My Learned Friends, I extend my warm greetings to you all. My name is Adebayo Akinlade, and I will be running for the office of the 1st Vice President of the Nigerian Bar Association!

It my strong belief that, generally leadership is an opportunity to serve and there is power in that giving: to help people, to inspire, and motivate them to reach their fullest potential.

The above quote represents the fundamental foundation I stand on as a legal practitioner, with a zealous determination to promote the most vibrant legal profession in the entire African continent.  It is on this note, I aspire to be your next 1st Vice President of the Nigerian Bar Association.

To this end, it is with the greatest humility and utmost respect that, [in the spirit of selfless service to our great profession], I present myself. Adebayo Akinlade, to serve you all and our legal profession, with diligence and deep commitment, as the 1st Vice President of our Nigerian Bar Association [NBA], if given the opportunity to so do, in the coming elections of new officers.

Why am I running for the office of the 1st Vice President of the Nigerian Bar Association? That is a good question, and perhaps there is  no good way to answer it. Or perhaps there is a good way to answer it. Either way, it is a good question some of my learned friends have asked me, and I am glad to be able to address the question, through this virtual platform.

In answering this question, I humbly request that you kindly take some time out to read the revealing informative materials below. It is my belief that these information would convince you, my profound Learned Friends, that I am your right candidate for this office. I am the servant you most require to serve you diligently.

I will be counting on your support and your votes.

Thank you and God bless.

Adebayo Akinlade 

 

In December 2003, Bayo opened the Africa office for Advocates International in Lagos, Nigeria. Between December 2003 and December 2004, he operated from Lagos and travelled extensively throughout the African Continent meeting with Lawyers, Judges and Politicians. However due to some logistic issues; Advocates International (AI) decided to move its Africa operations to Pretoria, South Africa.

 

In January 2004, Bayo was tasked with setting up AI’s Africa office in Pretoria, South Africa which he did and from where he would operate till his resignation in 2009. Bayo would also operate out of AI’s head office in Fairfax, Virginia USA 3 times a year. 

 

Bayo would over the period of 6 years; travel to over 30 countries around the globe representing Advocates International’s interest at the Africa Union, the African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights Sessions and in several other workshops, meetings and Conferences. Bayo also organized several Conferences and meetings around the African Continent for Advocates Africa (an organization founded through Advocates international and facilitated by Bayo).

 

In October 2009, Bayo resigned his appointment with Advocates International and returned home out of passion to rebuild Nigeria and to help with its young democracy. 

 

On his return, Bayo engaged the Community around him by providing probono and free legal consultancy services. He volunteered in several community initiatives and later became the secretary of his Community Development Association. Bayo also devoted his time to the Nigerian Bar Association Ikorodu Branch where he served on various committees and would later become the Secretary in 2012 and in 2018 become the Chairman of the Branch. 

 

Bayo has written several articles on fighting corruption in the Judiciary and other issues published in newspapers and in online blog sites. Bayo is also a regular on radio speaking on various issues as well as being on other TV programs within Lagos advocating for a corrupt free Judiciary.

101-103, Ijede Road, Ikorodu, Lagos

08065172866, bayoace@gmail.com

 

⮚      Nigerian Law School, Abuja: BL   1999- 2000      

⮚      Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria: LLB   1992- 1999

⮚      Government College Lagos, Eric-Moore: SSCE  1989- 1991      

 

●       Consultant; British Council Rolac Programme January 2020 to date

●       Convener; Duty Solicitors Network (PDSS and CDSS Schemes) May 2018       to date

●       Chairman; Nigerian Bar Association, Ikorodu Branch; July 2018 to June 2020

●  Founder/Coordinator, Volunteer Lawyers Police Station Visitation Group with Lagos State Magistrates, 2018 

●       Founder/National Convener, Fight Against Corruption in the Judiciary, July 2015 to Date

●       Secretary, Nigerian Bar Association, Ikorodu Branch, August 2012 to July 2014

●       Director, Policy & Strategy -  Policy and Law Reform Centre, Lagos 2009 to Date

●       Honorary Board Member, Christian Lawyers Association, South Africa 

●       National Director, Christian Lawyers Association, South Africa. January – June 2009

●       Board Member, Christian Lawyers Association, South Africa. August 2008 – January 2009        

●       Africa Representative, Advocates International Global Council. 2004 – 2008

●       1^st Assistant Secretary, Nigerian Bar Association, Lagos Branch. 2003 – 2004

●       Secretary, NBA Human Rights Committee. 2003 – 2004

●       Special Counsel and Africa Liaison, Advocates International, Inc. USA. 2003 to October 2009

●       2^nd Assistant Secretary, Nigerian Bar Association, Lagos Branch. 2002 -2003

●  Publicity Secretary, Christian Lawyers Fellowship of Nigeria (CLASFON) Lagos Island Chapter. 2001 – 2004

●       National Field Representative, CLASFON. 2001 – 2003      

●       Associate; Chief G.O. Sodipo & Co. 2001 – 2003                                        

●       P.R.O. CLASFON, Nigerian Law School. 2000                                                  

●       Coordinator, CLASFON, Nigerian Law School. 1999

●       Chairman, Audit Committee, Law Society, A.B.U, Zaria 1999 

●       President, A.B.U CLASFON Chapter 1998- 1999

●       National Public Relations Officer, CLASFON (Students Body) 1995- 1997   

●       Public Relations Officer, A.B.U CLASFON Chapter. 1994- 1995                     

OTHERS

●       Legal Adviser; Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC), Lagos State Police Command 2016 - 2018

●       Legal Adviser; Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC), Area N Command, Ikorodu 2014 - 2016

●       Legal Adviser; Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC), Ijede Police Division, Ikorodu 2010 - 2014

⮚      Nigerian Bar Association

⮚      Christian Lawyers Fellowship of Nigeria

⮚      Christian Lawyers Association of South Africa

⮚      Advocates Africa

⮚      Advocates International, USA

⮚      Alliance Defense Fund, USA

⮚      Christian Lawyers Association, USA

⮚      Peace and Collaborative Development Network, USA

 

 | 1. USA | 2. Turkey | 3. Rwanda | 4. Zambia | 5. Malawi
| 6. Malaysia | 7. Kenya | 8. Gabon | 9. Namibia | 10. Gambia
| 11. India | 12. Tanzania | 13. Cameroon | 14. Mozambique | 15. Ghana
| 16. Egypt | 17. Republic of Congo | 18. Central African Republic
| 19. Swaziland | 20. Mali | 21. Ethiopia | 22. D.R Congo | 23. Zimbabwe
| 24. Botswana | 25. Togo | 26. Uganda | 27. Burundi | 28. South Africa
| 29. Benin | 30. Burkina Faso | 31. Senegal | 32. Ivory Coast | 33.Liberia
| 34. Sierra Leone.  

⮚      Organized seminar on Alternative Dispute Resolution (ABU, Zaria – 1996)

⮚      Organized National CLASFON (students) Conference (1997)

⮚      Organized CLASFON National Conference (2001, 2002, 2003)

⮚      Organized Nigerian Bar Association; Lagos Bar Law Week (2002)

⮚ Facilitated Conferences organized by the US Department of State on Intellectual Property Regimes in Nigeria and on Corruption (2002)

⮚ Facilitated  a strategic meeting between the Executive members of the Lagos Bar and the Political office of the US Embassy (2003)

⮚      Facilitated Advocates International Convocations in USA (2004, 2008)

⮚ Facilitated the Launch of Advocates Cameroon, Advocates Cote d’ Ivoire, Advocates Sierra Leone, Advocates Burundi (2004, 2006)

⮚ Organized/ Facilitated Advocates Africa Conferences in Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya and Ethiopia (2003, 2005, 2007, 2009)

⮚      Organized several programs for the Nigerian Bar Association, Ikorodu Branch (2012 to 2014, 2018 to Date)

⮚      CLASFON Students’ Conferences (1993, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003)

⮚      CLASFON National Conferences (1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007)

⮚      Mediation as an Alternative Dispute Resolution Mechanism (1996 and 2002)

⮚      Workshops on Intellectual Property Regimes in Nigeria (2002)

⮚      Workshop on Anti- Corruption in Nigeria (2002)

⮚      Advocates Africa Conferences in Ghana, Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya and Ethiopia (2002, 2003, 2005, 2007 and 2009)

⮚      International Bar Association Conference in San Francisco, California and Boston, MA, USA (2003, 2013)

⮚      The Launch of Advocates Cameroon, Tiko Province, Douala, Cameroon (2004)

⮚      Delivered lecture on International Religious Freedom, LLM Class, Virginia State University, Richmond, VA, USA (2004)

⮚      National Conference of the Kenyan Christian Lawyers Fellowship, Kenya (2004, 2005, 2006)

⮚      National Conference of the Ugandan Christian Lawyers Fraternity, Kampala (2004, 2005)

⮚      Strategic Meeting with the Ethiopian Christian Lawyers Fellowship, Addis Ababa (2004, 2007, 2009)

⮚      Advocates International Convocations in the USA (2004, 2008)

⮚      Advocates International Board Meetings in the USA (2004, 2005, 2008, 2009)

⮚      Nigerian Bar Association National Conferences (2001, 2002, 2003, 2009)

⮚      Christian Legal Fellowship Conferences in Florida, Virginia and Washington DC; USA (2003, 2004, 2008, 2013)

⮚      CLA, South Africa; National Conference (2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009)

⮚     Strategic Meeting with Lawyers and Judges in Zambia, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Swaziland and Botswana (2005)

⮚     Strategic Meetings with Lawyers and Judges in Togo, Benin, Mali,  Senegal, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Tanzania, DR Congo, Republic of Congo, Gabon, Liberia, Gambia and Burkina Faso (2005, 2006, 2007)

⮚      Launched Advocates Sierra Leone in Freetown (2006)

⮚      Advocates Asia Conference, India (2006)

⮚      Advocates International Global Council Meeting in Istanbul, Turkey and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (2006, 2007)

⮚      Strategic meeting with Lawyers and Judges in Rwanda and Burundi (2006)

⮚      Commonwealth Lawyers Association Conference in Kenya (2007)

⮚      Institute for Security Studies Workshops and Seminars in South Africa and Ethiopia (2007, 2008, 2009)

⮚      National Black Lawyers Association Conference, South Africa (2008)

⮚      African Union Ministers of Health Conference, Sandton City, South Africa (2007)

⮚      African Union Ordinary Session, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (2008)

⮚      CCP-AU Continental Consultative Meeting, Addis Ababa (2007)

⮚      African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights Ordinary Sessions in DR Congo, Swaziland, Nigeria and Gambia (2007, 2008, 2009)

⮚      CCP-AU Continental Consultative Meeting, Sham el Shiek, Egypt (2008)

⮚      Justice Makers Workshops in Swaziland (2008, 2009)

⮚      NGO Forum Meetings in DR Congo, Nigeria and Gambia (2007, 2008, 2009)

⮚      Launch of the Law Society, University of Swaziland (2009)

⮚      The DOHA Forum on Anti- Abortion – Pro Family Conference, United Nations HQ, New York (2008)

⮚      PEW Foundation Expert Meeting on International Religious Freedom in North Carolina, USA (2008)

⮚      Africa Trust consultative meeting on the Pan- African Parliament, Midrand, South Africa (2009)

⮚      CCP-AU Continental Consultative Meeting, Addis Ababa (2009)

⮚      National Defense Academy, ADF USA (2010)

⮚      Delivered talks in several conferences and workshops on various topics especially regarding good governance and anticorruption (2010 to Date)

⮚      Delivered several papers on combating corruption in the Judiciary as a workshop facilitator for the Lagos State Judiciary (2018 and 2019)

⮚      Recipient of the 2008 Advocates International’s Good Samaritan Award

⮚      Lagos State Judiciary Award for Excellence in the Fight Against Corruption

⮚      Advocates Africa Award for Service to Humanity

⮚      Lagos State Polytechnic Judiciary Student Body Award of Excellence

 

⮚      Date of Birth:       July 4, 1974     

⮚      Marital Status:     Married

⮚      No. of Children:   Three (3)

⮚      Home Address:     L11B Millennium Housing Estate, Oke-Eletu, Ijede LCDA, Ikorodu, Lagos

⮚      Designed a working module to establish the Scheme in Ikorodu

⮚      Facilitated  monthly visits to Police Stations by Members of NBA Ikorodu Branch

⮚      Organised quarterly training session for members of NBA Ikorodu Branch

⮚      Raised Awareness for NBA Branches in Lagos and around the country to implement PDSS

⮚      Partnered with Governmental and non-governmental Organisations to promote PDSS

⮚      Invited as a Resource person to promote PDSS in all the NBA Branches in the FCT by the British Council ROLAC programme

⮚      Established a Volunteer Group of Lawyers to accompany Magistrates to visit detention centres in Lagos

⮚      Worked closely with the Judiciary to facilitate visits by Magistrates

⮚      Collaborated with the Ministry of Justice and other NGOs in supporting Magistrates to visit police detention centres

⮚      Participated in workshops organized British Council ROLAC to promote the implementation of S34 ACJA in Lagos State

⮚      Established a Nationwide Anti-corruption movement with special focus on the Courts

⮚      Delivered lectures and papers on fighting corruption within the Judiciary and worked closely with the Lagos State Judiciary to minimize corrupt tendencies amongst its registry staff

 oolasunkanmi January 8, 2020.

… Appoints Fola Arthur-Worrey As Chairman

The Lagos State Government on Wednesday inaugurated an advisory committee on Police Prosecutions in Magistrate Courts to review laws enabling Police prosecutorial power.

The committee was inaugurated in response to the clamour by non-governmental organisations and stakeholders to bar Police Prosecution of criminal matters at the State Magistrate Court in accordance with the provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Acts (ACJA).

While inaugurating the seven-member advisory committee, Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Moyosore Onigbanjo, SAN, said the government will announce its position on the matter after the recommendation of the committee, which will be made known to the general public.

The Committee’s terms of reference include the State of Law in terms of Police Prosecutorial powers; Challenges of oversight functions of the AG; Distinctions in the type of offences Police can prosecute; and Magistrate Court Jurisdiction on criminal matters and its powers to review charges, among others.

Onigbanjo noted that the members were carefully selected based on their wealth of experience in State Criminal Justice practice and assured NGOs as well as Lagos residents that  government’s final decisions will be based on fairness, devoid of sentiments and bias.

The Attorney-General urged the advisory committee to look beyond Lagos State in their deliberations and likewise consider the laws of the country in order to give balanced counsel.

“I hereby urge you to look beyond Lagos State being a Pacesetter to others in your deliberation to make informed decisions in your advice”, he said.

Responding, Chairman of the Advisory Committee, Mr. Fola Arthur-Worrey, commended the Attorney-General for the choice of members, promising that the committee will put in their best to ensure unbiased and professional recommendations are submitted to the government in a short while.

In her remarks, the Solicitor-General/Permanent Secretary, Ms. Titilayo Shitta-Bey, expressed optimism that the recommendations of the advisory committee would enhance the effective Administration of Justice in the State.

The members of the advisory committee are Mr. Fola Arthur-Worrey – Chairman; Mr. Norrison Quakers, SAN – Member; Ms. Titilayo Shitta-Bey (Solicitor-General/Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice) – Member;
Mr. Yhaqub Oshoala (Director, Public Prosecutions) – Member; DSP Yetunde Cardoso, O/C Legal Dept, Criminal Investigation, Yaba, Lagos – Member; Mr. Bayo Akinlade, Chairman, NBA Ikorodu Chapter [Standing First From The Right In The Picture Below] – Member; Mrs. Rukayat Owolabi – Member; and Mrs. Arinola Momoh-Ayokanmbi – Secretary