The Body of Benchers, currently chaired by Chief Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), has confirmed the Leader of the Senate, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele; human rights lawyer Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN); and 13 other prominent legal practitioners as life members of the prestigious body.
The confirmation was formally announced on Thursday, January 23, 2025, at the body’s meeting at its head office in Abuja, Federal Capital Territory.
The body further confirmed, among others, the Director General of the Nigerian Law School, Prof. Isa Chiroma; the Emir of Lafia, Justice Sidi Bage; retired Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Ejembi Eko; and former United Nations Special Rapporteur on Trafficking Persons in Africa, Prof. Joy Ngozi Ezeilo (SAN), as life benchers.
With the newly confirmed life benchers, the country’s total number has now risen to 170, a cap set for the next five years before new life members would be admitted into the body of practitioners of the highest distinction in the legal profession.
The elevation of the new life benchers is obviously in recognition of their outstanding contribution to the development of the legal profession in the country and for upholding its integrity and excellence.
Bamidele, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters in the ninth National Assembly, was first appointed into the Body of Benchers as a Bencher in November 2019.
His tenure as chairman of the Senate Committee on Judiciary and Legal Matters witnessed remarkable reforms. He worked closely with the leadership of both the judicial and executive arms of Government.
Among others, there was greater attention paid to the welfare and working conditions of judicial officers and staff through increased budgetary provisions for the judiciary.
The Bill to increase the retirement age of judicial officers from 65 to 70 was passed by the legislature and assented to by the executive.
Called to the Nigerian Bar in July 1992, Bamidele actively maintains his membership in the Nigerian Bar Association, American Bar Association, New York State Bar Association and International Bar Association.
He is also a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (Nigeria), the Chartered Institute of Management Consultants, and the Chartered Institute of Local Government and Public Administration, Nigeria.
At different times, Bamidele has distinguished himself in public service, having served as the Commissioner for Youth, Sports, & Social Development under the administration of Governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Commissioner of Information & Strategy under the administration of Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola and Chairman, House Committee on Legislative Research and Budget in the seventh National Assembly.
He first graduated with honours in 1986 from the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University), Nigeria, with a Bachelor of Arts. Driven by a passion for an egalitarian and just world, Bamidele turned to the University of Benin, Nigeria, to pursue a Bachelor of Laws, which he completed also with honours in 1990.
He further pursued a Master of Laws at the Franklin Pierce School of Law, University of New Hampshire, Concord, United States, specialising in Intellectual Property Law, with bias in International Patent, Trademark and Copyright Law, including the Licensing of International Transfer of Technology.
