Body of Benchers Appoints Justice Saulawa, Gumel, Anachebe SAN, Okutepa SAN, Others As Members

Eminent members of the Legal Profession including Justices of the Supreme Court, Ibrahim Saulawa and Court of Appeal, Ali Abubakar Babandi Gumel as well as Senior Advocates of Nigeria, Chief Benbella Anachebe and Jibrin Okutepa, have been appointed as members of the Body of Benchers.

Chairman of the body, Chief Wole Olanipekun SAN, OFR announced the approval of the appointment of 9 Life benchers, 2 benchers and 15 Honorary benchers.

In his valedictory speech, Olanipekun noted that “the appointment of Life Benchers, under section 3 (1) (I) of the Legal Practitioners Act and Honorary Benchers are within the exclusive jurisdiction of the Body of Benchers, if and whenever there are vacancies. The Chairman activates the process(es) whenever the need arises. For Life Benchers, nine vacancies existed; for the appointment of Benchers under section 3 (1) (I) of the Legal Practitioners Act, we had two vacancies, while the need to appoint honourary benchers could not be overemphasized.”

“I have taken the liberty of my position as the Chairman of the Body of Benchers to send nominations to the Appointment Committee to fill the vacancies under the three categories aforementioned.” he said.

Senior Advocate of Nigeria and Life Bencher, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo emerged Vice Chairman of the body. Awomolo’s emergence follows the elevation of the erstwhile Vice Chairperson, Honourable Justice Mary Peter Odili (Rtd) to the office of Chairman of the August body.