Sir. Hon. Justice B.A. Georgewill, JCA, DSSR, KSC, FCIIAArb, (Nigeria)

Chairman, Institute Governing Council and Int’l Grand Patron

Sir. Hon. Justice Georgewill is a Distinguished Fellow and International Grand Patron of the Institute. He sits on the Board of Administrators of the Institute as, Chairman, Institute Governing Council.

 After his graduation from the University and Nigerian Law School, His Lordship had extensive private legal practice in Kwara, Kogi, Benue and Rivers States, Nigeria and later became the Managing Solicitor and Principal Counsel in the law firm of B. A. Georgewill & Associates, Legal Practitioners & Corporate Consultants, in Port Harcourt for many years. Due to his industrious dedication to duty as a private law practitioner, he was elevated on the 22nd day of April 2002, to the High Court Bench of Rivers State as a Judge at the relatively young age of 36.

In 2004, his Lordship was voted the best Judge in the Rivers State Judiciary by the Nigerian Bar Association, Port Harcourt Branch. In the same year his Lordship was investitured as a Knight of St. Christopher (KSC) of the Diocese of Niger Delta, Church of Nigeria Anglican Communion.

 To show the level of his commitment to duty, in 2006, his Lordship received the Development in Nigeria Merit (DINMA) in the Legal Profession by PSR National Award Committee, Abuja, Nigeria. Between 2007 and 2008, his Lordship served as a Member of the Election Tribunals in Anambra and Edo States respectively. In 2010, his Lordship was appointed the Lord Chancellor of the Diocese of Niger Delta of the Church of Nigeria, (Anglican Communion).

 In 2011, his Lordship served as the Chairman of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into the Communal crisis in Ogoni land between K-dere & B – Dere Communities. In 2013, his Lordship served as the Chairman of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into the crisis in the Rivers State House of Assembly.

 On 23rd day of March 2014, his Lordship, by dint of hard work and the Grace of God, was elevated to the high office of a Justice of the Court of Appeal of Nigeria at the relatively young age of 48. In December 2015, his Lordship served on the Appeal Panel on the 2015 General Elections in Nigeria. In the same year, his Lordship was appointed a National Patron of Anglican Youth Fellowship of Nigeria, Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion).

 In April 2015, his Lordship was nominated and served as a Member of the Panel of Judges at the Finals of the World University Moot Court Championship organized by the World Jurists Association which held in Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom. Having shown high sense of commitment, in 2016, his Lordship was called again to serve as the President of the Panel of Judges at the West African University Moot Court Championship held at the Faculty of Law, University of Lagos, Nigeria. In August 2017, his Lordship was appointed by H. E. Professor Yemi Osinbajo SAN, GCON, the Acting President of Nigeria as Chairman of the Presidential Investigation Panel to Investigate Compliance with Human Rights Obligations and Rules of Engagement by the Nigerian Armed Forces in the Fight Against Insurgency and Militancy in Nigeria.

 In August 2018, his Lordship was appointed by H.E. President Julius Maada Bio of Sierra Leone as the Chairman and Sole Commissioner of the Sierra Leone Presidential Commission of Inquiry to investigate the Government of the Immediate Past President of Sierra Leone 2007 – 2018 and his Ministers.

His Lordship is a much sought after speaker in several professional, academic and religious seminars and conferences as a resource person, including his invitation to speak at the Radcliff Institute of Harvard University in Boston United States of America.