It gives me great pleasure to extend my hearty congratulations to the leadership members of the Nigerian Bar Association, Lagos Branch, my learned colleagues, on the success of the 2021 Law Week of the Premier Branch. I also want to place on record my salutations to the Branch on the smooth transition of power and handover by the administration of Mr. Lateef Omoyemi Akangbe to the new executive council led by Mr. Ikechukwu Uwanna.
Nigeria appears to have assumed the status of a country of one-week-one-story; a country of all possibilities. Nigeria's "god" worketh wonders and with him, all things, just anything, are possible. Happily (?), some happenings and stories add glamour to the movie-scene-like country while helping to showcase the depth of the dirt. Examples: (1) Gorilla swallowed N68 Million in a Kano Zoo; (2). In 2018, Monkeys swallowed N70 million belonging to Nigeria’s Northern senators.
Why these varying reactions? And what should be the proper response of the Nigerian legal community to the emergence of a borderless legal marketplace? How can Nigerian lawyers fully exploit the opportunities presented by this trend, as well as minimise its threats? These were the issues before one of the panels at the 2021 Law Week of the Lagos branch of the Nigerian Bar Association. Moderated by Wolemi Esan, a partner at the law firm of Olaniwun Ajayi LLP, the panel had a distinguished faculty of contributors, some of who participated virtually in the discourse.
The highlight of the evening was the presentation of medals of honour to past Chairmen of the Premier Bar branch by the incumbent, Lateef Omoyemi Akangbe as part of his speech and final acts as Chairman. Among those who were honoured were, in order of succession, Chijioke Okoli, SAN, Taiwo Taiwo (in absentia), Alexander Muoka, Otunba Martins Ogunleye and Chukwuka Ikwuazom, SAN. All were designated Chairmen Emeritus.
I have never met Abba Kyari ,but by the benefit of hindsight , he is not an ordinary person .I say this with profound equanimity and deep insight into Policing in Nigeria.If you want to know a character ,you will focus on what he says ,what he does ,what other people say about him and his appearance.
I want you to know that there are lawyers who know their onions and their are lawyers. I have a strong feeling that, there are few competent lawyers in all fields including Litigation, Property Law, Estate, Family Law, Immigration, Space Law, Intellectual Property or even my darling Election Law to cite a few examples.
Congratulations on your achievement of what is clearly a commendable feat- being called to the Bar. You should be proud of this achievement and relish these moments, as they are memorable.
