigerian Law School, visiting campuses in Abuja, Port Harcourt, and Yola to engage with aspiring lawyers. The Body of Benchers Annual Lecture (BOBAL) was also inaugurated, with the maiden edition featuring a keynote address by Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN, and a distinguished panel of legal experts.
Administrative reforms were also a focal point of Awomolo’s tenure. The Committees of the Body were expanded from 14 to 17, with revised terms of reference to align with modern governance standards. Additionally, a formal induction program for new Benchers and Life Benchers was introduced, ensuring members receive proper orientation and certification upon admission.
In a bid to enhance financial stability, the Body secured donations totaling N68.8 million, supplementing its allocations from the National Judicial Council (NJC). Staff welfare also received a boost, with the restructuring of the Human Resources system, the introduction of Directorates, and the launch of the Chairman’s Annual Staff Award, which comes with a cash prize of N500,000.
Awomolo did not shy away from addressing challenges, including a legal dispute that momentarily disrupted the activities of the Body, describing it as “a storm in a tea cup.” He expressed satisfaction that lessons had been learned and reforms had been implemented to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
As he hands over leadership to the incoming Chairman, Hon. Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, GCON, Awomolo expressed gratitude to members of the Body, his family, and key stakeholders, including Secretary of the Body, Daniel Manasseh Tela, Esq., for their unwavering support.
“With your support and assistance, we have come this far. We have served, and by the grace of God, we have succeeded,” Awomolo concluded.
Full text below:
X. HAIRAT ADERINSOLA BALOGUN AUDITORIUM [HABA]
One of the most prominent Halls in this massive complex is the Hairat Aderinsola Balogun auditorium which is named after the first female Chairperson of the Body. In order to ensure optimum use of the hall, I made it a point of duty that the 1st meeting of the Body, which I chaired, was held in that Hall in April 2024. The gesture might appear as tokenism in some quarters, but I believe it represented our symbolic affirmation of the high esteem of the meeting of the Body. The meeting of the Body in plenary is the highest decision gathering of Benchers. All the meetings of the Body since then have been held in the hall.
XI. ESTABLISHMENT OF WELFARE VISITATION TO OLD BENCHERS
It was Khalil Gibran, the philosopher poet who once observed that:
“But if in your thought you must measure time into seasons, let each season encircle all the other
seasons, And let today embrace the past with remembrance and the future with longing.”
Today, we are proud to be the inheritors of the legacies of our pioneer Benchers. These are outstanding men and women who gave their all to bequeath to us the Body of Benchers we are proud to identify with it. Without doubt, we would not be where we are today without their selless sacriices. Whilst we are praying for the repose of the illustrious souls of those who have slept in the Lord, it is important that we do not forget those who are still alive with us.
As rightly observed by Khalil Gibran, we must learn to let our today embrace the past with remembrance. It was for this reason that we commenced the project of Welfare Visitation to our Old Benchers. In the course of the year, we paid visits to our Pioneer Benchers in Port Harcourt, Kano, Kebbi, Yola, Kaduna, Lagos, Enugu, Ilorin, and Abuja. One could only imagine the joys that the visits brought to these elders who were extremely delighted to receive the Body’s delegations. This is our modest way of thanking them for their services and telling them that their labours of love were not in vain.
XII. TOKEN AND WELFARE FOR SPOUSES OF DEPARTED BENCHERS
The scripture in Ecclesiastes 3: 1-2 tells us in very clear words that:
“For everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted”
In the course of the year many of the heroes of the Body have slept and left behind their loved ones.
Remembering their loved ones has been taken up as part of the responsibilities of the Body. In the course of the year, token of affection in terms of welfare gifts were extended to the families of Benchers who passed. May their souls continue to rest in perfect peace. It is important to note that the little token given to the beneficiaries with the approval of this Body were well appreciated.
XIII. BRIDGE TO THE FUTURE
We are honored to report to the Body that we did not only establish a link with the past by visiting our old Benchers, we also constructed a bridge to the future. The future in this case is no other than the young law students in the Nigerian Law School Campuses who are aspiring to be called to the Bar. It is a truism that “life goes not backward and nor tarries with yesterday.”
In the course of the year, your Chairman was in Abuja, Port Harcourt and Yola Campuses of the Nigerian Law School to dine and wine with the students of the institutions. The importance of the customary dinner for legal practitioners goes, of course, beyond merely wining and dining. This is a treasured and exclusive opportunity for lawyers-in-training to interact and relate with their leaders in the profession. Many other Benchers also visited the other campuses of the Law School, and they brought back reports of good conduct on the part of the students. We are indeed proud of the wonderful work the management of the Law School is doing in grooming these young ones for the legal profession. It is recommended that this practice of the Chairman visiting Campuses of the Law School should be continued.
XIV. INTERACTIVE CONSULTATIVE MEETING WITH THE CHIEF JUSTICE OF NIGERIA
On behalf of all of us, permit me to express our collective gratitude to the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Kudirat Motonmori Kekere-Ekun, GCON. Whilst it is not in doubt that the Chief Justice is a foremost statutory Life Bencher, we believe that there is a need for a platform for the Benchers to relate with the CJN as the head of the Nigerian Judiciary. This Body being the assemblage of men and women of the highest distinction in the legal profession occupy a very significant leadership position in the administration of justice. The voice of the Body as a major stakeholder must be heard loud and clear by the Honourable Chief Justice. It is not to be taken for granted in the administration of Justice in Nigeria.
I am glad to inform you that the 1st Consultative and interactive Meeting with the Chief Justice of Nigeria and the Body of Benchers had taken place. I am glad to inform us that the forum was productive, fruitful, and rewarding. Issues of mutual interest were discussed and irm understanding was reached on the way forward.
It is my hope that the Consultation Meeting has come to stay in the collective interest of all the stakeholders.
XV. INSTITUTION OF THE BODY OF BENCHERS ANNUAL LECTURE
As noted above, the Body of Benchers is going to be 54 years old in June of this year. The Body of Benchers Annual Lecture [BOBAL] was conceived to be an annual platform for intellectual cum practical introspective relections of the dynamics of the Body of Benchers within the legal profession in Nigeria. It is a programme designed to showcase to the national and international audience the workings of the Body of Benchers. Body of Benchers exist in all the commonwealth countries and other jurisdictions. There is need for stretching hands of fellowship to other countries with a view to beneiting from global networking and exchange of ideas.
The maiden edition of the BOBAL took place yesterday, and I am happy to note that many Benchers attended the landmark event. I thank His Excellency, Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN CON. who delivered the
keynote address at the Lecture. We appreciate the discussants, Hon. Justice Helen Moronkeji Ogunwumiju JSC, Life Bencher, Professor Damilola Olawuyi, SAN., Professor Isa Hayatu Chiroma, SAN, Director General of the Nigerian Law School, Life Bencher and Hon. Justice Ishaq U. Bello, Life Bencher.
XVI. ADMINISTRATIVE RESTRUCTURING OF THE COMMITTEES OF THE BODY OF BENCHERS
When we came into office, one of the policy decisions we took was to create a sense of an all-inclusive ownership by all Benchers. As an egalitarian institution, it is our belief that all Benchers have a stake in the Body. We therefore restructured the administration of the Body by increasing the Committees from 14 to 17.
That was not all. We also renamed the Committees to ensure that their names and terms of references relect contemporary operational schedule of self-accounting public institutions. The terms of reference of the Committees were tailored to support and oversight the technical responsibilities of the management. The relationship of the Committees and administration was harmonious to achieve greater productivity, mutual respect and efficiency.
In addition, we institutionalized the Body with the offices of the Chairmen and Vice Chairmen of all the 17 Committees thereby creating a unique Cabinet for the purpose of deepening inclusivity in the administration of the Body of Benchers.
I must once again, express my deepest appreciation to all the Chairmen, Vice Chairmen, and members of all the Committees. It has been a wonderful experience working with you all, and learning from you in the past one year. I am truly honoured.
Leadership is about accepting responsibility. In this regard, I accept responsibility for any error of judgment that might have been perceived in the structuring and restructuring of the Committees. The works of the Body have been made easier and better by contribution of ideas and experiences.
XVII. ORIENTATION ON RULES, REGULATION, AND ETHICS AND ETHICS/INDUCTION OF NEW LIFE BENCHERS AND BENCHERS
One of the areas of concern to the members of the Body of Benchers, in the last few years was the absence of opportunity for new members of the Body whether from the Bar or the Bench to be fully acquainted with and briefed or given orientation on the rules, ethics, regulations and culture of the Body. We proposed an orientation program and a formal induction ceremony for new members and Life Benchers. You graciously approved it. This Body approved the proposal because it has become inevitable.
On Thursday, 27 February 2025, we conducted orientation programme and inducted new sets of Life Benchers and Benchers. These are legal practitioners from the Bench and Bar who have distinguished themselves as practitioners and jurists of the highest distinction. These Benchers affirmed before God and man to uphold the integrity, nobility and honour of the Body, give good leadership to the junior ones and obey the Rules and regulation of the Body.
In commemoration of their new status, the Body of Benchers issued them Certificates evidencing their membership of this august Body. I recall that when many of us were admitted, no such documentation was issued to us, we merely walked into the meeting of the Body and introduced our names as new members.
This innovative development thus marked a new milestone in our quest to advance the institution of the Body of Benchers. Every new Bencher will now get a Certificate of Admission upon being granted the privilege of becoming a member. This will obviate the needless and unnecessary dispute about the dates of seniority of membership.
This initiatives should be sustained and incorporated in the Body’s Rules and Regulations as part of the Body’s calendar and obligation.
Closely related to or connected with membership of the Body are the unsettling disputations as to seniority or skips in the dates of membership either as Bencher and Life Benchers. Many Benchers have disputed their dates, even though the secretariat keeps all records. In other to remove all disputations a data base of all Benchers has been created where the essential details or dates of all Benchers will be kept. At a click on the button every detail of members will be seen with picture of each member.
The central Registry of the Body has been re-organised to ensure that every Bencher is given whatever he/she is entitled to. Benchers are requested to avail themselves of these electronic records by cross checking the correctness of dates stored in the database.
XVIII. FINANCING OF THE ACTIVITIES OF THE BODY OF BENCHERS
It is correct to say that the Body enjoys appropriation and release of funds from the National Judicial Council (NJC) as an independent body. However, the funds released to the Body were never enough. This Body statutorily has the power to take donations and use such donations for the works of the Body, so, soliciting for and getting donations is lawful.
If we have been able to achieve a few things in the course of our service year, it is because of the commitment and generously of the good people who served the Body with their time and resources. We could not have achieved anything without the goodwill of Benchers and Non Benchers who generously donated funds. In the course of the year, we received in donations a total of N68,846,619.00 [Sixty-eight Million, eight hundred and forty-six thousand, six hundred and nineteen Naira]. A detailed statement of account has been prepared by the Secretariat and it is available as part of the books of records of the Body of Benchers. We are grateful to all the donors.
XIX. STAFF OF THE BODY OF BENCHERS
Professor Obaro Ikime, the foremost historian, stated unequivocally that history “is constantly passing by ordinary men and women without whose lives and work, there would be no history at all.”
It will therefore be uncharitable or unfair of me if I conclude this address without acknowledging the massive support I received from the Staff of the Body of Benchers. They are the ‘historical ordinary men and women’ who made to happen land mark achievements. These wonderful men and women are the hidden engines that drove the achievement recorded in the last one year of our activities. Efficient like clockwork, and constant like the Northern Star, they work behind the scene seamlessly to ensure that the Body of Benchers does not fail or falter.
I have always believed that of all resources for development, human resource is the most important. Human resources experts have always emphasised that in all establishment, human resources should be given due priority.
The Body of Benchers when it was established was located in the Federal Ministry of Justice, from Marina Lagos to Federal secretariat Abuja. With the separation from the Ministry of Justice to a self-accounting Body, the number of staff increased with increasing responsibilities of the Body. I am pleased to inform the
Body that the Human Resources Committee under the Chairmanship of Hon Justice Umaru Eri CFR, Life Bencher has restructured, the organogram, the career path progression and opportunities for achieving fulfillment are now achievable for career advancement. Promotion to higher offices is now available and all the staffs are happy. The Body now operates Directorates as against unit heads. I want to thank all the
members of the Human Resources Management Committee of the Body for their commitment and sacrifices.
Permit me to say that I am really excited and happy having regards to structural remodelling made to the personnel matter of the Body. To whom much is given, so much more is expected from them.
In recognition of their selfless service, I instituted the Chairman’s Annual Award for the Best Staff of the Body of Benchers. This award is backed with cash gift of N500,000. The Human Resources Management Committee endorsed the award. It is our hope that the Award would be sustained as it will go a long way in boosting the morale of the staffs and in letting them know that their labours are recognised and will be rewarded in due course.
XX. “A STORM IN A TEA CUP” AIMED TO DISTRACT
You will also remember that when we started in April 2024, there arose “a storm in a tea cup”. There was disputation as to the validity, lawfulness and rightfulness of the appointment of the Chairman of the Appointment Committee. The Hon. Justice Mary U. Peter –Odili, JSC Rtd, who was the Chairman of the Body from 1/4/2023 to 30/3/2024 totally disowned the alleged appointment of the Chairman of the Appointment Committee. The matter, while it was being still discussed in Abuja was taken before the Federal High Court, Lagos, wherein the authority of the Chairman of the Body was challenged. It was unthinkable that a call to service which in all seriousness was an honour to serve could get that fierce in a nonproit position.
The Body of Benchers and its Chairman were promptly restrained from performing their statutory duties by an ex-parte order given by the Honourable Judge.
The then Chief Justice of Nigeria Hon. Justice Olukayode Ariwoola GCON and few other Elders at a meeting at the Supreme Court resolved that the disputed appointment of the Chairman of the Appointment Committee be allowed to stay. What has never happened in the over 50 years of the Body was compromised. The case was withdrawn and later struck out.
This matter remains the darkest spot in the life of the Body and never again should this be allowed to happen. This Body, however, unanimously amended the Regulation of the Body and made institution of Court actions on an internal matter of the Body, without first exhausting internal dispute resolutions, well laid out in the rule, will amount to misconduct. I thank Hon. Justice John Iyang Okoro, JSC, who is the Chairman of the Regulation Committee for a good job in the reform introduced in the new Regulation of the Body.
Events shape the fortune and ways of humanity and it is for humanity to learn from their experience. The Body learnt a lot from the adverse use of social media to disparage and bring into public opprobrium the honour, integrity and public image of the Body.
I thank everyone for your patience, understanding and maturity that have put behind us this unfortunate incident. We all have learnt unforgettable lessons.
I am indeed grateful for the moments I shared with all the members of the Body. Memory of your good deeds can never and will never be forgotten. I cherish the 12 months I served as the Chairman, Body of Benchers. It will be a chapter in my memoir. The scripture says “wisdom is a defence and money (with influence) is a defence but the excellency of knowledge is that wisdom giveth life to them that have it… wisdom strengtheneth the wise more than the mighty men which are in the city.. the end of a thing is better than its beginning. (Ecclesiastics 7 & 8)
XXI. PERORATION
Distinguished Benchers, time and space will not permit me to catalogue all the interventions we embarked on in the last one year. With your support and assistance, we have come this far. We have served and with the Grace of God, we have succeeded. Although I am the only one who is standing on this podium to reel out this scorecard to you, you can be rest assured that this is not a personal achievement of Adegboyega Awomolo alone. It is our collective achievement.
All that I have spoken about in this address may be regarded as my own story, but it is certainly to the glory of God Almighty, who has made all these possible. It is God Almighty who deserves the glory for bringing us this far. Without Him, we are but nothing. The book of prophet Isaiah 42:8 says that: He is the Lord God and that He will not share His glory with any man. He alone deserves and takes the glory.
I must not end this address without expressing my gratitude to His Lordship Hon. Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, GCON. As the Vice Chairman during my tenure, His Lordship supported me without qualification. It has been a cherished privilege working with His Lordship. I have no doubt in my mind that as the incoming Chairman of the Body of Benchers, Justice Ariwoola will lead the Benchers with his characteristic, maturity, native intelligence, uncommon wisdom, unparalleled team spirit, and the innate ability to get things done. I hope everyone will give him all the support as he assumes the Chairmanship of the Body later today.
To my family, particularly my wife, Yeye Victoria Olufunmilayo Awomolo, SAN, Bencher, many thanks for being a bulwark of support, and many thanks for providing a conducive home whilst this assignment lasted. When the storm was tough, you stood solidly on the Rock in prayers, if not for God, the adversaries aimed at frustrating the tenure but God won on all fronts.
Permit me to end this address with applauses and thanks, to Daniel Manasseh Tela, Esq., – Secretary of this Body. He is the reinforcement appointed from God that sustained all the structure that we erected. The support and importance of the Secretary cannot be over emphasised. He worked day and night to ensure we complied with civil service rules, followed due process, complied with financial regulations and followed the pattern already established for previous records of success of the Body.
Like Daniel in the scripture, he was at all times loyal and committed. When adversaries tried to create an opportunity to challenge his loyalty; His loyalty was tested and in the end came out a good man that deserves trust. His working with me knew no hours; he was full of strength, foresight, and commitment for excellence. We encouraged ourselves in the word of God. He was the driver that piloted the vehicle of the Body to this safe place. To say, Thank You, is not enough, but I know only God rewards, and He will reward him.
To God Almighty; the most merciful, and benevolent God, I give my thanksgiving. I will forever praise His
Holy name for my service. All glory goes to Him.
Asiwaju Adegboyega Solomon Awomolo, SAN
52nd Chairman of the Body of Benchers
27th March, 2025