Pentouch 
A landmark attainment was recorded within the Nigerian legal sector on Thursday 24 June, 2026 as the pioneer executive of the Oka-Akoko Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA were officially inaugurated and sworn-in to office.
This unprecedented move by some Akoko based lawyers received the solid backing and royal blessings of the paramount ruler of Okaland, Oba (Dr) Yusuf Adebori Adeleye, JP, OON, the Olubaka of Oka kingdom who contributed immensely, with the support of other prominent lawyers like Barr. Tolu Babaleye which eventually culminated in the establishment of the new Oka-Akoko branch of the NBA that is currently sending waves across the entire Nigerian legal community.
The oath of office was administered in the High Court room to the pioneer executives by Hon. Justice B. F. Ajibade, the Presiding Judge of the Ondo State High Court, Oka Judicial Division, in the presence of Hon. Justice Sunday Olorundahunsi, the Olubaka, the cheering audience and other legal practitioners.
And one of Akoko based most versatile lawyer, Barrister Oladimeji Emmanuel Oyesusi who emerged as the pioneer chairman was sworn-in along with other members of his executives
The other executives members and their various polifolio includes: Barr. Jacmond Itiola (Vice Chairman), Barr. Titus Agbede (Secretary), Barr. Oluwole Lawrence Ikare (Treasurer), Barr. Olaniyi Awolu (Welfare Secretary), and Adejoke Adesola Aluko as Financial Secretary.
And wise counsels from the Temple of Justice were led by Hon. Justice Ajibade who congratulated the entire NBA, Oka-Akoko Branch for their doggedness to achieving this feat.
Justice Ajibade admonished the new executive not to shudder for being worthy to be saddled with such crucial responsibility of authority through their election by their colleagues but to remain committed to the very good course of the association.
”Please Mr. Chairman you and your executive must work assiduously to justify this trust reposed in you by making this Bar active, functional and impactful in other to prove that you merit the office.
Let the association be united against cracks, let your communications be effective and with maturity, operate an open door policy and try hard to bring visible developments, and it is then that I can raise my shoulders and ‘buga’ that I am a part of the history being made today.
Justice Olorundahunsi also congratulated the pioneer chairman and his executives as he promised to do everything humanly possible to support and make the branch function at full capacity.
He profusely thanked the Olubaka for being a worthy father and for being a part of history and for all his moral and financial support to seeing to the birth of the branch.
Speaking to the emotions of the new executives, Olorundahunsi warned the new Branch against any form of unhealthy rivalry that may tend to rear it head and that they must maintain unity and collaboration with the other branch in Akokoland, that is, the Ikare Akoko branch.
He also advised them that only qualitative leadership is what can sustain the branch, they should therefore not allow the euphoria of the moment to distract them, rather they should see the authority placed in their hands as paramount to achieving success in office, saying that, though, he can vouch that the chairman is capable and has all it takes to build and sustain the onerous responsibilities placed before the new executives, but stressed that every member of the branch must unite and cooperate with the excos to achieve their desired goals.
In his words of assurance, encouragement and royal blessings, the Olubaka, Oba (Dr) Yusuf Adebori Adeleye, JP, OON thanked the two Judges for being part of history and promised that he would join hands with the members of the branch to raise the bar.
The Olubaka, who was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1974, admonished the excos and members of the branch to sustain their level of commitment towards the growth and development of the new chapter.
Earlier, the Akure branch Chairman of the NBA, Mr Onimisi Friday Umar who delivered a goodwill message said, “I’m very proud and elated to be part of this history, we are glad as the grandfather of all branches in Ondo and Ekiti States to witness this epoch event, and we must ensure that this historical occurrence is well articulated in the anal of NBA history”.
Dr Ademola Ikujuni who delivered his goodwill message on behalf of the Egbe Amofin Oodua said, “Egbe is proud of the achievement recorded by the creation of an additional branch of the NBA in Oka-Akoko, I congratulate the new excos to be sworn-in and Egbe sends her greetings and prayers that we shall continue to grow in leaps and bounds”.
Chief Tolu Babaleye on his part thanked Oba Adebori for throwing his weight behind the dream with his total commitment and support which is not limited to royal support but includes huge financial donations that helped to fast track the processes of making the dream to establish the new branch possible.
Babaleye, also applauded the members of the branch for their commitment in taking that bold step unanimously to supporting the deliberate intention geared towards the expansion and to deepening law practice in Akokoland. Finally, he appreciated his friend, Afam Osigwe SAN the president of the Bar for making this kind of event a reality again in Akokoland
In his acceptance speech, Barr Oyesusi promised that the executives are committed to setting the pace and to raising the bar of the NBA in Ondo State Nigeria with the new Oka branch.
Oyesusi thanked all the guests and members for witnessing the historic milestone of the official inauguration of the executives which signals the commencement of a brand new chapter of NBA in Akokoland.
He showered encomium on the NBA president, Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN for making the dream of a new branch in Oka come through.
The chairman made particular reference to the approval of NEC of the proposal for the creation of Oka Akoko branch, which according to him, shows the genuine affection and love of Osigwe to Akokoland.
”Greatly worthy of mention are the tremendous contributions of my President, Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN (the President of the Nigerian Bar Association). My President is someone I almost refer to as a great son of Akokoland’ each time I remember that, more than any other President in the history of the NBA, he has been a pro-Akoko person, even when he is from the Eastern part of the country. He has always used his position to promote the course of Akokoland. As the then Secretary of the NBA he used his position to facilitate the creation of the first NBA branch in Akokoland (NBA lkare Akoko), now as President, and through some of his friends, he contributed funds and personally laid the foundation stone of the Ikare Bar Centre, and in the twilight of his administration, he made one of us, High Chief Tolu Babaleye, the Representative of the NBA on the Board of the Corporate Affairs Commission, and on the same 7th day of May 2026, while Chief Babaleye was taking his oath of office in Abuja, Mr President was busy at Awka, Anambra State, creating yet another Branch here in Oka Akoko, again, for Akokoland. I am beginning to believe that if you give Aso Rock to my Afam Osikwe, he will surely give Akokoland, ‘Akoko State’.
Mr President has done so well for Akokoland and has used his position well to put Akokoland on our legal map, we shall forever be grateful to Mr President. May God continue to bless Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN” Oyesusi added.
He also gave kudos to Oba Adebori for his generous contributions towards the birth of the new Bar as he extended his appreciation to Barr. Babaleye, Barr Onimisi Umar, Chairman NBA, Akure, Dr Ademola Ikujuni representative of the Egbe Amofin, and other lawyers present for their mentorship and other invaluable supports.
The program ended with a reception hosted by the Olubaka of Oka Akoko, Oba (Dr) Yusuf Adebori Adeleye, JP, OON in collaboration with the branch’s excos.
