Former Justice of the Supreme Court, Mary Odili JSC has been appointed as the new Chairman of the Body of Benchers (BoB), a legal body responsible for graduating law students into lawyers and disciplining erring lawyers.
She assumes the position after serving as Vice Chairman to Wole Olanipekun, SAN, whose tenure has expired.
However, the rift between Olanipekun and the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) seems to persist as NBA President Yakubu Maikyau SAN had backed the call made by his predecessor, Olumide Akpata, for Olanipekun to withdraw from heading the BoB.
Despite being exonerated by the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee, Olanipekun was asked to vacate his office by the NBA.
As the expiration of Olanipekun’s tenure drew closer, the National Executive Council of the NBA recommended names to replace Odili as Vice Chairman of the BoB.
The members unanimously endorsed respected silk and life bencher Asiwaju Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN as the Vice-Chairman of the Body of Benchers on Thursday evening.
In his valedictory speech, Olanipekun maintained his integrity despite the allegations.
