Head of Corporate and Commercial Practice Group, Templars law firm, Olumide Akpata has been sworn in as the 30th president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA).
Mr Akpata was sworn in on Friday by the outgone NBA president Paul Usoro at the group’s virtual annual general meeting.
Akpata who won the election on July 31 will lead the body of lawyers for the next two years.
In his inaugural address, Akpata thanked all his supporters and urged all NBA members to have faith in his administration which he promised would serve the interest of all.
“The NBA under my administration shall take seriously our mandate of promoting and protecting the fundamental rights of the generality of citizens,” he said.
Akpata added that his administration would enter into partnerships with the judiciary and other stakeholders in the Nigerian criminal justice sector to undertake a holistic reform agenda of the criminal justice system.
“I welcome and accept, on behalf of the NBA, the recent call for collaboration in this regard by the honourable attorney-general of the federation.
“Lastly, under my administration, the NBA Law Reform Committee will be adequately resourced to play its role as a liaison between the NBA and the National Assembly to represent the bar at National Assembly public hearings to make meaningful input into our laws for the betterment of the society and our profession,” he said.
