LAW Lawyers build centre in honour of Justice Odili’s father
A500-seater model Bar Centre has been built near the High Court, in Aboh Mbaise Local Government Area of Imo State, in honour of the late Barrister B.S.C. Nzenwa, father of Justice Mary Odili of the Supreme Court.
The centre was built by members of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mbaise Branch, which the late lawyer, fondly called “Opara Mbaise” and the “Cock of the Bar in Imo State,” founded in 1991. Nzenwa was said to be the first lawyer produced by the Mbaise clan in 1959.
The Mbaise Bar also used the occasion to launch its maiden calendar 2014/2015 to assist in realizing the facilities lacking at the centre.
Our learnt that the centre was built at the cost of N10million but that another N5million will be needed to fix the facilities lacking at the centre to make it more comfortable. The centre will serve as venue for lawyers meeting and also as relaxation place for councils during and after court sittings.
During the commissioning of the centre which took place on 4th April, 2014, many dignitaries from far and wide were present: Supreme Court Justice Mary Odili and her husband, former Governor of Rivers State Dr. Peter Odili, the widow of Nzenwa, Ugoeze Benadette Nzenwa, the chairman of African Independent Television (AIT) Dr. Raymond Dokpesi, and President of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria Justice Babatunde Adeniran Adejumo.
Other dignitaries included Deputy Speaker House of Representatives Chief Emeka Ihedioha, the Chief Judge of Imo State Justice B.A. Njemanze, Chief L.E. Nwosu (SAN), the President of Customary Court of Appeal Justice P.I. Okpara, the administrative Judge Mbaise Judicial Division Justice U.D. Ogwurike, the Imo State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice Chukwuma Machukwu (who represented Governor Owelle Rochas Okorocha), the traditional ruler of Eziudo autonomous community, His Royal Highness Eze Desmond Oguguo, among other native rulers from the area.
Various speakers at the occasion including the chairman of the ceremony, Chief L.E. Nwosu, praised the sterling qualities of the late Barrister Nzenwa, who was later elected the traditional ruler of his Obizi autonomous community in Ezinihitte Mbaise Local Government Area of the state.
The speakers also commended the leadership of the NBA Mbaise branch under Chief I.M. Kadurumba for building the Bar Centre in honour of the “legal icon, Nzenwa.”
Delivering a lecture entitled, “The National Industrial Court of Nigeria and Its Relevance to Sustainable Economic Growth and Development of Nigeria,” Justice Adejumo said that the National Industrial Court of Nigeria is conferred with jurisdiction to entertain applications relating to order to restrain anybody from taking part in strike or lock-out. But he added that the provisions do not take away totally the right of workers to go on strike or that of employers to engage in lock-out.