Tributes By Former NBA Lagos Scribe On The Appointment Of Alex Mouka As SAN
Congratulations to Alex Muoka, SAN as he takes silk
Alex Muoka (hereinafter ‘Alex’), is a man whose life was prepared by God, crafted by his actions and completed by some things he intentionally made a part of his life right from the day he was called to the Bar in Nigeria in 1991.
Our paths crossed in 2006 through providence at the NBA Lagos Branch Monthly General Meeting owing to his regular contributions on burning issues. His contributions were direct, pungent, tailor-made and succinctly delivered such that members awaited his interventions on many issues during the meetings. His 'afro' hair style set him apart as a distinct person amongst many colleagues and seniors.
Alex hails from Okija, Ihiala Local Government Area, Anambra State and I have had the rare privilege of accompanying him to his native community. In the year 2016, we were at Enugu, Enugu State for the Eastern Bar Forum (EBF) quarterly meeting in the wake of the electioneering campaigns of that year. We were both supporting A. B. Mahmoud, SAN who eventually won the Presidential election and became NBA President. We took off from Enugu, the State capital and passed through many towns and villages in Enugu State and eventually entered Anambra State through Nnewi before getting to his town. Alex had wanted to perfect the purchase of a parcel of land in his village as it is customary of every successful Igbo man in diaspora to develop a building in his village. We had the meeting and set out immediately to return to Enugu in a chartered BMW that was used for the journey and arrived at about 9pm. I enjoyed the journey as it was the first and only time I have traversed the eastern heartland of Nigeria and crossing many villages in a day along with an Igbo person courtesy of my leader.
Historically, Alex was born and he grew up in Lagos, he had his Primary School, Secondary School, University (Lagos State University) and LL.M at the University of Lagos, all in Lagos State. He was called to the Bar in 1991 at a young age and had his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) exercise at the Abiola Bookshop, owned by late media mogul, Chief MKO Abiola. Afterwards, he joined the firm of Tunde Odanye & Co where he immersed himself in litigation, corporate and commercial practice amongst other areas of law. One of his seniors in the firm was Mr. Ayodele Akintunde SAN, for whom he had great respect, and he continues to maintain a cordial relationship with him and other alumni of the firm. In 1997, he left the firm of Tunde Odanye & Co. and established the firm of A. Muoka & Co.
Fast forward to 2010, I had wanted to change my vehicle and I was at Toyota Place at Mandillas Building on Simpson Street, Lagos Island, Lagos State for ‘window shopping’ when I met Alex at close range for the very first time.
We exchanged pleasantries and telephone numbers. Again in 2010, the NBA Lagos had its Annual Law Week at the Lagos Resource Centre, Anifowoshe Street, Victoria Island, Lagos State. On a particular day the Law Week schedules ended at about 5pm and we were almost leaving the Hall as almost everyone had gone when Alex came into the venue and advised us, myself, Stephen Obajaja, Alfred Akinjo and Supo Olaibi from leaving the venue as Mr. Joseph Bodunrin Daudu, SAN (past President of the NBA) who was then an aspirant for NBA Presidency was in Lagos and had planned to use the venue for his Presidential cocktail. We waited as advised by him and behold the information given was ‘legit’ and the evening was nice and enjoyable as we had time to talk and knew each other more. The relationship between myself and Alex became more formal that evening as we were no longer acquaintances but became friends and associates.
Soon and in 2011, I was drafted into his campaign team for the office of Secretary, NBA Lagos. It was a keenly contested election with Mr. Chukwuma Ezeala as his opponent. He won the contest to the admiration of members of the Branch. Hon. Justice Taiwo Obayomi Taiwo emerged as Chairman. Having emerged winner of the Secretaryship contest, Alex used the opportunity to engrave his name in the heart of every member of the Branch. You did not need to be at the Monthly General Meeting to know what transpired at the meeting or agenda going forward as he regularly did a recap of events that transpired at the last meeting and the events that had happened afterwards through his regular briefing to members which are delivered to their emails.
These briefings in the form of emails that come regularly aren't what one would abandon once you lay hold of it. It was usually captivating, enticing and endearing. Once the email dropped, one will have to complete the debriefing before he or she takes on any other thing. Alex therefore was not new to members of the NBA Lagos Branch in 2013 when the Branch was heading towards another election season. He indicated his intention to run for Chairman of the Branch and his candidacy was an easy sell. However, two other formidable contestants were ready to give him a run for his resume, reach, competences, capacities, popularity and capabilities. They were Otunba Martin Adeniyi Ogunleye (later elected Chairman in 2015) and Hannibal Uwaifor, SAN.
The Chairmanship election in 2013 brought many members of the NBA Lagos Branch out of their shells owing to members’ interests in the chairmanship position as Alex had awaken their interest in the affairs of the Branch by his regular updates. The members were divided between the old order and the new order. The old order preferred eligibility criteria on Branch Dues alone thereby ignoring the requirement for payment of practising fees as enshrined in the Branch Bye Laws. On the other hand, the new order preferred a full recognition of the relevant provision of the then Lagos Branch's Bye Laws which made it compulsory that eligible voters during the Branch's Bi-Annual Election must have paid their practising fees and branch dues by the 31st day of May every year.
The Branch’s Election Committee led by Mr. Lanre Oyetunji had taken a position to comply fully with the Branch’s Bye Laws, to wit, eligible voters must have paid their practicing fees and Branch dues by 31st May of the election year. This audacious decision of the Election Committee was not popular with some members of the branch who favoured a particular candidate for the position of Chairmanship of the Branch. It was an attempt to force the hand of the Election Committee that 12 members of the Branch (and supporters of a particular candidate) requisitioned an Extra Ordinary Meeting, sequel to which the Chairman was compelled to call for the meeting.
The Extra Ordinary Meeting was held at one of the Courts in the Foyer of the High Court of Lagos State, Lagos Island as the Foyer (the regular venue of the NBA Lagos Branch until 2020) was not available. Each of the two contending sides had also solicited the support of senior members of the Branch to canvass their respective positions for the requisitionists or the audacious position of the Election Committee. Prior to the meeting, a position paper was put together by Moyo Onigbanjo, SAN against the requisitionists and in support of the position of the Election Committee. He concluded by encouraging the Branch’s Election Committee to insist on eligibility criterium to be payment for Practising Fees/Branch Dues as provided in Branch’s Bye Laws. The position paper was already in the hands of members by the time the meeting was held. The said Extra Ordinary General Meeting ended and adopted the position of the Election Committee, i.e eligible voters must have paid practising fees and Branch dues to be able to cast their votes.
The late Owelle of Ogwashiukwu, Chief George Uwechue, SAN (life Bencher and later Chairman of the prestigious Body of Benchers) was the first to speak in favour of the position of the Election Committee. His presentation was ably supported by Mrs. Funke Adekoya, SAN. Chief Olufemi Daramola also spoke last in support of the position earlier canvased by the two learned silks and leaders of the Bar. The lead speaker for the requisitionists was late Emmanuel Ofulue (former Chairman of NBA Lagos Branch circa 1997-1999) followed by 2 other speakers. The position marshalled by late Chief George Uwechue, SAN and ably supported by Mrs. Funke Adekoya, SAN and Chief Olufemi Daramola carried the day and the requisitionists were defeated at the end of the said meeting. .
It is important to note that owing to the caliber of persons in the Chairmanship election in 2013 and the progressive decision of the Election Committee which was validated at the Extra Ordinary General Meeting of 8th July, 2013 and the seeming opposition by some members, the NBA Lagos Branch had five (5) meetings in the month of July, 2013. The different meetings took place on a) 8th July, 2013, Extraordinary General Meeting; b) 11th July, 2013, Manifesto day; c) 15th July, 2013, Emergency General Meeting; d) 19th July, 2013, General Election and e) 22nd July, 2013, Annual General Meeting where Alex was sworn in as the validly elected Chairman of the Branch and was in office between 2013 and 2015.
This singular Extra Ordinary Meeting decided the election in favour of Alex and by the time the election day came, Alex won with a large margin as the election signaled the explosion in the number of eligible voters. He got over 500 votes of the about 1000 eligible voters, followed by Mr. Hannibal Uwaifo who scored 220 plus votes and Mr. Martins Ogunleye came a distant third with about 140 plus votes. I was a 'participis criminis' in the election, though I didn't contest for any position neither was I the DG of Team Alex, however, I was an integral part of the campaign and visited many law firms, Banks and other institutions with him.
The election for Chairmanship of NBA Lagos Branch in 2013 was a tough one. Permit me to recall an incident to confirm that the election was a high stakes one. During the electioneering campaigns, one of the co-chairmanship candidates had indicated to meet with Alex for him to step down. Alex wasn't comfortable attending the said meeting alone. What did we do? I was to go ahead to the venue of the meeting and disguise as a customer to afford me an advantage to hear and be part of the said meeting. The co-contestant entered the venue of the meeting and he couldn't recognize me despite my open support for Alex as I was putting on a fez cap to disguise my identity. I was therefore fully in the meeting between the two co-contestants without him knowing I was an agent. The meeting ended in a deadlock as Alex rejected the request to step down as a candidate.
Alex was a former Secretary, NBA Lagos Branch and he was succeeded by the following persons; a) late Babatola Apata 2013-2014 (may God rest his soul); b) late Tochukwu Chukwumerije (Acting Secretary, may God rest his soul too) March, 2014-June, 2014; c) Adebola Lema, 2014-2015; d) Stephen Obajaja, 2015-2017; e) Ikechukwu Uwanna, SAN, 2017-2019; f) Moshood Abiola, 2019-2021; g) Ntah Ekipken, 2021-2023; h) Muobo Majemite, 2023-2025 and i) Kelechukwu Uzoka, 2025 till date.
Alex was also a former Chairman of the NBA Lagos Branch after successfully completing his tenure as the Branch’s Secretary in the manner of Honourable Justice Taiwo O. Taiwo (rtd) and Ikechukwu Uwanna, SAN (in recent history of NBA Lagos Branch) who were Secretaries and Chairmen respectively. Alex was succeeded by the following persons as Chairmen, a) Otunba Martin Adeniyi Ogunleye, 2015-2017; b) Chukwuka Ikwuazom SAN, 2017-2019; c) Omoyemi Akangbe, SAN, 2019-2021; d) Ikechukwu Uwanna, SAN, 2021-2023; e) Bisi Makanjuola, 2023-2025 and f) Uche Ogunnedo-Akingbade (Mrs.), 2025 till date.
Alex revolutionized the NBA Lagos by stopping cash payments for all NBA Lagos events in all ramifications; Communicated with members vide his regular email updates; Increased members' participation in the affairs of the Branch; Introduced the Elders' Night into the programmes of the Branch in 2015; Increased participation of large firms and corporate and commercial firms in the affairs of the Branch. Alex didn't stop at the affairs of the NBA Lagos Branch. He went ahead to serve in many capacities at the National level, to wit; a) Member, Technical Committee on Conference Planning (TCCP), 2017; Secretary, NBA Committee on Niger Delta and many more. He is a committed member of the Bar and therefore he is properly suited for silk as conferred by the Legal Practitioners Privileges Committee (LPPC).
I would have just been a committed member of the NBA Lagos Branch but for Alex who in the aftermath of the unfortunate death in active service of Babatola Apata (Secretary July, 2013 to March, 2014) encouraged me to vie for the office of Secretary and succeed the late Secretary. Babatola was involved in an accident on his way to Ado Ekiti for the quarterly NEC meeting of the NBA. As it was in the former Bye Laws of NBA Lagos Branch (now replaced by the Uniform Bye Laws applicable uniformly to all branches in the NBA), the Vice Chairmen (as the former Bye Laws of NBA Lagos Branch provided for 2 Vice Chairmen (now replaced by the Uniform Bye Laws which provides for a single Vice Chairman in the Branch) and the Secretary must be replaced vide a Bye election in the case of death or permanent incapacity. I participated in the Branch Bye Election to replace the late Secretary courtesy of Alex who actively encouraged me and guided me in reaching out to leaders in the Branch. Three persons actually participated in the Bye Elections. They were Adebola Lema, Mrs. Obele Akinniranye and Bode Omoboriowo and yours truly emerged winner.
I must say too that Alex’s election as Chairman of the Branch in 2013 was instrumental to the emergence of Stephen Obajaja (who emerged as Secretary in 2015 and served with Otunba Martin Adeniyi Ogunleye between 2015 and 2017). I had not intended to be Secretary but for the unfortunate death of late Babatola Apata. On his part, Stephen Obajaja had informed everyone at Alex’s victory party in 2013 at Freedom Park, Lagos Island, Lagos State that he will be running as Secretary and whoever did not make it amongst the Secretaryship candidates should not contemplate running in 2015. Having won my election as Secretary and held the office for just 1 (one) year and combined with the success of Alex tenure as Chairman, Stephen’s chances of becoming Secretary was brighter and brighter and when the elections were held, Stephen was victorious. His victory at the elections in 2015 therefore made our firm, Fountain Court Partners, to have held the Secretariat for three straight years (a feat that is rare in NBA Lagos recent history) and Alex was the architect of this uncommon feat.
To be in company of Alex is a good thing as there is no dull moment with him. Enjoyment is unlimited with Alex. Again, Alex's type is not common in the NBA. He undertakes any assignment given to him with great zeal and effort. In that same manner, Alex went through NEC bundles as if he was to do a baccalaureate examination on them unlike majority of NEC members who will not open NEC bundles let alone read the contents. Alex participated in NEC Meetings with quality interventions and contributions which drew him to many Bar leaders including those who initially believed he wasn’t supporting their aspirations. Alex's elevation to silk is therefore commendable and no one can question it having served the bar with distinction and panache. He has risen from an ordinary member of the prestigious NBA Lagos Branch to member of its Committees; to becoming its Secretary and ultimately its Chairman.
Congratulations Alex as you truly deserve the rank of a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).
The Silk fits you Sir.
Congratulations to the learned Silk.
Adebola Olarotimi Lema
(Secretary NBA Lagos Branch 2014-2015)