BRIEF HISTORY OF THE NIGERIAN BAR ASSOCIATION, ILORIN BRANCH (HARMONY BAR)
The Nigerian Bar Association Ilorin Branch (Harmony Bar) is the foremost branch in the North of Niger and one of the elite branches in Nigeria. It is the only branch in Nigeria privileged to have produced two past presidents of Nigerian Bar Association in the personalities of Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN, CFR and Chief Bayo Ojo, SAN and a past General Secretary, Chief R.A. Lawal-Rabana, SAN. The Ilorin Branch of the Bar is equally blessed with prominent legal personalities who have made indelible marks in the practice of law with numerous contributions to the development of Nigerian legal lexicon. These personalities are well sought after when it comes to Courtroom Advocacy. They include, the Doyen of the Senior Advocates in Kwara State, Alhaji Aliyu Salman, SAN, Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN, CFR, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN, Chief P.A.O. Olorunnisola, SAN, Prof. (Mall) Yusuf Ali, SAN, Chief Titus O. Ashaolu, SAN, Alhaji Adebayo O. Adelodun, SAN, Alh. Saka A. Isau, SAN, Rev. John O. Baiyeshea, SAN, Roland Otaru SAN, Abenny O. Mohammed, SAN, Prof. Joshua O. Olatoke, SAN, Kamaldeen A. Ajibade, SAN, Prof. Wahab O. Egbewole, SAN, Akin Akintoye II, SAN, Prof. Abiodun Amuda-Kannike, SAN, Joseph S. Bamigboye, SAN, Kehinde K. Eleja, SAN, Prof. Wahab O. Egbewole, SAN, Jimoh A. Mumini, SAN, Prof. Rasheed J. Ijaodaola, SAN, Salman A. Jawondo, SAN, Dr. Adeola Omotunde, SAN, Bola. R. Gold, SAN, Chief Rafiu O. Balogun, SAN among numerous others. It is safe to say that after Abuja and Lagos branches, Ilorin Branch has the highest concentration of Senior Advocates in Nigeria. It should be noted that most of those in Abuja, Lagos and other cities in Nigeria are actually the export from Ilorin Bar.
Ilorin Bar has in its list of illustrious members, the academics who have risen to the pinnacle of their careers and sit on the professorial bench of various universities in Nigeria. The list is endless but permit me to mention but view. Professors M. T. Abdulrazaq, SAN. Kayode I. Adam. Raheem K. Salman, A. A. Oba, Bashir A. Omipidan, Ibrahim Y. Arowosaiye, Ibrahim A. Abikan, Akeem Ijaya, Nimah M. Abdulraheem(Mrs), Najeem A. Ijaiya, Imam Ibrahim, Saka Olokooba, Lukman Ayinla, Abdulrazaq A. Alaro, Yahaya D.U. Hambali, Professor B.A. Abdulkadir, Professor Mariam A. Abdulraheem-Mustapha, Professor A.O. Sambo among others.
The branch is proud to put on record that, some of our professor members are Vice Chancellors to many Universities in Nigeria. Among them are: Prof. Wahab O. Egbewole, SAN, University of Ilorin, Professor Jeleel O. Ojuade, Ojaja University, Ilorin, the immediate past Vice Chancellor, Kwara State University, Malete, Kwara State and late Professor Muhammed M. Akanbi, SAN, among others.
Ilorin, the seat of the Harmony Bar, can boast of erudite jurists whose breath is law itself. They include but not limited to Hon. Justice Saidu Kawu, past Chief of Kwara State and Justice of Supreme Court of Nigeria, Hon. Justice S.M.A Belgore, CJN, Hon. Justice Mahmud B. Belgore, past Chief Judge of Federal high Court, Hon. Justice Issa Ayo Salami, PCA, the first Grand Kadi of K wara State, Hon. Justice Abdukadir Orire, past Chief Judges of Kwara State, Hon. Justices Timothy Oyeyipo, Saka Yusuf, Ayinla O. Bamigbola, Sulyman D. Kawu, OFR and the incumbent Chief Judge of Kwara State, Hon. Justice Ayodele A. Adebara who was an active member of our branch before he joined the bench among other numerous Jurists.
The Ilorin Branch of Nigerian Bar Association is privileged to have been led by distinguished and seasoned legal practitioners who are titans in the courtroom advocacy as its chairmen since the birth of the branch in the 60s. They are:
- Late Chief D.A. Akintoye 1967 - 1977
- Late Alh Akanbi Mahmoud Oniyangi 1977 - 1979
- Chief Ayo Jonathan 1979-1981
- Chief P.A.O. Olorunnisola, SAN 1981 - 1983
- Late Alh. M.O.A. Sanni, SAN 1983 - 1986
- Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN 1986 - 1988
- Chief Bayo Ojo, SAN 1988 - 1990
- Chief Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN 1990 - 1991
- Late Alh M.S 'Lai Adegboye 1991 - 1992
- Hon. Justice Lambo Akanbi (Rtd) 1992 - 1995
- Alh. Adebayo O. Adelodun, SAN 1995 - 1997
- Chief Rafiu A. Lawal-Rabana, SAN 1997 - 1999
- Late Alh. 'Lai Adegboye 1999 (death)
- Alh Saka A. Isau, SAN 2000 - 2001
- Joseph S. Bamigboye, SAN 2001 -2003
- Prof. Wahab Egbewole, SAN 2003 - 2005
- Kehinde K. Eleja, SAN 2005 - 2007
- Late Prof. Muhammed M. Akanbi, SAN 2007 - 2009
- Salman Jawondo, SAN 2009 - 2011
- Chief Rafiu O. Balogun 2011 - 2013
- Dr. Mobolaji Ojibara 2013 - 2015
- Joseph S. Bamigboye, SAN (caretaker) Oct, 2015 - Jan, 2016
- Manzuma Issa 2016 - 2018
- M.A.I. Akande 2018 - 2020
- Abdulganiyu Bello 2020 - 2022
- Kamaldeen Gambari 2022 - June 2024
- Sulyman Muhammed-Hassan Kosemani June 2024 till date.