ANOTHER YEAR OF IMPACT: LEARNED COLLEAGUES, NAOSNP CELEBRATE DR. MONDAY UBANI ON NEW AGE
By Oki Samson, Trek Africa Newspaper
it’s another 27th July, a time to rejoice, a time to reflect, and a time to give thanks to God for the life of leading constitutional lawyer, Dr. Monday Onyekachi Ubani on his new age. The immediate past Chairman of the Nigeria Bar Association-Section on Public Interest and Development Law (NBA-SPIDEL) and legal adviser to the National Association of Online Security News Publishers (NAOSNP) enjoys the grace and faithfulness of God in all his dealings and he is always thankful for the unique privilege.
Fondly called MOU by his admirers, Dr. Ubani is the only surviving child of his parents having been born to the family of Mazi Ubani Nwokocha in Awomukwu village of Oloko Clan in Ikwuano Local Government Area of Abia State. His father went to be with the Lord last year and the Senior Advocate of the Masses left no stone unturned to celebrate his dad who he explained paid huge sacrifices to get him to where he is today.
One of the characteristics that stand Barrister Onyekachi Ubani out is his commitment to social justice, human rights, and enthronement of democracy in the society. He has demonstrated this over the years standing in the court for the downtrodden, raising material support for the less-privileged, educating people about their rights on radio, TV, newspaper, and on online media channels.
The President of the National Association of Online Security News Publishers (NAOSNP), Oki Samson paying glowing tribute noted that what endeared him and his colleagues to the indefatigable lawyer is ‘his disposition to justice and human freedom which is promoted an atmosphere of socio-political and economic order. Though we are not there yet, Monday Ubani and the cohort that he is leading both in his law firm and outside will inch us closer. I enjoin him to keep up championing the cause of a nation which is free, enabling and equitable for all Nigerians.’
Barrister Ubani who had to return to campus to study law in University of Nigeria, Enugu after studying Political science has pushed further since then in his pursuit of legal excellence. At the Nigerian Law School, he came out with second class upper in his Bachelor of Laws and was called to the Nigerian bar in 1990. He did his Masters Degree in Comparative Constitutional and Company Law at University of Lagos in 1993 post-NYSC.
On the work front, the young Ubani handled his first case while he was a National Youth Service Corp member, a case that had to do with setting aside a writ of fifa that was already executed and the properties of his client brought to the court’s premises. His opponent was already an established and senior lawyer who is now a Senior Advocate of Nigeria. That was his first legal baptism, which made his then Principal to hand over all other matters under litigation to his care for that singular victory as a new Corper. He is the Head at the Ubani & Co. law firm.
The past Second National Vice President of Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) is also the the former Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ikeja branch. He has won many laurels and awards including the Lagos State Judiciary And The Lagos Multi-Door Court House (LMDC) Award In Recognition Of His Meritorious Service On The Lagos Multi-Door Court House Governing Council; Obafemi Awolowo Foundation Award;
Rotary International (District 9110) Award in Appreciation of His Invaluable Contribution to Ethics in Business and Professions Seminar; NAOSNP Legal Icon of the year by the National Association of Online Security News Publishers; Trek Africa Newspaper Legal Personality of the Decade; Law Students Society (Adekunle Ajasin University) Award of Excellence; Royal Rangers Meritorious Award for Support to God’s Work and Humanity in Giving Hope to the Hopeless; Symbol of Hope Foundation (NGO) Man of Courage Award; Lagos State Government Award In Appreciation Of His Role As A Discussant At The Valedictory Symposium For The Retiring Head Of Service; Students Solidarity Movement For Good Governance Award As Pillar Of Democracy And Nation Building; and several others. He has built bridges across many waters including the corporate sector; nonprofit sector like churches, NGOs, and community-based organizations. He is a highly-respected member of the Bar nationally and internationally.
The new year promises to be another of impact for the revered MOU!
