The Body of Benchers, led by Chief Adegboyega Awomolo, has confirmed 15 distinguished legal professionals, including Senate Leader Senator Opeyemi Bamidele and renowned human rights lawyer Chief Mike Ozekhome, as life members of the prestigious body.
The confirmation was announced on Thursday, January 23, 2025, during a meeting held at the Body of Benchers’ headquarters in Abuja.
In addition to Bamidele and Ozekhome, other legal luminaries confirmed as life benchers include Prof. Isa Chiroma, the Director General of the Nigerian Law School; Justice Sidi Bage, Emir of Lafia; retired Supreme Court Justice Ejembi Eko; and Professor Joy Ngozi Ezeilo, former United Nations Special Rapporteur on Trafficking in Persons in Africa.
This brings the total number of life benchers in Nigeria to 170, with a cap on new admissions for the next five years.
The prestigious elevation of these legal professionals is a recognition of their immense contributions to the legal profession and their unwavering commitment to the integrity and excellence of the judiciary in Nigeria.
The Body of Benchers, as the highest regulatory body of legal practitioners in the country, bestows life membership as a mark of distinction for outstanding service to the legal field.
Senator Bamidele, who was first appointed to the Body of Benchers as a Bencher in November 2019, is also known for his significant impact as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights, and Legal Matters. Under his leadership, the committee initiated several reforms that enhanced the judiciary’s welfare and operational capacity.
His tenure saw improvements in the working conditions of judicial officers through increased funding, as well as the passage of a bill raising the retirement age for judicial officers from 65 to 70, which was later assented to by the executive.
A statement from the Senate Leader’s office further highlighted Bamidele’s extensive qualifications and service record. Bamidele, called to the Nigerian Bar in 1992, is a member of several prestigious legal associations, including 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) and the Chartered Institute of Management Consultants, among other professional organizations.
Bamidele has served in various public service roles, including as Commissioner for Youth, Sports, and Social Development under Governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and as Commissioner for Information & Strategy under Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola.
His experience in the legislative sector includes serving as the Chairman of the House Committee on Legislative Research and Budget in the seventh National Assembly.
Bamidele’s academic background is equally distinguished, having earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University) in 1986, followed by a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Benin in 1990.
He later completed a Master of Laws degree at the Franklin Pierce School of Law, University of New Hampshire, specializing in Intellectual Property Law, including International Patent, Trademark, and Copyright Law.
