Hon. Justice Ariwoola was born to the Ariwoola family on 22^nd August, 1954, in Iseyin Local Government area of Oyo State. His Lordship started his educational career at the Local Authority Demonstration School, Oluwole in Iseyin Local Government Area of Oyo State between 1959 and 1967. He was in the Muslim Modern School in the same town between 1968 and 1969 before proceeding to Ansar-Ud-Deen High School, Saki in Oyo North of Oyo State.

His Lordship studied law at the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University), Ile Ife and bagged a bachelor of law degree with honors in July, 1980. In July 1981, Hon. Justice Ariwoola was called to the Nigeria bar and got enrolled at the Supreme Court of Nigeria as a Solicitor and Advocate.

His Lordship started his career as a State Counsel as a National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) at the Ministry of Justice, Akure, Ondo State and later as a Legal Officer in the Ministry of Justice in Oyo State until 1988 when he voluntarily left the State Civil Service for private practice. His Lordship worked as Counsel in-Chambers of Chief Ladosu Ladapo, SAN between October, 1988 and July 1989. Thereafter, his Lordship established Olukayode Ariwoola & Co – a firm of legal Practitioners and Consultants in Oyo town in August, 1989 before he was appointed in November, 1992 as a Judge of the Oyo State Judiciary.

Justice Ariwoola served as Chairman, Board of Directors, Phonex Motors Ltd – one of Oodua Investment conglomerate between 1988 and 1992. Chairman, Armed Robbery Tribunal, Oyo State between May 1993 and September, 1996 before he was posted out of the headquarters, Ibadan to Saki High Court. His Lordship served on the Election Tribunals in Zamfara and Enugu States in 1999. On Election Appeal Courts in Port-Harcourt, Enugu, Benin, Yola and Ilorin at various times.

 He was sworn in as a Judge of the High Court on 2nd November, 1992, as a Justice of the Court of Appeal (JCA) on 22nd November, 2005 and again as a Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria (JSC) on 22nd November, 2011.

Before his elevation to the Supreme Court, his lordship served as Justice of Court of Appeal in Kaduna, Enugu and Lagos Divisions. He is also a fellow of International Dispute Resolution Institute (FIDRI) having been inducted in Dubai, U.A.E in 2014.

His Lordship has attended many International and National conferences and workshops in France, Atlanta Georgia, UK and Dubai, UAE.

Honourable Justice Ariwoola is happily married with children and he loves reading, listening to good music, photography and shopping.

Hon. Mr. Justice Kudirat Motonmori Olatokunbo KEKERE-EKUN CFR was born on May 7, 1958. She obtained her LL.B in 1980 from the University of Lagos and LL.M from the London School of Economic and Political Science in November 1983. She was called to the Nigerian Bar on 10th July 1981. She was appointed a Senior Magistrate Grade II, Lagos State Judiciary in December 1989. She was appointed as a Judge of the High Court of Lagos State in July 1996. She served as Chairman Robbery and Firearms Tribunal, Zone II, Ikeja, Lagos from November 1996 to May 1999. She was elevated as a Justice of the Court of Appeal on 22nd September 2004. She served as a member of the Court of Appeal ICT Committee from June 2011 to July 2013. She has attended numerous courses and seminars within and outside Nigeria, such as Case Management and Court Administration Training Workshop Organized by the National Centre for State Courts in June 2001, ICT Training Course (Information Technology Infrastructure Library) in Dubai UAE in July 2012 and the 34th Cambridge International Symposium on Economic Crime, Cambridge, UK in September 2016.

She was appointed a Justice of Supreme Court of Nigeria on June 8, 2013.

Hon Justice Monica Bolna’an Dongban-Mensem was born on 13th June, 1957, to the family of M.B. Douglas-Mensem; a retired Appeal Court Justice.

He hails from Shendam Local Government Area of Plateau State. He got both her LL.B and LL.M degrees from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.

 He was a Visiting Lecturer on Press Law at the Catholic Media Centre, Kaduna from 1988-1992 and Part-time Lecturer at the University of Jos between 1989 and 1997.

From 1990-1993, Justice Dongban-Mensem served as Deputy Chief Registrar, Superior Courts and Protocol Affairs, and was appointed Judge, High Court of Justice, Plateau Judiciary from 1993-1996.

Hon Justice Dongban-Mensem transferred his service to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Judiciary in 1997, where he served until he was elevated to the Court of Appeal in 2003.

He was sworn-in as the President, Court of Appeal, on 19th June, 2020, by the Chief Justice of Nigeria.

Until this recent elevation, Hon. Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem was the Presiding Justice of the Court of Appeal, Enugu Division, and Life Member of Body of Benchers.

His leisure is writing, reading, golfing working with children, women and the elderly. The judge is a mother of four children and two grandchildren.

Hon Justice Francis F. Tabai was born at Torugbene in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State on 25^th July, 1942. He started his primary education at the then Native Authority School Torugbene. He attended St Thomas Teacher Training College Ibusa and obtained the Teachers Grade II Certificate in 1961. From January 1962 to August 1966, he was a teacher in several towns and villages in the Western Ijaw Division.

His Lordship attended the University of Lagos where he obtained his L.L.B Hons Degree in 1969, afterwards, he proceeded to the Nigerian Law School and was called to Bar on the 26^th of June, 1970. After his call to Bar, he was engaged in private law practice at the firm of Dr Mudiaga Odje & Co. at Warri.

On the 1^st of July 1973, he was appointed a Magistrate Grade I at the Rivers State Judiciary.

From July 1973 to December 1980, he rose through the ranks to Chief Magistrate. From July 1980 to July 1985 he was Deputy Chief Registrar of the Federal High Court.

On the 22^nd July, 1985, Hon Justice Francis F. Tabai was appointed a Judge of the High Court of Rivers State. At the creation of Bayelsa State on 1^st October 1996, he became a Judge of the High Court of Bayelsa State.

In December 1998, his lordship was appointed a Justice of the Court of Appeal and was posted first to the Benin Division, and then to the Ibadan Division in 1999, where he stayed until 2006.

His Lordship was appointed a Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria in March 2006, where he remained until July 2012, when he retired after attaining the statutory age of 70 years.

He is now a First Class ruler in Delta State, having been installed and recognized as the EBENANAOWEI (PERE) OF Tuomo Kingdom.

He was appointed a member of the National Judicial Council on 1^st January, 2019.

Hon. Justice Amiru Sanusi, OFR was born 2^nd February, 1950, in Funtua, Funtua LGA of Katsina State. He started his primary education in Gudindi Elementary School, Funtua, in 1957 and obtained his Elementary School Leaving Certificate in 1961. He continued to Aya Primary School and got his Primary School Leaving Certificate in 1963. He proceeded to Government Secondary School Funtua where he obtained his Secondary School Leaving Certificate and GCE in 1968.

He started his work career as a Clerical Assistant with The Nigerian Railway Corporation in 1969, before moving to the Ministry of Agricultural and Natural Resources Kaduna, as a Clerical Officer in 1970. He gained admission into Ahmadu Bello University in 1972 for a Diploma Program in Law on Study Leave. Upon completion of the Diploma Program in 1974, he went on to study a Degree in Law and obtained his LLB in 1977.

He was then transferred to the High Court of Kaduna State where he got advancement from the position of Assistant Registrar to Higher Registrar in 1977. He was called to Bar in 1978 after attending the Nigerian Law School, Lagos.

Hon. Justice Amiru Sanusi, OFR was upgraded to Magistrate Grade II after his NYSC in Imo State. He grew up the ranks to become a Senior Magistrate I. He was seconded to The Niger River Basin Authority Kwara State in 1981, where he worked as a Principal Assistant Secretary (Legal) until 1983. He was de-seconded to Kaduna State Judiciary on advancement to the rank of Ag. Chief Magistrate II and was later promoted to the rank of Chief Magistrate I in 1987.

His Lordship was deployed as Director of Public Prosecution upon the creation of Katsina State under its Ministry of Justice, and he became the first Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice of the State in 1989.

His Lordship was sworn-in as a High Court Judge in Katsina State Judiciary in early 1990, and in 1998 he was elevated to The Court of Appeal.

Hon Justice Amiru Sanusi, OFR was sworn-in as a Justice of The Supreme Court in 2015, where he served until his retirement in February, 2020. He chaired several commissions of Inquiries and attended notable professional courses both home and abroad. He was appointed a member of Council in 2020.

His Lordship is married and blessed with children.

Hon Justice Sidi Bage Muhammad 1, Emir of Lafia Bare Bari and Chairman Nasarawa State Council of Chiefs was born in Lafia, Nasarawa State on 22nd June, 1956. He started his academic sojourn at the Dunoma Primary School Lafia 1963 and went on to attend Government Secondary School Lafia between 1970-1974. He proceeded to Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, 1975 and graduated in 1980. He proceeded to The Nigerian Law school Lagos, in 1980 and was called to Bar in 1981.

Hon Justice Bage started his work career as a Magistrate II in August, 1982 and became a Chief Magistrate in 1989. He rose to the position of Deputy Chief Registrar in 1990, and was made a Chief Registrar in 1991.

He was appointed a High Court Judge on the 9th of November 1992 and was elevated as Justice of The Court of Appeal on the 10th of December 2007.

Hon Justice Bage was appointed a Justice of The Supreme Court of Nigeria on the 17th of January 2017.

He was selected as Emir of Lafia Nasarawa State on the 26th of March 2019 and became a Member of Council in July, 2020.

He has attended various courses in Nigeria and abroad and has served on several ad-hoc appointments.

On 22nd of March 1951, a bouncing baby boy was born to the family of Honourable Justice (Chief) Akinwumi R. W. Rhodes-Vivour in Lagos Island. According to customs and tradition, he was named eight days after as Olabode Rhodes-Vivour.

He started primary school in 1956. And quite unusually, he attended three (3) different primary schools i.e. Maryland Primary School, Ikeja, Lagos, St. Msthias Primary School, Akure, and Ibadan District Council School, Oke-Ado, Ibadan, where he obtained his First School Leaving Certificate in 1963.

Between 1963 and 1968, Honourable Justice Bode Rhodes-Vivour attended St. Gregory's College, Lagos. In 1970, he wrote and passed his Advanced Level Certificate Examinations and proceeded to University of Lagos for his undergraduate studies. He graduated from University of Lagos in 1974 with honours, and thereafter he was admitted into the Nigerian Law School, and was called to the Bar in 1975.

 As soon as he was called to Bar, he began to practice in his calling and by 1976, he became a Pupil State Counsel, shortly after, in 1978, he became a State Counsel and by 1982, he had become a Senior State Counsel. He was promoted to the position of a Principal State Counsel in 1984 and in 1989, he became Director of Public Prosecutions (D. P. P.) Lagos State, this position he held till 1994.

On the 18th of February 1994, he was appointed to the Bench as a High Court Judge. After many years of experience on the Bench at the High Court, he was elevated to the Bench of the Court of Appeal on the 25th of April 2005.

In 2008 on secondment by the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, he was posted to Sierra Leone Judiciary as a Justice of the Supreme Court of Sierra Leone. At his return to Nigeria, after this posting, he was appointed as a Justice of the Supreme Court of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, on the 16th of September 2010.

He has attended various international and local professional conferences.

He is a recipient of many excellent awards, prominent among these awards are:

1. An honourable award by Lagos State Government for Outstanding Contribution to the Lagos State Ministry of Justice, 2003.
2. Lagos State Judiciary Merit Awards in recognition of Invaluable Service to the High Court of Lagos State, December 2003.

 Honourable Justice Bode Rhodes-Vivour is a social person, who sometimes relaxes and socializes with friends. He is a member of both Ikoyi and Islands Clubs of Lagos, and his hobbies are reading, watching sports, movies and documentaries.

He retired as a Justice of the Supreme Court in 2021, and was appointed a member of the National Judicial Council same year.

Honourable Justice Bode Rhodes-Vivour is happily married to Mrs. Adedoyin Rhodes-Vivour, and they are blessed with three (3) children.

Yahaya A. D. was born on 27 January 1952 in Tudunwada, Zaria, Kaduna State. He attended primary and secondary schools in Sabon-Gari, Zaria Town School No 1 Zaria City, Minna, Mubi Abuja and Kings College, Lagos, where he obtained his H. S. C. Certificate 1971. He then proceeded to Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria in September 1972 and graduated in 1975 with an LLB degree. He then attended the Nigeria Law School, Lagos from 1975 to 1976 and was called to the Nigerian Bar in July 1976. He then attended the compulsory National Youth Service in Imo from 1976 to 1977. Upon completion, he commenced work with the Ministry of Justice, Kaduna State in July 1977 as a State Counsel.  He then went to Ghana for training in Legislative Drafting for one academic year in 1978. He was a legislative Counsel with the Kaduna State House of Assembly from 1979 to 1983. He was then appointed as the Chief legal draftsman in 1984. He rose to the position of Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary in 1985. In 1988, he was elevated to the position of the High Court Judge, Kaduna State. He was seconded to the Gambia Judiciary on Bilateral Agreement in 1997.

Whilst in the Gambia, he worked hard and rose to be the President of the Court of Appeal, Gambia. He was later appointed a Justice of the Supreme Court of the Gambia.

In 2007, Justice Yahaya (Rtd) was appointed a Justice to the Court of Appeal and has served and sat in many division of the Court of Appeal, Nigeria. He was the presiding Justice of the Court of Appeal in Kano and Abuja division. He retired in January, 2021.

In the course of his career, Justice Yahaya attended many courses, conferences and seminars both within and outside Nigeria to improve his knowledge.

His Lordship is married and blessed with children.     

Hon Justice John Terhemba Tsoho was born on 24^th June, 1959, in Mbaduku, Vandeikya L.G.A of Benue State. He began his educational sojourn in 1967 at St. Anthony’s Primary School, Chenge-Mbaduku, where he got his First School Leaving Certificate, and went on to attend St. Michael’s Secondary School, Aliade, where he obtained his West African School Certificate (WASC) in 1977. He also enrolled at the Murtala College of Arts, Science and Technology, Makurdi, where he sat for the IJMBE A\L in 1979, before proceeding to the University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos, in 1980 where he bagged his LLB (HONS) in 1984. Hon Justice John Terhemba Tsoho was called to the Nigerian Bar after attending the Nigerian Law School, Lagos, in 1985.

He began his career as a Legal Assistant at Delta Ltd Port Harcourt, where he carried out the one year mandatory Service to the nation (NYSC) from 1985-1986. He had a stint at Sena Chambers in Gboko, Benue State, where he was a Private Legal Counsel in 1986, before settling for a career with the Benue State Judiciary same year, as an Inspector of Area Courts. From 1988-1996, Hon Justice Tsoho rose from the position of Magistrate Grade II to become the Chief Magistrate Grade I. he served as Director Litigation from May, 1996- October of same year. He was appointed the Substantive Chief Registrar, High Court of Benue State, October, 1997, a position which he held in Acting capacity prior to this time.

Hon Justice John Terhemba Tsoho was sworn-in as a Judge of the Federal High Court of Nigeria on 12^th November, 1998, where he served illustriously, until his elevation to the position of Chief Judge, Federal High Court, on 13^th December, 2019.

Hon Justice Tsoho has attended series of workshops on Law, Judiciary and Administration, both local and international.  He has also served on several Tribunals and Committees, some of which he chaired, and held many elevated positions in notable professional bodies around the globe.

He has a good grasp of Microsoft Office Applications and enjoys reading, jogging and listening to music. He is married and blessed with children.

Hon. Justice Kanyip was appointed a Judge of the National Industrial Court in 2000 for an initial period of four years although with eligibility for a renewal for a further term of four years. In June 2004, having completed the first term, his appointment for another term of four years was renewed, and he is now a tenured Judge of the Court. Professor Kanyip attended Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, for his LLB, and the Nigerian Law School, Lagos, Nigeria for his BL. After the mandatory one-year national service, he took up a teaching appointment as a Lecturer at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria in 1987; and rose to the position of Lecturer II before leaving in 1992 for the National Commission for Colleges of Education as Legal Adviser in the rank of Principal Legal Officer. In 1995 he was appointed Senior Research Fellow at the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies and rose through this appointment to the rank of Associate Research Professor of Law in 2000 when he joined the Court. Professor Kanyip is the author of numerous scholarly articles in the areas of consumer law, labour law, tax law and commercial law. He is the author of the book, Consumer Protection in Nigeria: Law, Theory and Policy (2005) and a joint author of the text: Elements of Commercial Law (1994). Professor Kanyip has had professional dealings and done consultancies for the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the International Labour Organisation (ILO) as well as the Federal Government of Nigeria on labour related areas. He is a member of the International Bar Association; Fellow, Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria; Life Member and Deputy President II, Nigerian Society of International Law. He is a contributing editor of several academic law journals. Professor Kanyip is widely travelled. He became the substantive President, National Industrial Court of Nigeria on 13^th December, 2019.

Hon Justice Akon Bassey Ikpeme was born on 21st October, 1959.
She attented Holy Trinity Anglican School, Calabar, where she obtained her First School Leaving Certificate with Distinction. She also attended Union Secondary School, Ibiaku and came out with Grade One, and thereafter proceeded to Federal Government College Ikot Ekpene for her 'A' Levels, where she passed all her papers in one sitting.
She later proceeded to University of Lagos where she obtained her Bachelors Degree in Law (LLB Hons)
She proceeded to the Nigerian Law School Lagos and was called to bar in 1981 with a Second Class (Upper Division).
She started her career as a State Counsel in the Ministry of Justice, Cross River State. She grew through the ranks to become the Cross River State Director of Public Prosecution.
From this position, she was appointed a Judge of the High Court of Cross River State in 1998.
She was sworn in as the Chief Judge of Cross River State on the 8th of February, 2021.
She is happily married and blessed with 4 (four) children who are all doing well in their different endeavours.

Hon Justice Kashim Zannah was appointed Judge of the High Court of Borno State, Nigeria in 1997 and Chief Judge in the year 2006. He siits on the boards of several international bodies in the field of law and justice, like the International Association of Refugee Law Judges (IARLJ), International Society for the Reform of Criminal Law (ISRCL} and the Commonwealth Judicial Education Institute (CJEI).

 He was awarded the Medal of the International Society for the Reform of Criminal Law (ISRCL} in 2012 and the United States National Centre for State Courts (NCSC) Distinguished Service Award in 2013.

He partnered with UNODC in undertaking evidence based judicial reform in Borno State starting with a baseline assessment in the year 2002 and second assessment in 2007. A few measures were implemented until a third assessment, planned for the year 2012 was interrupted by the Boko Haram insurgency.

He is currently also engaged in a major national judicial reform undertaking, as Chairman of the National Judicial Council (NJC) Judicial Information Technology Committee (JITCOM) that is in the process of automating court processes in Nigeria.

He was reappointed as member of National Judicial Council in 2021.

His Lordship Hon. Justice Onochie M. Anyachebelu was born on 24^th May, 1961.

After his primary education, he proceeded to Federal Government College Port Harcourt and Federal Government College Enugu where he obtained “O” level and “A” level qualifications in 1977 and 1979, respectively.

He obtained LLB (Hons.) Degree from University of Lagos in 1983 and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1984. He started his career in Private Legal Practice, with Senator Anah SAN and Associates Chambers (5 years pupillage) in Onitsha, Anambra State.

Prior to his elevation as High Court Judge in 2005, he was the head of his own chambers – Onochie Anyachebelu & Co. for 15 years. He was appointed a Notary Public in 1997. He attended National and International Conferences and was member of Rivers State Governorship Election Tribunal in 2011.

He is a Fellow, Nigerian Institute of Chartered Arbitrators (FCArb) and Nigerian Institute of Mediation and Conciliation (FICMC).

His Lordship is the substantive Chief Judge of Anambra State, effective from 18^th February, 2020. He is happily married and blessed with 4 children.

Grand Kadi Ibrahim Rufai Imam was born on 15^th July, 1958. He hails from Gusau Local Government Area of Zamfara State. He started his primary education at Istilahud deen Islamiyya School, Gusau in 1966 and completed it in 1973, before proceeding to Sultan Abubakar College, Sokoto in 1973 where he obtained his Higher Islmaic Studies Certificate in 1977. He went on to attend College of Education Sokoto in 1979 and obtained his NCE (Arabic and Islamic Studies) in 1982. Between 1996-1998 he attended Bayero University Kano where he obtained an Advanced Diploma in Legal Studies. He went further to Nasarawa State University, keffi where he obtained a BA (Ed) Islamic Studies.

He started his career as a Teacher in Anka L.G.A, Sokoto State in 1977. He carried out his NYSC assignment at Sokoto Judiciary between 1982-1983. He became the Registrar Sokoto Judiciary between 1983-1985. He was transferred to FCT Judiciary in in 1990 where he worked and rose through the ranks to become the Acting Chief Registrar Sharia Court, Abuja, between 2001-2002. He worked as a Kadi, Sharia Court of Appeal Zamfara State, between 2002-2005. Between 2005- 2017 he was Kadi Sharia Court of Appeal, Abuja. He became the Grand Kadi Sharia court of Appeal Abuja, in 2017, a position he holds till date.

He was appointed a member of the Council in 2021.

He has served as Chairman and member of several committees under the Judiciary and has attended several courses within and outside the country.

Hon Justice Siyaka Momoh Jimoh Usman was appointed a member of Council in 2021.

His Lordship was born on the 5th May, 1959. His Lordship is from Abeokuta South Local Government Area of Ogun State. His Lordship attended St. Mary’s Primary School, Broad Street, Lagos from 1965 to 1970. She continued her education at Abeokuta Girls’ Grammar School, Abeokuta from 1971 to 1976. She obtained her ‘A’ Level Certificate at Ahmaddiya College, Agege, Lagos in 1978. His Lordship studied Law at University of Buckingham, England from January 1979 to February 1981. She served at Nigeria Ports Authority, Lagos in 1981. She attended the Nigerian Law School, Victoria Island, Lagos and was called to the Bar in 1982.

His Lordship started her Law Career as a Pupil State Counsel at Lagos State Ministry of Justice, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos and rose to the rank of Senior State Counsel in 1984. She transferred her service to the Ogun State Judiciary in January 1985 as a Magistrate and rose to the position of Senior Magistrate II. She later transferred to Oyo/Osun State Judiciary as a Senior Magistrate in 1989. Thereafter, His Lordship worked as Counsel at the Law Firm of Toye Coker & Co. in 1991. His Lordship set up her Law Firm, Mosun Dipeolu & Co. and was the Principal Partner from 1992 to 1995. She was appointed as Chief Magistrate I at the Ogun State Judiciary in November 1995, a position she held until May 1999 when His Lordship was appointed as a Judge of the High Court of Ogun State on 4th May, 1999, a day to her 40th birthday anniversary.

His Lordship was a Member, House of Assembly Election Petition Tribunal in 1998. She was the Chairman of the National and House of Assembly Election Petition Tribunal in Benue State from April to October 2015 and Adamawa State between April and July 2016. His Lordship was appointed as the Acting Chief Judge of Ogun State on 29th of August, 2018 and was sworn in as the Chief Judge of Ogun State on 22nd October, 2018. She serves in that capacity till date.

His Lordship is a member of the Board of Governors of the National Judicial Institute, the Body of Benchers, the Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee and a member of the National Judicial Council.
His Lordship is also a member of the International Dispute Resolution Institute (IDRI), a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Mediators and Conciliators and the Institute of Human and Natural Resources.
His Lordship was honoured with a doctorate degree in Advanced Transformational Leadership and Management in 2020 by Geofidel Executive Education, London in conjunction with Harvard Business School, USA.
His Lordship has participated as discussants at several workshops, delivered several papers and contributed to books. Her hobbies are travelling, listening to music and meeting people. His Lordship loves children and established an orphanage. She is a mother and grand-mother.

THE CHIEF JUDGE OF THE SOKOTO STATE HIGH COURT 

Mr. Yakubu Chonoko MAIKYAU, SAN, FCIArb (UK), FCIMC is the founder of the law firm, Y. C. Maikyau & Co., established in 2003. A seasoned dispute resolution expert, he is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, UK (FCIArb) and a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Mediators and Conciliators (FICMC).

Mr. Maikyau is an active member of the legal community in Nigeria currently serving as President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA). He is also a member of the International Bar Association (IBA). As a member of the Nigerian Bar Association, he has served in many capacities: Member, NBA Legal Profession Regulation Review Committee (LPRRC), which made far-reaching recommendations for the reform of the profession in Nigeria, culminating in the Legal Profession Regulation Bill; Chairman, North Disciplinary Committee from 2012 to 2014; Chairman, Law and Individual Rights Committee of the NBA Section on Legal Practice (NBA-SLP); Member, Ad Hoc Welfare Committee on COVID–19 Pandemic Relief; Chairman, NBA Welfare Committee from 2020 to 2022; Council Member, NBA-SLP and Member, NBA National Executive Council (NEC) since 2018.

As an advocate, Mr. Maikyau gained recognition by his participation as counsel in the Human Rights Violation Investigation Commission of Nigeria – The Oputa Panel. He has handled several notable cases that have had impact on the Nigerian jurisprudence, one of which is Re: Abdullahi (2018) 14 NWLR (Part 1639) 272, where he persuaded the Supreme Court of Nigeria to reach a novel decision, allowing the substitution of a deceased appellant in a criminal appeal with the administrators of his estate for the purpose of preserving the civil rights in the estate. Beyond litigation, he has advised on some project finance and facility disbursement matters and has served on arbitral tribunals in various capacities.

Outside the field of law, Mr. Maikyau is a graduate of Rhema Bible Training Centre, Nigeria, where he obtained a Diploma in Ministerial Training, with emphasis on Societal Leadership. He is a community development and welfare enthusiast; he is the patron of Purpose Global Academy in D’lanko, Kebbi State – a 100% tuition-free school and has been responsible for several free medical outreaches in his home state, Kebbi State. Y. C. Maikyau is happily married to Zainab and they are blessed with four children – Israel Danmanya, Princess Sarah, King David and Queen Esther.

Olumide Akpata was born on 7^th October 1972, and had his early education in Warri, Delta State. Thereafter, he attended King's College, Lagos from where he proceeded to study Law at the University of Benin (UNIBEN). He graduated from UNIBEN in 1992, and was called to the Nigerian Bar on 15 December, 1993. 

He served in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), in Kano State, and upon completion of his service year, he joined the firm of Dr. Mudiaga Odje & Co. in Warri, Delta State where he was extremely privileged to cut his teeth in legal practice under the tutelage of the late Dr. Mudiaga Odje, SAN, OFR, who was one of the most seasoned Litigators of his time.

In 1996, he relocated to Lagos and teamed up with his cousin, Oghogho Akpata, who had just set up the firm, Templars, the previous year, and which is now in the 25th year of its existence.

He is currently a Senior Partner and Head of the Corporate & Commercial Practice Group of Templars, which comprises the following practice areas: Mergers & Acquisitions; Capital Markets; Corporate Law; Labour & Employment; Immigration; Telecommunications, Media, Entertainment and Technology; and Regulatory Compliance.

Olumide Akpata is the current President, Nigerian Bar Association.

Osaro is one of the Founding Partners of Perchstone & Graeys LP. Perchstone & Graeys is a full- service commercial law firm with competence in Power, Energy & Infrastructure, Banking & Finance, Dispute Resolution, Capital Markets, ICT Law and Corporate & Commercial Law. He is the Managing Partner of the firm and leads its Dispute Resolution Group with emphasis in crude disputes. He also leads the Banking & Finance Group.

Osaro was admitted to practice in England and Wales in 1989, and in Nigeria in 1991. He is a member of The Honorable Society of Lincoln’s Inn. He was conferred with the prestigious rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria in 2008, in recognition of his diligence, passion and contribution to the legal profession.

Osaro was nominated and appointed as the Vice Chairman of Convention on Business Integrity (CBI), a company with the mission of promoting ethical business practices, transparency, and fair competition in the private and public sectors. Osaro was also a member of the Lagos State Trust Law Reform Committee and the Mortgage Implementation Committee of the Financial System Strategy (FSS 2020). He was also a member of the committee that built the framework to create the Gele-Gele Port in Benin. He served as chairman of the sub-committee set up to review proposed Bills for a regulatory framework to sustain financial systems in Nigeria.

Osaro participated in the review of pending Bills in the financial sector which was organized by the Project Management Office of the FSS 2020. Following the firm's extensive and dynamic work with respect to the “Getting Credit Indicator” and the signing into law of the “Secured Transactions in Movable Assets Act 2017”, Osaro was recognized alongside his team, by His Excellency, the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, for the assistance rendered to the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) in securing Nigeria's elevation by 24 points in the World Bank's Comparative Analysis of the ease of doing business. Osaro was also appointed the Co-Chairman of the National Factoring Working Group.

Osaro is an active member of the Justice Reform Project (JRP). JRP is a coalition of Nigerians across the legal profession, civil society and the general public desirous to see a justice system that works efficiently, effectively, and equitably.

When he is not engaged in law, he is either spending time with his family or, he is drawing attention to defects in the Administration of Justice in Nigeria. He was appointed as a Member, National Judicial Council in 2022.

  AHMED TIJJANI UWAIS was born on the 6^th day of December 1970 in Kaduna State.

He attended Capital School Kaduna and Corona School Ikoyi Lagos for his primary school education between 1976 and 1982, his secondary school education was at the Federal Government College Kaduna where he graduated in 1988 among the first set of Senior Secondary School Certificate (SSCE) he also attended the Federal School of Arts & Science Lagos in 1989. In 1990 he was admitted into the Ahmadu Bello University Zaria to study economics, however his love for the legal profession made him proceed to the University of Ibadan in 1991, where he graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Law (LL.B) in 1994 and was thereafter called to  the Nigerian Bar in1995.

He spent his National Youth Service (NYSC) at the law firm of Abdullahi Ibrahim & Co in 1994 where he began his profession as a legal practitioner until 1998 when he became the Managing Partner in the law firm of Wali Uwais & Co until 2003 when he became the Principal Counsel in the law firm of Ahmed Uwais & Co which he founded and is currently holding that position. Ahmed’s legal career has been focused in corporate/commercial practice, privatisation advisories & recoveries.

He is an Associate member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (Nigeria) (FCIArb), the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), the International Bar Association (IBA), Institute of Directors Nigeria. An Alumni of one of the world’s leading and largest graduate business schools INSEAD International Directors Programme 27 Singapore/ Fontainebleau.

He is a co-editor of the Nigerian Monthly Law Report and was appointed as Member, National Judicial Council in 2022.

Tobenna Erojikwe was born on the 16^th of March, 1974 in Luton, England and is from Nnewi in Anambra State of Nigeria. He attended University of Nigeria Primary School, Nsukka and had his secondary school education at University of Nigeria Secondary School, Nsukka where he was Senior Prefect between 1991 and 1992. He thereafter proceeded to the University of Nigeria (Enugu Campus) and obtained his Bachelor of Laws degree in 1998. He was called to the Nigerian Bar in 2000.

Tobenna underwent the mandatory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme in Lagos State and commenced his legal career with The Law Crest LLP(TLC), a full service commercial Law Firm in Lagos, where he worked for a couple of years before proceeding to the United Kingdom and after the required course of study at the College of Law (now University of Law) he qualified as a Solicitor of the Superior Courts of England and Wales and also obtained an LLM in Corporate Finance Law from the University of Westminster.  Over a 10-year practice period in England he worked as a solicitor with Alexus Associates and then as Senior Solicitor (Regeneration) at the London Borough of Barnet.   

Tobenna is currently a Partner at the TLC and heads the Finance and Energy Practice Group of the firm. His core practice areas are energy and natural resources, corporate finance, project finance, urban regeneration, public-private partnership, and mergers and acquisition. Tobenna is recognised in notable legal directories and is described by Who’s Who Legal as an “…excellent lawyer who draws praise for his wealth of experience and great understanding in the energy sector…” He led the team at TLC that won the IFLR 1000 restructuring deal of the year for Sub-Saharan Africa in 2020.

One of Tobenna’ s passions is professional and career development which has seen him actively involved in many career development and mentorship initiatives, within the legal sector and beyond. He currently serves as the Chairman of the Governing Board of the Institute of Continuing Legal Education of the Nigerian Bar Association and served two terms as the Chairman of the Continuing Professional Development Committee of the Lagos Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA).

Tobenna is a member of the National Executive Committee of the NBA and is the Chairman of the Technical Committee of Conference Planning of 2022 annual conference of the NBA.

He was appointed as a Member, National Judicial Council in 2022.

Mrs Nana Fatima Mede is a Managing Partner in Carter Consulting limited where she oversees portfolio Capital planning & Analysis amongst other responsibilities. She is also the Managing Director of Le Finesse Nigeria Limited, a financial consulting company. Additionally, she serves as a Technical Consultant to the Minister of State (Budget and National Planning) where she provides high-level technical assistance on the development and effective delivery of Nigeria’s medium (2021 – 2024) and long term (Nigeria Agenda 2050) development plans. 

An accountant by profession with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting and a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) from the Alabama A&M University, Nana Fatima has a vast amount of experience spanning over three and half decades working in the Nigerian public sector in various capacities. She also possesses a certificate in Public Financial Management obtained from the prestigious John F Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University.

Upon graduation in 1981, Mrs Mede completed her youth service as a graduate trainee accountant at the Ajaokuta Steel Company, after which she was immediately employed and made Head of the Accounting Department at the National Television Authority (NTA) located in Abuja. She quickly rose through the ranks to become a Principal Accountant before transferring her service to Benue State Government.

Mrs Mede has, over the years, deployed her expertise in several high ranking positions throughout her professional career, including as Permanent Secretary (Treasury)/ Accountant General of Benue State, Director of Finance in the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF), serving as the pioneer Director for the Integrated Personnel Payroll Information System (IPPIS) and then as a Federal Permanent Secretary presiding over the affairs of the Ministries of Environment and later Budget & National Planning, before gracefully retiring, after attaining the mandatory 35 years in service. In her quest to continue serving the people, she maintains her position on the board of several reputable organisations including Hope Payment Service Bank.

She is also the Founder/Executive Director of Baba-Rabi Foundation/Baba-Rabi Community Development Initiative, both Non-Governmental Organisations committed to enhancing the quality of life for the less privileged, orphans and widows across several Nigerian rural communities.            

Hajia Fatima Nana Mede was appointed a member of National Judicial Council in 2021

Engr. Nebolisa Olisaeloka Emodi, born on August 25, 1961, is a 1983 Bachelor Engineering (Civil) graduate from University of Nigeria, Nsukka. He started his public service at the Ministry of Defence, December, 1984 and had a distinguished and fulfilling career with verifiable legacies as an Engineer, Mentor, Reformer, Administrator and prominent advocate for leveraging on technology to enhance operations and provide public services. He has the undisputed record of passionately participating in developing major infrastructural projects across all sectors.

He was Permanent Secretary State House, August, 2014 to November, 2015 effectively functioned as the Chief of Staff to Mr. President, June to August, 2015, managing the seamless transition of out-going-and-incoming Administrations.

He was Permanent Secretary Federal Ministry of Transport, August, 2011 to August, 2014, successfully restructured the Ministry, created the Engineering and Maritime Safety and Security Departments to enhance service delivery and was key in driving on-going Reforms in the Transport Sector, reviewed and drafted new Bills for the Railway, Ports and Inland Waterways. He oversighted the introduction of Standard Operating Procedures/Port Services Support Portal to enhance efficiency in 2012 that has been adopted by the Federal Government in 2020. He managed/oversighted the implementation of part of the 25-year Railway Master-plan and some Maritime projects.

He worked in the Bureau of Public Procurement, March, 2005 to August, 2011, became Director in 2009 and participated in operationalizing the public procurement law, reviewed major national projects and achieved massive reductions in costs.

He also worked in the Highways Department, Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, November, 1987 to March, 2005, became Assistant Director in 2002, computerized Departmental Record and was involved in planning, managing the construction/rehabilitation of major highway projects including: Kaduna-Kano, Ibadan-Ife, Kaduna-Abuja, Benin-Asaba, Otta-Abeokuta and Abuja-Keffi dual carriageways.

He is a 2004 Fellow, Nigeria Society of Engineers: 1989 Registered Engineer, Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria and 2014 Professional Development Certificate, Wharton University Philadelphia, USA. He attended several leadership and professional trainings locally and abroad including Harvard Business School, Massachusetts and Yale University, USA and has many awards.

Nebolisa Emodi is presently Managing Partner, Ideas and Visions Consultancy Limited, Abuja offering Advisory and Supervision Services on Infrastructure, Research and Development and Procurement Reforms and Operations. He has written several Technical Papers on Engineering Management, Transport and Procurement. He hails from Onitsha, Anambra State, titled Ononenyi and is happily married to Linda Chichi Emodi and blessed with five children.

Engr Nebolisa Emodi was appointed as a Member of the National Judicial Council in 2021

Ahmed Gambo Saleh was born 3^rd June, 1969 in Hadejia, Jigawa State. He holds his first and second degrees in Law from Usman Danfodio University, Sokoto and Bayero University, Kano, respectively.

He had a two year stint in private practice before joining the Civil Service where he became a Senior State Counsel in the Ministry of Justice, Jigawa State between 1998 and 2008. He then moved to Supreme Court of Nigeria in 2008 where he was made the Special Assistant to the Chief Justice of Nigeria. Between 2010 and 2014 he was the Deputy Chief Registrar (Litigation Department). He was elevated to the position of Chief Registrar in 2014, until 2017 when he was appointed as the Secretary, National Judicial Council to date.

Ahmed Gambo Saleh, LL.B, BL, LLM has more than 20 years in Management and Administrative experience. He is a Member of several professional bodies and has served on quite a number of Judiciary Committees among which are Secretary, Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee; Chairman, Chief Registrars of Nigeria Forum; Chairman, Nigerian Bar Association, Dutse Branch; Member, Presidential Swearing-in Committee – 2015; Member, Judiciary Information Technology Policy Committee; Member, Federal Judiciary Tenders Board; Secretary, Jigawa State Sharia Implementation Committee, etc.

His hobbies are Sports, Tourism and Community Service.