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Behold The NBA President-Elect, Olumide Akpata

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By Eric Elezuo

“Should I become president, I will fashion out policies that will significantly improve the welfare and well-being of young lawyers and lawyers generally. Issues around welfare in terms of better remuneration, health insurance, protection from sexual and other forms of harassment at the workplace and access to finance for those seeking to set up their own practices will be front-burner issues for me.”

Olumide Akpata made the above statements during an interview months before he dusted two renowned Senior Advocates of Nigeria to emerge the President-elect of the reputable Nigerian Bar Association, the umbrella body of all practicing lawyers in Nigeria.

The boss at the Corporate and Commercial, Templars, becomes the first non SAN person in 29 years to become the President of the body of intellectuals in their own right. The last time a non-senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN) was elected president of the NBA was in 1989. His name was Charles Idehen. He left office in 1991 for Clement Akpamgbo (SAN). Two other non-SANs that have tested the presidency of NBA were Priscilla Kuye in 1990 and Lanke Odogiyan, in 2005. Both were not elected into office. They took over after their principals, Clement Akpamgbo and Bayo Ojo were appointed Attorney General respectively.

Olumide Akpata, 47, emerged winner, defeating two senior advocates, Dele Adesina and Babatunde Ajibade, by a wide margin. Akpata scored 9,891 votes as against Ajibade who had 4,328 votes and Adesina who polled 3,982 votes. Just as the combined votes of the defeated candidates fell short of Akpata’s score, the total number of voters also fell short of the over 29,000 lawyers accredited to vote. 

However, not many stress awaits the conqueror since he has made his plans long before now, watching from the sidelines and amending, in his closet, whatever misdemeanor he picked up while his predecessors were holding in office.

Akpata is bent on reconstructing the Nigerian Law curriculum, to equip young lawyers with requisite knowlwdgw of the the real background as it relates to todays world. He frowned at the fact that even first class graduates of Law both from the universities and Law schools come across like mediocres because according to him, they are bamboozled with the outdated knowledge.

Hear him: “They have book knowledge; they are following a curriculum that I followed 20 years ago when I entered the University of Benin, how can anybody still be teaching people with that kind of curriculum in today’s world? In 2020, you are not offering Technology Law, there is nothing about commercial awareness to make lawyers understand that they are operators in an economy; that we are the pivot in the economy because all the relationships in the economy are underpinned by legal documentation. That is what we are supposed to be doing.”

Born in October 7, 1972, Olumide Akpata, son of a foremost legal luminary, Ephraim Akpata, had his early education in Warri, Delta State. He attended Kings College, Lagos, for his secondary education and later got admitted into the University of Benin. He was called to the bar on December 15, 1993.

Akpata is a founding member of the NBA Section on Business Law (NBA-SBL), which comprises 22 committees, and focusing on various areas of commercial law dating back to as far as 2006 as well as Partner and Head, Corporate and Commercial Practice Group of Templars Law.

With over two decades of experience in advising clients on various aspects of Nigerian Corporate and Commercial Law, Akpata qualifies to bear the tag citizens’ lawyer. He regularly advises local and international corporations on the impact of Nigerian Law on their investments and/or operations in Nigeria especially concerning the establishment of local subsidiaries, corporate governance and compliance, mergers, acquisitions and corporate restructuring, labour and immigration, regulatory issues and tax.
 
For these, he had featured on various local and international fora to speak and concretely provide direction towards achieving a more enabling legal framework for businesses and organisations. He is currently a member of the Council of the Nigeria Bar Association Section on Business Law as well as the Vice-Chair (West-Africa) of the International Bar Association’s Africa Regional Forum.
 
Among several key transactions Akpata has advised on are:
  • The Nigerian Bureau of Public Enterprises’ restructuring of the Nigerian Electricity sector and the unbundling of the national power utility.
  • International joint ventures, mergers, acquisitions, takeovers and also the world’s second largest port operator in its bid for the Apapa Container Terminal concession.
  • Several local and international clients on regulatory compliance in relation to company law and practice in Nigeria.

Other areas of his advice include

    • GE on regulatory compliance matters related to its establishment of a multi-billion naira manufacturing plant in Nigeria.
    • Azura Power on its US$1 billion financing and development of a pioneering project-financed 459MW IPP.
    • Google, Halliburton, Novartis, Lafarge, Technip, Snamprogetti, KBR  & JGC  consortium, Rolls Royce and FMC Technologies in connection with various governmental relations, regulatory, general corporate and labour and employment matters.
    • Eagle Hills, subsidiary of EMAAR group on joint venture construction project for the development of 1260 hectares Centenary City project.
    • ATC on the US$1.05 billion acquisition of up to 4,800 telecommunications towers from Bharti Airtel.

Not forgetting that he had acted and continues to act for several clients on a wide range of Immigration and Labour matters including the setting up of private pension schemes, employment contracts and general immigration compliance.

He has been recognised by IFLR 1000 as a leading Mergers & Acquisition lawyer in Nigeria and by Chambers and Partners “as having long experience in representing foreign clients” in his area of practice.

The entry of Akpata, who is happily married and blessed with children, into the highest echelon of Law practice, has opened a new dawn to the administration of law, practice and recognition if all his campaign promises are to be relied upon. Of course, his pedigree has proved they can be relied upon. The next two years, beginning from August, when he is sworn in to take over from Dr. Paul Usoro SAN.

For a man who conquered many odds such as coming from a region not zoned to be president as well as not accounted as one of the big boys (SAN) before becoming president, it is believed Akpata will leave NBA better than he met it.

Congratulations sir!

 

 

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KFC Reacts As FAAN Shuts Down Its Operations in Lagos Airport

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The Management of Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) has reacted to the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN)’s move to shut down its branch at the Muritala Muhammed Airport, for violating laws protecting the rights of people with special needs.

The action was confirmed through a statement released on Thursday by FAAN’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Obiageli Orah.

The official statement, titled ‘FAAN shuts down KFC outlet at MMIA,’ highlighted that the closure was in response to the outlet’s breach of the Lagos State law on People with Special Needs, specifically referencing Part C, Section 55 of the General Provisions on Discrimination.

Responding to the development, KFC posted on its official X account that it opposes bias and discrimination, stressing that the incident did not reflect its standards.

The organisation disclosed that it had embarked on efforts to address the situation and urgently implemented sensitivity training for all its employees.

The statement read, “KFC is unwavering in our stance against bias or discrimination in any form, with inclusivity and respect as non-negotiable pillars of our values.

“However, this recent incident has underscored the pressing need for immediate action. We have embarked on efforts to address the situation and extend apologies and deeply regret the frustration and distress experienced by our guest.

“In response, we are urgently implementing sensitivity training for all our employees. This incident is not reflective of our standards, and we will act swiftly to rectify it.

“We are actively exploring solutions to equip our team members and establishments better to ensure that every guest feels genuinely welcomed and that we deliver empathetic customer service that proactively addresses the diverse needs of each guest.”

KFC had during the week, denied Adebola Daniel, son of former Ogun State Governor, Gbenga Daniel, access to their facility at the Muritala Muhammed International Airport  because of his disability.

Daniel had recounted his experience at the KFC outlet of the airport in a series of tweets posted on Wednesday via his X handle, @DebolaDaniel.

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Ezekiel Bolarinwa Ajayi: Mentor, Philanthropist Revels at 80

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By Eric Elezuo

The ancient town of Ile-Ife was agog weekend, when Professor Ezekiel Bolarinwa Oladele Ajayi, a renowned educationist, accomplished mentor and elder brother of veteran journalist, Dele Momodu, pulled all the stops to mark a resounding entry into the octogenarian club, celebrating his 80th birthday with fanfare, pomp and class.

The event, which attracted family members, colleagues in the academic world, friends and well wishers, was another testament in the expression of influence, clout and connection.

Held at the Rock Rehoboth Cathedral in the centre of Ile-Ife, the event brought out the best in the Stanford trained PHD holder, as beamed with contagious smiles, absorbing accolades from a crowd of well wishers and dignitaries, most of whom traveled half  way across the world to felicitate with the newest octogenarian.

A lavished reception followed after heartfelt prayers were said for the celebrant flanked by his wife of many years, children and grandchildren. The reception witnessed guests savoring the best of continental and local delicacies as well as dancing happily to the old school tunes.

The highpoint of the event was the cutting of the gigantic cake by the birthday boy around whom were dotting family members.

As guests expressed their profound, hearty and sincere congratulations towards the octogenarian, whose event changed the landscape of Ife, many recalled how they have come a long way from their very humble beginning in Gbongan Olufi.

Fondly called Ladele, Prof Ajayi was born on March 23, 1944 in Gbongan, Osun State, where he had his earliest beginnings.

He statted his education at the Saint Paul’s School Gbongan, before moving on to Saint Judes School, Ebute Metta, and later to Saint Stephens School, Ile-Ife, where he completed his primary education.

After his elementary education, he was admitted into the Government College lbadan, where he was described as having  ‘passed out in exceedingly bright colours’. As many that knows him has confirmed that Prof Ajayi was a walking encyclopedia, and vibrated with intelligence while at school.

It was not therefore, surprising that he later proceeded to the United States of America, after his secondary education, where he attended various prestigious Universities including Stanford University. It is worthy of note that all his appearances for university education were on different scholarships. It was also at Stanford that he bagged his PhD honours.

On the completion of his PhD programme in Stanford, Prof Ajayi was recruited by the University of Ife, as it was then known, before its transmutation to Obafemi Awolowo University, where he later became a Professor of Physics, a position he jealousy guarded until retirement from active classroom duties.

According to a very close family member and confidant, Bola Adeyemo, who spoke glowingly about their fond relationship, Prof Ajayi “also became active in things of God. Like a proverbial gold fish, he has been recognized as a Pastor. Ladele played a mentoring role in the final years of school for my twin daughters who both graduated from the medicine program in the same University.

“The mutual fondness between Ladele and I remains very much intact. Ladele and l share common ancestry. His father who was the Otun Olufi of Gɓongan was a much older cousin to my mother and was fondly referred to as baba mi ile ASORO. They both had the same tribal marks. Ladele can be classified as belonging to the royal class as his father was the OTUN OLUFI while his mother was the daughter of the ÒOSA, first class chief in Gbongan.”

A life of Prof Ajayi without a mention of prolific publisher of the Ovation brands,  Chief Momodu, remains incomplete. It is worthy of note that apart from both sharing the same mum as siblings, the Prof was instrumental in shaping and mentally mentoring Momodu on the path of education. His 80th birthday was a reminder of how it used to be in times past as it marks a form of reunion for the Ajayi extended household.

Among those who attended were his daughter, Kemi Ajayi-Ingram, who flew in all the way from the United States of America, with her entire family; his niece, Yejide Ajayi among a host of others.

We wish the ebullient octogenarian a splendid birthday, and many ore years of splendid celebrations.

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Easter, Ramadan: Adeleke Releases March Salaries, Pension, Palliatives, Approves Promotion for Personnel

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Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has approved the release of salaries, pensions and palliatives for the month of March for all public servants in the state, as well as approved the promotion of service personnel due for promotion from 2023.

Adeleke’s show of love for the entire workforce, is in spite of the fact that the State allocation from the Federation account is yet to be released, according to a statement signed by the governor’s spokesperson, Mallam Olawale Rasheed.

The Head of Service, Mr Samuel Ayanleye Aina confirmed the approval of the March salaries, pension and palliatives, noting that the fast tracked approval covered all categories of state and local government employees including tertiary institutions in the State.

“I can confirm that Mr Governor has approved the March salaries, pension and palliative wage awards, including the usual payment of the outstanding half salary for retirees under the contributory pension scheme yet to obtain their bonds. Mr Governor requested for the file and granted immediate approval.

“Any moment from now, alerts will be landing in our peoples’ accounts. This is a preemptive step on the part of Mr Governor to meet the needs of our people”, the Head of Service explained.

Governor Adeleke who has been hosting inter faith leaders at the Government House said he approved the early payment to ease the burden of the workers ahead of the Easter period.

“As I wish muslim and christian faithfuls blessed fasting season, the early payment is a gesture of support for workers whose welfare remains the number one priority of our administration”, the Governor noted.

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