Column Lawyers and national development
“Lawyers must be able to hold themselves to account. Discipline in the profession is one way to ensure sanity…” Professor Yemi Osinbajo (SAN), Vice President, Federal Republic of Nigeria.
In the words of the president of the Nigerian Bar Association, the theme of the 2015 Annual General Conference was chosen specially to afford lawyers the opportunity to take stock, assess and evaluate our roles in the development of our communities and the nation. This year’s conference availed lawyers the opportunity to highlight our achievements so far, identify low points and failings and map out a more progressive strategy for contributing to national development.
The 55th Annual General Conference opening ceremony, with over seven thousand registered delegates in attendance, commenced at 5 pm with the arrival of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari (GCFR), who spoke on the need for lawyers to shun corruption and
The president urged lawyers not to sacrifice the integrity of the country’s legal system in a bid to cover the misdeeds of their client, no matter how lucrative the brief may be.
The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Mahmud Mohammed, acknowledged the support of the executive to the judiciary. He enjoined counsels to imbibe the ADR in resolving disputes and stated that there will be a functional multi-door court house in all the state high courts. He called for collaboration between the NBA and judiciary to secure functional emails to enable exchange of correspondences, issuance of e-notices, and e-delivery post by email et al.
The keynote speaker, Dr Willy Munyoki Mutunga, the Chief Justice and President of the Supreme Court of Kenya, educated delegates about the judiciary’s contribution to social transformation in Africa, emphasizing that law has a pivotal role to play in social transformation.
He spoke of Kenya’s experiences that could be beneficial to Nigeria’s, the role of ICT in the judiciary, as courts are now paperless and efficient, the appointment of judges being a public affair, televised for the public to observe, and urged the judiciary in Nigeria to develop rich jurisprudence to promote the country’s history, Constitution and independence of Nigerians.
Buhari declared the conferenceopen by wishing the participants happy deliberations.
The conference saw delegates discussed topics such as the role of law in national development, contribution of lawyers in public office to national development, providing legal support for talent based industry, lawyers’ role in poverty reduction in Nigeria, access to justice: challenges and opportunities for the legal profession e.t.c.
The conference also witnessed ceremonial match between the Bar and Bench, and football competition amongst teams of various branches.
The Annual General Meeting discussed the proposed amendment of NBA Constitution, elections into General Council of the Bar and statutory reports.
The conference was not without its social activities session as young lawyers, Wednesday night, danced away some stress.
Indeed, the NBA-AGC availed conferees “… an opportunity to meet colleagues from different branches, exchange experiences, renew and build friendships that will continue long after the closing ceremony”.
Kudos must be given to the present NBA national officers under the leadership of Augustine Alegeh, SAN, FCIArb (UK), for organising a well entertaining and educative AGC.