Akpabio, Kalu, Ifeanyi Odii Honour Monday Ubani on Conferment of SAN, 60th Birthday
High Chief Ifeanyi Chukwuma Odii, the 2023 governorship candidate of the 2023 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in Ebonyi State on Monday in Abuja alongside the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu and the governor of Abia State, Dr. Alex Otti joined other prominent Nigerians to celebrate human rights lawyer and activist, Dr. Monday Ubani as he was conferred with the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).
The event which held at JD event centre, Maitama attracted crème de la creme of Nigerian socialites incliding the Senate Leader, Sen. Opeyemi Bamidele, Sen. Austin Akobundu, Dr. Uchenna Ogah, Prof. Mike Ozokohme, the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukayede, the 2024 Labour Party (LP) governorship candidate and former National President of the Nigeria Bar Association, Mr. Olumide Akpata who was accompanied to the event by his running mate, Yusuf Asamah Kadiri.
Making his remarks, Dr. Odii recounted his longstanding friendship with Dr. Ubani noting that the Abia state born lawyer is a reliable man who stands for the greater good of the society.
Eulogizing Dr. Ubani for his activism and pursuit of good governance in Nigeria, Dr. Odii admonished the new SAN not to relent on his quest for public good. “Continue with what you represent in the society. I have always known you as a man who speaks for the people. You have gone through a lot of rough roads, just for the fact that you want this country to be a better nation,” Dr. Odii said.
In his remarks, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Benjamin Kalu noted that Dr. Ubani had paid his dues as a lawyer and activist. Hon. Kalu stated that Dr. Ubani was first the “Peoples Advocate of Nigeria (PAN) before his elevation as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).”
The event which coincided with the 60th birthday of the legal luminary also saw the unveiling of 579-page biography of Dr. Ubani, titled: MOU, The Story of Legal and Human Rights Activism.
The book authored by Drs. Uzor Ngoladi and Idachaba Martins Ajogwu details the rise of young Ubani from a humble background to the pinnacle of legal practice and activism in Nigeria and in the diasporas.
Other dignitaries who graced the occasion include the President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr. Afam Osigwe, SAN former NBA President, Augustine Oyarekhua Alegeh, SAN several judicial officers, senior lawyers and representatives of the NBA among many others.