Rivers CJ Lauds Ichegbo Ex-Chair NBA For Transparency

The Chief Judge of Rivers State, Hon. Justice Simeon Amadi, has commended the immediate-past chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Isiokpo Branch, Mr. Promise Ichegbo for being transparent and accountable to the association during his tenure.
Hon. Justice Amadi made the commendation during the end-of-tenure programme of Ichebo and his executive committee members. The commendation came in the wake of low transparency and accountability rating of African government officials by Transparency International.
The Chief Judge, who was represented by Hon. Justice Opufaa Ben Whyte of Isiokpo High Court, said Ichegbo and his executives did very well, a performance he said their successors should emulate.
He urged lawyers to eschew ego, unite and work as a team. He said though they might have their respective interests in politics, lawyers should not free themselves from political powers wielders.
“Whatever disagreement you will have, try to sort it out in-house. This is because part of our problem in this country is ego. Besides, in as much as every exco member is equal, there must be one leader and that leader is the new chairman of the exco of the branch. The exco members and other members of the association must try to work as a team.”
“Inasmuch as you may have your individual interest or candidate in politics of power, try to free yourself from political influence or external influence. When you allow politics to divide you, there is no way you (the new executive committee) can act as one,” he said, urging the new executive to abide by the constitution of the NBA.
“As Exco members you must know that you are now the trustees of the fund and property of members of this association. All in all, my charge to the new exco members is to ensure that they run an administration that will give everyone in the association a sense of belonging,” Hon. Justice Amadi emphasized.
He urged the new leadership to strive to improve on the performance of their predecessors and hand over better legacies to their successors.
In his valedictory address Ichegbo said listed the challenges that his administration faced to include inadequate funds needed to execute projects outlined for the branch, particularly the bar centre completion and investment in profitable ventures to shore up the financial base branch as he had promised in his manifesto.
“Barely two months of our assumption of office, we constructed and completed a borehole water project for use at the branch’s bar centre, which was commissioned along with an ultra modern notice board for the branch at the October 2020 monthly general meeting but which was held in November 2022. In addition, this administration produced the first Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) in the person of Prof Chris Chinedu Wigwe, who incidentally is the dean, Faculty of Law, Rivers State University.”
Mr. Ichegbo went further: “It will be interesting to note that during the just concluded Annual General Conference of the NBA 2022 held in Lagos State, we engaged and secured a firm promise from one of the illustrious sons of our dear host community of Isiokpo kingdom, who is Joseph Nwobike SAN to purchase and hand over in December this year, two plots of land to the branch for her development. We must graciously thank Joseph Nwobike SAN for that kind gesture and urge the new administration of the NBA Isiokpo branch to work towards the actualization of the promise of property.
“Under this administration the branch witnessed exponential increase in membership, comprising both new members and returning members who abandoned the branch due to deliberate steps taken by my government to reach out to them and also run the branch with professionalism, transparency and respect for all strata by the membership of the branch. It also goes without disputation that attendances at the branch monthly general meeting experienced a dramatic increase from the start of the administration to the end,” Ichegbo stated.
He described his two years in office as a unique experience, adding that he is indebted to those who assisted and supported him during his tenure.
The new chairman of the branch Dr. CahsmiaOfurum said his administration would be founded on the rule of law. “Our administration will be based on the rule of law. The choice our administration will make will be based on the rule of law. We shall observe the rule of law at all times,” Dr. Ofurum assured.
He promised that his exco would not disappoint members of the branch, but work assiduously to consolidate on the gains and achievements recorded by their predecessor, and appealed to members of the branch to join hands with the new exco members to move the branch to the next level.