Awomolo reinstates Alegeh as Benchers’ appointment committee chair

Life Bencher and former Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) President, Mr. Augustine Alegeh SAN has been reinstated to his seat as the Chair of the Appointment Committee of the elite Body of Benchers.

A report by CITY LAWYER confirmed the development.

It noted how Alegeh had disagreed sharply with the reconstitution of the Body of Benchers committees by its Chairman, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN.

He had queried his removal as Chairman of the Benchers Appointment Committee, noting that he had yet to serve out his three-year tenure as the duly appointed chairman of the committee at the intersection he was removed by Awomolo.

Citing several alleged infractions of the Benchers Regulations 2024, the former NBA president wrote: “I am surprised to see that whereas my tenure has not expired, my respected big brother and Life Bencher, Mallam Yusuf Ali, SAN, whom I hold in very high esteem, and who has a rich history of respect for the Rule of Law, was published in your email as the “Chairman” of the same Committee.”

Alegeh had vowed that he would not relinquish the position without a fight, saying: “I therefore would continue to act as Chairman of the Committee in the terms stated in my Letter of Appointment.”

He had instituted a lawsuit at the Federal High Court in Lagos, urging the court to reinstate him as Chairman of the Benchers Appointment Committee.

The court had barred the Body of Benchers and its Chairman, Awomolo, from removing Alegeh pending determination of the lawsuit.

In the ruling, the court held “That an Order of Interim Injunction is granted restraining the Defendants from removing the Plaintiff/Applicant and/or interfering with his duties as Chairman of the Body of benchers appointment committee during his tenure from 28th March, 2024 to 27th March, 2027, pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice for Interlocutory Injunction.”

However, following a truce consummated by the immediate past Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, Alegeh had taken steps to withdraw the lawsuit.

He, however, paused the move when the Awomolo-led body was reluctant in implementing the settlement terms.

The former NBA president has now withdrawn the lawsuit.

Giving reasons for the action, a close aide of the Bar Leader was quoted by CITY LAWYER to have said that “Truce was reached. Claimant’s position at BoB (was) restored.”

It was, however, unclear at the weekend, the fate of respected Bar Leader, Mr. Yusuf Ali, SAN, who was appointed in Alegeh’s stead by Awomolo.

It was also unclear whether all the appointments which threw spanner in the works had been jettisoned by Awomolo.

It would be recalled that former Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Mary Peter-Odili had sensationally denied appointing Alegeh as Chairman of the Benchers Appointment Committee.

Following Odili’s denial, Awomolo had issued a query dated 3rd June, 2024 to the embattled Secretary of the Body of Benchers, Mr. Daniel Tela, asking him to respond to Odili’s denial.

Part of Odili’s letter reads: “It is with great shock to read the contents of the letter which in effect means that I, as outgoing chairman of the Body of Benchers, authorized the said appointment. I could not have embarked on such an appointment of Augustine Alegeh SAN as Chairman of Appointment Committee for the following reasons:

1. I had made it known to the administration that I had no interest in reconfiguring the Appointment Committee during my tenure.

2. I could not have embarked on such a process on the day I chaired the last meeting of my tenure, which meant that the appointment would not be presented to the House for approval before the letter to the candidate.

3. I would not have entered into the restructuring of the Appointments Committee without reference to the Vice Chairman with whom I worked as a team.” [with report by CITY LAWYER]