The new president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Yakubu Maikyau (SAN) was has been sworn in to succeed Mr. Olumide Akpata as head of the organisation.
Following the general election which was conducted in July, Maikyau was sworn into office as the 31st President of the NBA after emerging victorious with 38,000 votes. The election was at that time held online by lawyers. After the association’s 62nd Annual General Conference, he was sworn in.
Maikyau was profusely appreciative of God for bringing him this far at the swearing-in event, which marked the conclusion of the 62nd Annual General Conference of the association and was conducted at the Eko Hotel & Suites.
The outgoing Akpata administration was praised by the new President for the enormous advancements the NBA saw during the previous two years.
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He went on to promise to build on the admirable accomplishments and initiatives of the Akpata government in addition to maintaining them.
Maikyau also thanked his colleagues at YC Maikyau & Co., his campaign team, as well as friends and associates who supported his candidacy.
In his inaugural speech, Maikyau pledged to make service to the cause of justice as the pillar of his administration.
Additionally, he exhorted the Federal Government to demonstrate its commitment to safeguarding people’s lives and property across the nation.
The recent wave of banditry, kidnapping, killings, and cattle rustling that has plagued the nation was criticized by the new NBA President.
He said in his words ‘The Nigerian state is passing through a perilous time. There is the insecurity challenge and the situation appears so overwhelming.’
‘Many Nigerians live below poverty line.’
‘There has been no time that Nigerians have looked towards the bar than now.’
‘Nigerians have been so terrorised, pauperized and traumatized, what is left of this country is the voice of the legal profession.’
‘This voice of the legal profession must speak against the terror in the land and this is the charge that my administration will spearhead,’ he stated.
He continued by saying that Nigerians were patiently expecting the appearance of bar members to save the country.
Therefore, Maikyau implored those in the practice of law to lead the nation.
‘The prosperity of lawyers can not be undermined in the society, the bar must earn the confidence and trust of the people,’ the advice.
In his speech at the handover ceremony, Akpata reaffirmed the NBA’s commitment to upholding social justice and improving Nigeria through its section, the Nigerian Bar Association Special Public Interest and Development Law, led by Dr. Monday Ubani.
The past president emphasised that the NBA was the only league that was representative of the nation while noting that there were several factors keeping the country back as a whole.