CRISIS OF LEADERSHIP ROCKING SURULERE LAWYERS FORUM

1. The tenure of the present executive committee was due to expire in July 2022
2. A three-man Election Committee was constituted at the General Meeting of April, 2022, to make arrangements for the election of new officers in June.
3. In the second week of June 2022 we received a letter from the office of the Hon. CJ of Lagos State confirming the creation of a new Judicial Division in Lagos State to be called Yaba-Surulere Judicial Division. This development buoyed the efforts of the SLF to have a Branch of the NBA in its area. Further to this, the NBA NEC approved the creation of NBA Surulere Branch along with another new Branch also in June, 2022.
4. However, the majority of members held the view that the SLF is not to be wound up on the ground of a new Branch, that SLF is not an affiliate of NBA and that members can still carry on their affairs without prejudice to NBA Branch.
5. The chairman apparently was determined to sit tight with his Exco pending the formal inauguration of the new Branch, apparently in the hope of transmuting to the chairman of the new Branch.
6. Although a motion was moved and seconded on the floor of the General Meeting in June seeking that election be held as scheduled and that the Exco should wind down and vacate the stage. The chairman refused to put the motion to vote, unilaterally declared that the Exco will continue in office pending the receipt of the letter from the NBA inaugurating the new Branch. He adjourned the meeting to July. Two days to the scheduled meeting, the secretary announced that the meeting was adjourned to hold in July not giving any reason. Meanwhile, the tenure of the Exco had expired in July.
7. Again, today 15 August, 2022, two day to the reschedule meeting for 17 August, the Exco again announced that the meeting was being postponed to September.
8. This was the last straw that members of the Forum refused to permit to break their back. Twenty-two members therefore requisitioned an extra ordinary general meeting pursuant to section 5(4) of the SLF constitution. Six matters are listed on the agenda which includes dissolution of the Exco and setting up a caretaker committee and to reschedule the election.
9. The requisitioned meeting is scheduled for 24 August to allow for the constitutional period of notice to members. The chairman and Exco quickly made a U-turn and announced this evening that a general meeting will now hold on 17 August, 2022 – apparently to steal a match on the members who requisitioned the extra ordinary meeting.
10. The dye is now cast as to which notice is valid, which meeting will hold, and what agenda will be dealt with.

These events will shape the SLF in the days to come.

NOTICE OF REQUISITIONED EXTRA ORDINARY GENERAL MEETING PURSUANT TO SECTION 5(4) OF SLF CONSTITUTION 2022

Notice is hereby given to the Chairman and members of the Executive Committee of Surulere Lawyers Forum that an Extra Ordinary General Meeting of the Forum is requisitioned in accordance with section 5(4) of the SLF constitution which provides as follows:
(a) An extra ordinary General meeting of the Forum shall be convened when necessary by the Executive Committee or upon the written requisition of not less than 20 of the registered members of the Forum.
(b) It shall be the duty of the Secretary to give registered members a notice of meeting at least one week before the date slated for same (or alternatively the requesting members shall give to every registered member 5 day notice of the holding of the meeting).

GROUND FOR THE REQUISITION
a. The tenure of the Executive Committee has lapsed and same was not extended by the General Meeting;
b. The executive committee has become functus officio and cannot legitimately convene a meeting of the Forum;
c. The executive committee disregarded the provision of S.5(1a)(b) of the SLF constitution which requires that a general meeting shall hold every month except when an AGM or EGM of the Forum is scheduled

AGENDA

The business for which the extra ordinary general meeting (EGM) is requisitioned are as follows:

1. To pass a vote of no confidence on the executive committee of the forum.
2. To dissolve and remove the executive committee from office.
3. To elect a caretaker committee to take over the management of the affairs of the Forum and to hold election of new officers of the Forum pursuant to the provision of the constitution
4. To appoint/limit the duration of the tenure of the caretaker committee.
5. To fix the tenure of office of the executive committee so elected.
6. Any other business deemed proper.

Venue: SLF Secretariat, No. 14 Babatunde Street, Off Ogunlana Street, Surulere, Lagos

Date: Wednesday 24 August, 2022

Time: 2.00pm

Dated this 15th day of August 2022

1) Seth Amaefule
2) Chioma Ferguson
3) Marian Jones
4) Benson Irabor
5) Adimonye Collins
6) Nkem Eke
7) Eddy Njoku
8) Egeonu Gloria
9) Blessing Idehen
10) Nwana Chuks
11) Maureen Umeojiego
12) Felicia Nosike
13) Sylvia Umukoro
14) Bennita Olejeme
15) Anene
16) Yusuf Bello
17) Hajarat Ogunsanya
18) Adedeji Babatunde Ramon
19) Okwaraugo Joy
20) Imran Agunbiade
21) Yomi Fagbayi
22) Dapo Oduwole

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