OCJ Okocha Bows Out As Body

The retired Supreme Court Justice, Justice Olabode Rhodes-Vivour, has been appointed the new chairman, Body of Benchers.
He emerged as the chairman following the retirement of Chief Onueze Chukwujinka Joe Okocha, SAN, who was also a former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA).
Okocha retired, last Friday, after chairing the Body for two years.
According to sources, Justice Olabode Rhodes-Vivour, was appointed to succeed Chief O.C.J. Okocha, while Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN, is to serve as the Body’s vice chairman.
Okocha, in his valedictory address held, last Friday, thanked the former vice chairman of the Body, Justice Olabode Rhodes-Vivour, past chairmen, and members of the various committees, standing and ad-hoc, and all those who assisted him in one way or the other while he was the chairman.
However, he listed some key issues affecting the legal profession, among which are the amendment of the Legal Practitioners Act, funding of the Body of Benchers, Disciplinary Committee and Call to the Bar ceremony amidst the Covid-19 pandemic.
Okocha expressed appreciation to the members vested with the task of amending the Act.
He maintained that the Body of Benchers was able to conclude work on the proposed Legal Practitioners Act (Amendment) Bill, which had been under the consideration of the Body for quite some time.
He said that the proposed Amendment Bill has undergone contributions and work by concerned bodies, especially the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and the Harmonization Committee under the Chairmanship of Justice Abdu Aboki, JSC.
He expressed hope that the National Assembly, upon receipt of the Bill, would hasten the work on the Bill, which upon passage, would suit the present-day purposes of the learned and honourable profession.
Okocha acknowledged the devastating effect of the Covid-19 pandemic on the activities of the body while commending the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, SAN, for securing a befitting venue for the meeting of the body.
He also raised an issue on the duties of the Body of Benchers as encapsulated in Section 3 (1) of the Legal Practitioners Act, which includes and not limited to the Call to the Bar of persons seeking to become legal practitioners in Nigeria.
The former chairman also acknowledged and commended the efforts of the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) under the Chairmanship of E.C. Ukala, SAN, which remains ever dedicated to its duties and has through the discharge of its duties have continued to uphold the dignity and prestige accorded the profession and urged the committee to quicken the pace of the disciplinary process as complaints are arising day by day against Legal Practitioners.
However, Okocha expressed