NBA Presidency: Gadzama’s bid excites Igbo lawyers

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(Nigeria) There was palpable excitement at the meeting of the Otu Oka-Iwu last week as leading Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, presidential aspirant, Chief J-K. Gadzama, SAN, announced his intention to contest the presidency of the umbrella lawyers’ body.

Speaking through Mr. Onwuka Igwe, a former Director in Nigerian Maritime Authority, NMA and Partner in his chambers who also heads his strategic Lagos Office, the pioneer Chairman of the NBA Section on Public Interest  and  Development Law, SPIDEL, informed the influential Igbo lawyers’ association that his desire to lead the NBA “is first and foremost a result of my personal decision and also a response to numerous calls by our esteemed colleagues to serve the profession, the country and humanity.”
Gadzama, a Life Bencher and consummate Bar man who also holds the Igbo chieftaincy title of “Okwuluora of Ukpo” (the people’s Speaker) noted that the decision “is borne out of my passion to harness the accumulating gains of our profession, consolidate on the same, and to lead us to greater heights.”
Viewed by many as one of Nigeria’s most successful lawyers and an accomplished arbitrator/mediator, Gadzama informed the Otu Oka-Iwu that he had earlier been unanimously adopted by his branch, NBA Abuja Branch, as its “sole candidate” to contest for the NBA presidency, adding that “I have equally been adopted by some other branches, groups and fora of the NBA.”
It is observed that Gadzama was more recently adopted by the North East Lawyers Forum as its sole candidate, while the South West Lawyers Forum, SWLF, also pledged to support his quest at its recent meeting. A Screening Committee set up by the prominent Arewa Lawyers Forum, ALF and chaired by Mr. Garba Pwul, SAN, had recommended him for adoption by the ALF.
Elaborating on Gadzama’s quest to lead the NBA, Igwe noted that Gadzama “is a friend of Ndigbo,” adding that he has had decades of mutually beneficial relationship  with Igbos. Aside from the fact that he is “completely detribalized,” Igwe observed that several Igbo lawyers and para-legal staff have risen from his law firm to greater heights or are still holding high offices in the firm, himself inclusive.
He however, informed the Igbo law society that he was “merely a forerunner,” adding that Gadzama who is seen as a clear front-runner in the NBA presidential race would personally attend the next meeting of the body to felicitate with members.
A CEDR (UK) accredited mediator, Gadzama is especially passionate about the plight of young and mid-level lawyers. This informed his establishment of a fully funded mentorship programme for lawyers of less than 10 years post-call experience to equip them with professional training and mentorship. Named after foremost and respected Igbo jurist as “The Justice Chukwudifu Oputa JSC (retd) Mentorship Scheme,” the quarterly training is geared towards impacting this crop of lawyers with both practical knowledge and advice on legal matters and equipping them for challenges encountered in the field of practice.
The mentorship programme has received high praise from the legal community, with the Chief Justice of Nigeria of Nigeria, NJC, Justice Mahmud Mohammed commending Gadzama for the gesture and urging other firms to emulate the scheme. According to the CJN, the scheme “has doubtless become a gold standard in the type of positive improvement that firms can and must make to the lives of our young legal practitioners.”
Resource persons who serve as trainers and mentors for the programme include distinguished legal luminaries from the Bar and Bench both from within and outside Nigeria who have achieved immense success in their career and who indicate interest in motivating young lawyers.

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