Senator Opeyemi Bamidele
Senate President Godswill Akpabio has announced Senator Opeyemi Bamidele (APC-Ekiti) as Majority Leader of the 10th Senate.
This confirmed The Star’s exclusive report earlier on Tuesday.
Akpabio made the announcement at 11:29 a.m. after commencement of proceedings from the Eid-el-Kabir break.
Akpabio also announced Senator Mohammed Ndume (APC-Borno) as the Chief Whip; Senator David Umahi (APC-Ebonyi), as the Deputy Leader and Senator Lola Ashiru (APC-Kwara) as Deputy Chief Whip.
The Senate President said: “The All Progressives Congress (APC) caucus of the Senate after consultations has emerged with their leadership which will be the fulcrum of commencing other businesses of the chamber.
“I’m happy to announce that by consensus the Senate Leader is Sen. Opeyemi Bamidele will be the Majority Leader.
“Sen. Ali Mohammed Ndume (APC-Borno) will be the Chief Whip of the 10th Senate; Sen. David Umahi (APC-Ebonyi), by your consent, will act as the Deputy Leader; and Sen. Lola Ashiru (APC-Kwara) will be the Deputy Chief Whip.”
Bamidele is currently representing Ekiti Central Senatorial District and Chairman, Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters in the 9th National Assembly.
Bamidele is the Founder, Principal Attorney & Head of Chambers at the Law Office of Opeyemi Bamidele & Associates (with offices in Asokoro District, Abuja and Lekki Phase 1, Lagos) from where he is at the moment on leave of absence.
Bamidele graduated with honours in 1986, from the University of Ife (Obafemi Awolowo University), Ile-Ife with a Bachelor of Arts degree and, subsequently, from the University of Benin, Edo State, Nigeria, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) Degree with honours, in 1990.
After his call to the Nigerian Bar, Bamidele launched into a full-time legal career in 1992.
He obtained a Master of Laws (LL.M) degree from the World-renowned Franklin Pierce Law Centre in the University of New Hampshire Law School, Concord, New Hampshire, USA.
He specialised in Intellectual Property Law, with bias in International Patent, Trademark and Copyright Law, including the Licensing of International Transfer of Technology.
Bamidele is a member of the New York and Nigerian Bar, a member of the American Bar Association, and a member of the International Bar Association.