The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Warri Branch was officially formed in 1959 when the Legal Practitioners in Warri, in then Western Nigeria, began to hold formal meetings as a Bar Association. Incidentally, that was about the same period that the Nigerian Bar Association (N.B.A.) was formed by a coalition of branches, scattered in different parts of Nigeria. Under the 1960 NBA Constitution, the pioneer branches were Warri, Lagos, Ibadan, Enugu, Benin City, Onitsha, Aba, Port Harcourt, Calabar, Kano, Jos and Sapele.
So many great legal minds have emanated from the Branch, the likes of T.E. Nelson-Williams, Arthur E. Prest, Chike Idigbe, Edward Fregene, Chief M.F.R. Okorodudu, Mciver Edewor, Esq., Hon. Justice M.A. Aghoghovia, Hon. Justice Ayo Irikefe, Webber G. Egbejule (SAN), QC, Hon. Justice Victor Ovie-Whiskey, Hon. Justice Rufus Ogbobine, Dr. Mudiaga Odje, SAN and Chief T.J.O. Okpoko, SAN.
The NBA Warri Branch brand is very distinct among the bar branches all over Nigeria. It is known for its bold stand on national and local issues which earned it the sobriquet, “The Radioactive Branch”. It has been involved, through its members, in public interest litigations, championing the cause for social change in laws and societal behaviour.
Suffice it to state that in certain periods of its existence, membership of the Branch covered a vast geographical area spanning Warri, Effurun, Otor-Udu, Otu-Jeremi, Ughelli, Kwale, Oleh, Ozoro, Bomadi, Burutu, Isiokolo and Orerokpe judicial divisions of the High Court of Justice of Delta State. The proliferation of branches nationwide by the national body led to the shrinking of the size of the Warri Branch. Notwithstanding, it is still regarded as a foremost Branch in Nigeria.
The Branch holds general meetings every month (except December which is usually for its annual dinner) where crucial issues concerning the welfare of its members, the Courts, the Legal Profession, the Bar, the Judiciary, Delta State and Nigeria are deliberated upon and far-reaching resolutions reached.
In collaboration with the Judiciary, it organizes Bar/Bench Forum where Judges, Magistrates, Revenue Court Judges, Chairmen of Customary Courts and Lawyers sit to deliberate on issues which have effects on their operational relationship in the Temple of Justice.
The Branch also organizes law week programs, inviting notable personalities from all works of life to lecture and speak on contemporary issues, in a bid to expanding the professional, intellectual and emotional horizon of members. These law week activities have in many ways engendered various levels of paradigm shifts in the outlook of members on multi-faceted issues.
In all its activities and modus operandi the Branch keeps up with his sobriquent; “the Radioactive Branch”.
