By Henry Uche
Ifeoma Ben is an accomplished law professional with experience in presenting and delivering solutions and services. Based on her experience, Ifeoma has rendered legal advisory services to high net-worth individuals and companies, both locally and internationally. She holds a master’s degree in Law from the University of Lagos, Akoka. She is also a member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, United Kingdom. She is the managing partner at The Law Suite.
A very active member of the Nigerian Bar Association, lfeoma has contributed and still contributes to the growth of the association in diverse ways: Assistant Secretary of the Nigerian Bar Association, Lagos Branch (2019-2021); Assistant secretary of the Human Rights Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association, Lagos Branch (2017-2019) and worked assiduously in achieving the objectives of the Committee in decongesting the Prisons. Her passion for humanitarian services moved her to establish a Not-for-profit Organisation – Justice Vault Foundation, which aims at offering free legal services to victims of domestic violence, inmates of correctional facilities, and less privileged members of society. She has served in different capacities in the Nigerian Bar Association. lfeoma has advised a number of Blockchain and Fintech Companies on leg compliance and corporate governance and sits on the Board of some blockchain technology companies. She is a member of the Policy and Regulation Committee of the Stakeholders in Blockchain Technology Association of Nigeria.
She spoke to Daily Sun recently
With the coaching sessions for startups (micro, small entrepreneurs from different sectors of the economy), what do you want to achieve in the short and long run?
As the founder of the Legal Business Network, I interact with Startups on a regular basis and I feel their pain, especially when they make legal mistakes that cost them their businesses. In a bid to help them, I organize master classes and conferences to enlighten them on the legal aspects of business. It is my desire to see businesses grow and flourish as they become legally complaint.
You have been organizing conferences, workshops and seminars on fintech, are you also an ICT person as a lawyer? What is the fintech advocacy meant to achieve?
The Legal Business Conference 2022 focused on Regulating Blockchain and Fintech Innovations. Law cuts across several disciplines and in fact, all spheres of human endeavours. Lawyers play a vital role in the Fintech and ICT Space and as such need to equip themselves with the necessary skills needed to solve legal issues that arise in Fintech transactions. As a technology lawyer, I advise a number of Fintech companies so I utilize every opportunity to learn more about the Fintech space in order to help my clients avoid legal mistakes in their business.
As a tech and blockchain enthusiast, what advice would you give the Federal Government to make blockchain and crypto thrive fully in Nigeria?
Blockchain technology has several benefits such as enhanced data security, greater transparency, Increased efficiency and speed, Automation, etc. It is important that Regulators such as the Central Bank of Nigeria, Securities and Exchange Commission consider regulating blockchain technology rather than an outright ban. This was part of our recommendations at the LBC 2022.
You advise companies on corporate governance yet abuse of power/office and other forms of malfeasance still erode the system; what would you do differently to halt corporate governance failure?
There are failures of systemic corporate governance which results from the failures of regulatory, market, stakeholder, and internal governance. In order to achieve good corporate governance, there has to be appointment of competent board members, increased diversity on the board, board performance evaluation, risk management and external audit. Good corporate governance is one of the priorities of stakeholders and the integrity of business, accountability, and responsibility are very crucial to businesses.
What particular role are you playing in the NBA national conference holding in Lagos this August?
I am currently working with the Media Team for the NBA Annual General Conference. I coordinated two sessions at the AGC last year. The organisers may wish to assign further roles to me where they deem it necessary.
What difference exists when one is an executive at branch level and when one is operating at the national level?
The Nigerian Bar Association is an umbrella body for all lawyers called to the Nigerian Bar, with 125 active branches across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria. We have elections at the national and branch levels. The national executive oversees the activities of the NBA at the national level while the branch executive oversees their branch activities.
You are a member of NBA Section on Business Law. What do all these sections do? What are their functions?
The NBA has three Practice Sections, Eleven Fora, and two Institutes. The Section on Business Law was created to help lawyers practice in the Nigerian Business environment. The Section on Legal Practice aims at assisting members to develop and improve their legal services to the public. The Section on Public Interest and Development Law was created to help lawyers in public interest litigation/advocacy and create opportunities for increased participation of lawyers in public interest litigation and law reform.
As erstwhile Assistant Secretary of Human Rights Committee of NBA, Lagos branch, how can Nigerians protect human rights and enforce them?
The Human Rights Committee of the NBA takes on pro bono cases and ensure that indigent persons who do not have resources to employ the services of lawyers, get free legal representation. Human Rights Lawyers, public interest litigators, and civil society organisations should always speak out and fight for justice especially where government agencies are seen to be violating human rights of individuals.
You have worked to decongest Nigerian correctional centres. How did you do that? To what effect and how can it be sustained, if your idea to decongest the centres is given a nod?
Under the Human Rights Committee of the NBA, I worked with other team members in offering pro bono services to inmates of correctional centres and assisted in setting some of them free, especially those who were unjustly incarcerated. My passion for humanitarian services moved me to establish a Not for profit Organisation – Justice Vault Foundation, which aims at offering free legal services to the less privileged in society.
What makes Justice Vault Foundation different from others, seeing that people hide under the cover of NGOs to exploit and achieve self-gratification?
Justice Vault Foundation is a charity organisation. My main aim of setting it up is to give back to society and not to make money. I am the managing partner of a law firm, The Law Suite, and that is one of the businesses where I make money. When I run my law firm, I apply business principles but when I want to do charity through my foundation, it is strictly charity.
How far have you gone in rescuing victims of domestic violence, the underprivileged and inmates of correctional centres who deserve not to be there? How can your ideas be sustained?
The fight for justice is a continuous one. From time to time, people reach out to me on issues of domestic violence. The International Federation of Women Lawyers and the African Women Lawyers Association where I belong have done a lot in this regard. We, at the Justice Vault Foundation have been doing pro bono matters for inmates of correctional centres and we will ensure that the objectives of setting up the Foundation are achieved.
Given the storms ravaging the judiciary in recent times, what change would you want to see in the judiciary, if you have the resources and authority/ power to effect change, and what is your take on the notion that many Nigerians have lost hope in the justice system, as some don’t believe the judiciary is the last hope of the common man anymore?
The judiciary is said to be the last hope of the common man. Unfortunately, this is far from being the truth in our clime as the judiciary is bedeviled with several problems which hinder the administration of justice. The lack of independence of the judiciary remains a major issue that must be addressed before our judiciary can function effectively. If I happen to be in a position of authority that can influence positive action in the judiciary, I will ensure that there is “absolute” independence of the judiciary, with particular emphasis on financial independence. With that, the Judiciary will function effectively and efficiently as it would no longer be controlled by the executive arm of government.
If you become the CJN, What legacies would you leave behind?
The Constitution provides that a person who is qualified to practice as a Legal Practitioner in Nigeria and has been so qualified for a period of no less than 15 years can be appointed to hold the office of the Chief Justice of Nigeria or a Justice of the Supreme Court. However, the practice has been to appoint the most senior justice of the Supreme Court as the CJN. If I am opportune to be the CJN, I will champion reforms in the judiciary and promote the rule of law.
How would you deploy your mental prowess for the betterment of Nigeria, especially in public administration and management? Do you have plans to contribute to the leadership of your country?
A lot of us are leaders at various levels in society and such leadership opportunities help to prepare us for a greater cause of service to humanity. Where the need arises, I will not hesitate to participate more actively in leadership at the government level.
What will be your contribution towards girl child education, women participation in politics, protection against sexual abuse and violence against women?
Through my Foundation, I currently do sensitization about girl child education, gender-based violence, etc. I intend to do more aggressive campaigns about all this in the future. I am an advocate that women can do well in leadership positions and in politics so I encourage women to take the bull by the horn.
With regard to your books, what has the the feedback been like, and do you still intend to write more?
My three books (Legal Business Blueprint; Legal Mistakes Entrepreneurs Must Avoid; Startup Toolkit) all relate to law and business because of my passion for business law. These books have helped a lot of business owners build legally protected businesses. All my books are eBooks and can be purchased on my website and it makes it easy for people to read them anywhere and anything.
I hope to write more books in the future.
What do you want to be remembered for as a lawyer in this life?
There are certain areas of law practice that interest me and I have bias for corporate commercial law. I want to be remembered as a renowned international commercial lawyer who has made a mark in the legal profession in Nigeria and beyond.