The President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mr. Yakubu Chonoko Maikyau, OON, SAN has expressed sadness over the recent passing of three illustrious members of the Bar, Mr. Abioye Akerele of Lagos Branch, Pastor Isaac Ibiteye of Bwari Branch and Evangelist DOC Ezeigwe of Enugu Branch.

Mr. Akerele was a renowned member of NBA Lagos Branch. He was a former co-chair of the NBA Human Rights Committee and the Founding Secretary of Eti Osa Lawyers’ Forum. Pastor Isaac Ibiteye was a dedicated and respected member of Bwari Branch. Evangelist DOC Ezeigwe was one of the active members of the Bar, an ever-present face and a popular voice at most meetings of the NBA. ‘Evangelist’ as he was popularly called was an elder of Enugu Branch, a founding father of Aguata Branch, and a long-serving member of the National Executive Council (NEC) of the NBA.

Mr. Maikyau has described the passing of these three distinguished bar men as a great loss to the legal profession and the NBA in particular, and he noted that their contributions to the Bar would be sorely missed.

The NBA President has urged families and friends to be consoled by the remarkable and impactful lives of these legal practitioners and, he prayed that Almighty God grants those that they have left behind the continuous strength to bear these irreparable losses.

Akorede Habeeb Lawal
National Publicity Secretary, Nigerian Bar Association