Chairman of the Mid-West Bar Forum Executive Committee/Elders Council, Members of the Mid-West Bar Forum Executive Committee and the Branch Chairmen of the N.B.A in Edo and Delta have asked its members to ignore the purported 5 man Interim Executive Committee illegally appointed by Chief T.J.O. Okpoko, SAN and Others.

They have also tagged the Mid-West Bar Forum meeting purportedly convened by T.J.O. Okpoko, SAN and Others as unlawful.

This was contained in a joint statement signed by the underlisted persons.

They also condemned the alleged appointment of Patrick Oganwu, a 5 man “Interim Executive Committee”, despite the fact that there’s a case pending in court.

Read the joint statement below

“The attention of the Chairman/Executive Committee Members of the Mid-West Bar Forum and the Branch Chairmen of the N.B.A. in Edo and Delta States have been drawn to the fact that in spite of the pendency of Suit No. A/65/2020- CHIKE ONYEMENAM, SAN & OTHERS V. CHIEF T.J.O. OKPOKO, SAN & OTHERS, filed on behalf of the Mid-West Bar Forum with Chief Charles Adoga, SAN, Chief Ighodalo Imadebelo SAN, Chief H.O. Ogbodu, SAN and Chief George Igbokwe, SAN leading other N.B.A. Branch Chairmen of the Forum, and the Order of the Delta State High Court, Asaba Judicial Division, duly served on Chief T.J.O. Okpoko, SAN and Others, directing Chief T.J.O. Okpoko, SAN and Co. to show cause within 24 hours why they should not be restrained from holding a proposed illegal Meeting of the Mid-West Bar Forum aimed at setting up a parallel Executive Committee against the wishes of the Members of the 14 Branches of the Mid-West Bar Forum who unanimously elected and have reindorsed the Election of the Chike Onyemenam, SAN led Executive Committee, Chief T.J.O. Okpoko, SAN and the Defendants in the above case have defied the above pending Court case and Court Order and proceeded to hold the said Meeting with only about 25 persons in attendance and none of the Branch Chairmen present, including the N.B.A. Warri Branch Chairman and his Executive Committee advertised as “Hosts”, and shamelessly appointed an alleged 5 Man “Interim Executive Committee ” led by Patrick Oganwu, Esq., as a parallel Executive Committee for the Forum.

“Consequent upon the above brazen acts of illegality, I, Chike George Onyemenam, Senior Advocate of Nigeria and Chairman of the Mid-West Bar Forum Executive Committee/Elders Council, together with the Members of the Mid-West Bar Forum Executive Committee and the Branch Chairmen of the N.B.A. in Edo and Delta States, on behalf of the entire Members of the Mid-West Bar Forum, hereby declare as illegal and in gross disrespect for the Rule of Law, the purported Meeting of the Mid-West Bar Forum convened by Chief T.J.O. Okpoko, SAN and Others together with the purported appointment of a Patrick Oganwu 5 man “Interim Executive Committee”, having regards to the pendency of the above Suit No. A/65/2020 filed to establish that Chief T.J.O. Okpoko, SAN and Co. have no powers to carry out the above acts which they have regrettably in a go to hell fashion defied and proceeded to carry out.

“We hereby direct all the Members of the 14 N.B.A. Branches that make up the Mid-West Bar Forum to ignore the above attempt to impose Leaders or Executive Committee Members on the Members of the Forum against their wishes and to ignore the purported 5 man Interim Executive Committee illegally appointed by the above persons who have no role, functions, official position or powers under the Forum’s Constitution and who acted without the knowledge and consent of the Forum; and to remain Law Abiding while we seek redress before the Law Court.”

SIGNED:

(A). EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBERS OF THE MID-WEST BAR FORUM:

1. CHIKE ONYEMENAM, SAN
(CHAIRMAN, MWBF)
2. OTHADUA OKPAKPOR, ESQ.
(1ST VICE-CHAIRMAN, MWBF)
3. PRINCESS PATRICIA IYOMON
(2ND VICE-CHAIRMAN, MWBF)
4. MRS. BENEDICTA OKODUWA
(SECRETARY-GENERAL, MWBF)
5. MRS. RITA OKUNBO
(PUBLICITY SECRETARY, MWBF)
6. EZEKIEL OKORO, ESQ.
(TREASURER, MWBF)
7. Y. HAMBALI, ESQ.
(FINANCIAL SECRETARY, MWBF)
8. MRS. STELLA AGHEDE-EHIKWE
(WELFARE SECRETARY, MWBF)
9. A.G. OBRO, ESQ.
(ASST. SECRETARY, MWBF)
10. PRINCE ALEX OBADE, ESQ.
(ASST. WELFARE SECRETARY, MWBF).

(B). N.B.A. BRANCH CHAIRMEN OF THE MID-WEST BAR FORUM:
EDO STATE:

1. PRINCE COLLINS OGIEGBAEN
(CHAIRMAN, N.B.A. BENIN BRANCH)
2. SIMON MOKIDI, ESQ.
(CHAIRMAN, N.B.A. AUCHI BRANCH)
3. OKODUWA MAILE, ESQ.
(CHAIRMAN, N.B.A. EKPOMA BRANCH)
4. EKUAZE C.O. ESQ.
(CHAIRMAN, N.B.A. UROMI BRANCH)
5. PRINCE SAM AMUNE
(CHAIRMAN, N.B.A. IGARRA BRANCH)
DELTA STATE:
6. FRED T. ERULI-EDE, ESQ.
(CHAIRMAN, N.B.A. ASABA BRANCH)
7. E.S. AYO- OKHIRI, ESQ.
(CHAIRMAN, N.B.A. UGHELLI BRANCH)
8. DON O. EGHO, ESQ.
(CHAIRMAN, N.B.A. EFFURUN BRANCH)
9. PRINCE ADEMI-AKPETO
(CHAIRMAN, N.B.A. SAPELE BRANCH)
10. OSI OKOJIE, ESQ.
(CHAIRMAN, N.B.A. AGBOR BRANCH)
11. VICTOR ISIBOR, ESQ.
(CHAIRMAN, N.B.A. OGWASHI-UKWU BRANCH)