‘Every Lawyer Must Build Integrity, Trust and Discipline’
My name is Princewill Akpakpan, a Legal Practitioner and Managing Partner in Yem Unen Chambers. I am a graduate of University of Nigeria and the Nigerian law School. I am currently at the edge of the completion of my LLM program at the University of Lagos.
I started my career as an activist in the University of Nigeria along with Malachy Ugwumadu and other progressive students, under the platforms of Campus Units of Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO) & Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR), to challenge the injustice and misgovernance within the University. I was a one-time Speaker of the Law Students House of Representatives, who was able to restore confidence in the students using the principle of openness and accountability in the management of funds of LAWSA. In the course of my activism, I stepped on the toes of both the Powers at the Faculty of Law and the University. With my colleagues, I was able to challenge the illegal increment in school fees at the Federal High Court, Enugu which decision was delivered in our favour. Owing to my activities against the Faculty and the University Authorities, I was not allowed to graduate with my colleagues which caused the CDHR led by Femi Falana, SAN, Jiti Ogunye Esq. Obele Chuka Esq., to take over our case against the University at the Federal High Court, Enugu, before I was allowed to be enrolled in the Law School, having lost two sessions.
I have practiced in several areas of law: Commercial Litigation, Constitutional Law, Election Petition, Human Rights, Labour /Employment, Company Law, Banking/Insurance, Energy Law and Environmental/Planning Law. I have also been involved in Intellectual Property, Copyright and Pension matters. I am involved in Alternative Dispute Resolution, such as Arbitration, Mediation and Conciliation. I handle Taxation and Maritime cases. I indulge in international advocacy at the level of the African Commission on Human & Peoples Rights and Universal Periodic Review Mechanism of the United Nations. I have travelled extensively on advocacy intervention against Death Penalty and on Socio-Economic Rights issues. I am a member of several Associations and coalitions, including Anti-Death Penalty. I advice and render legal opinions on several areas of law to individuals, government agencies, and companies, which have been useful to the growth of their businesses.
Have you had any challenges in your career as a Lawyer, and if so, what were the main challenges?
When a new Lagos High Court Civil Procedure Rules came into force in 2004, I brought Fundamental Rights Application before the Court, and the Judge asked me to comply with the New Rules. When I informed the Court that the Rules did not apply to my case because Fundamental Right Rules was distinct, the Judge threatened to strike my case out. I stood my ground throughout the case. I had to petition the State CJ, Justice Ade Alabi, who intervened, and the Judge allowed me do my case, which judgement released of over 50 awaiting trial inmates from Ikoyi and Kirikiri Prisons. Another challenge was in respect of the Third Alteration to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, which created NIC. Under the alteration, one can only appeal the decision of the Industrial Court on grounds of the breach of Fundamental Rights. Again, I had another matter that involved over 250 retired customs officers before the Court, and because of the Court of Appeal’s conflicting decisions on the issue of appeal, we could not appeal against the perverse decision, time of appeal having elapsed, until the Supreme Court in SKYE BANK case settled the issue.
What was your worst day as a Lawyer?
I started my practice with Obot. E. Obot & Associates. The office had a matter in Uyo High Court, the lead counsel Barrister Obot Obot sent me to represent him. He informed me that we were representing the Defendant in the matter, and that the Plaintiff had filed an originating summons, to which we had filed a counter affidavit and the Plaintiff replied on points of law, bringing new legal issues. He showed me the areas of law I needed to respond to. I announced my appearance, and went ahead to respond as I was tutored by my principal, only for the counsel on the other side to refute that what I responded to was not their position at the sitting preceding that date. I was at lost. The judge praised my courage and asked me how old I was at the Bar; I responded that I was six days old. The case was adjourned to another date.
What was your most memorable experience as a Lawyer?
The day I appeared in the Supreme Court led by Jiti Ogunye, Esq. in the case of NEPA v Ososonya, within one year of my call to Bar, though we lost that matter. This was a matter that, the principal counsel and all of us spent sleepless night to prepare.
Who has been most influential in your life?
My parents of blessed memory, who were teachers, were my basic source of influence. They instilled discipline in me, and made me to be accountable in
every action and decision in life. They taught me that a good name was better than riches, therefore, I should live within my means. They tutored me to work hard, and never to cut corners. As a young person who was exposed to several materials on various issues and personalities, I was affected by late Gani Fawehinmi’s activism, Nelson Mandela’s principled struggle against the Apartheid Government of South Africa, Fidel Castro’s revolution against imperialism and Karl Marx Socialist ideology.
Why did you become a Lawyer?
I became a Lawyer, because I wanted to fight ignorance, injustice, oppression, victimisation, and to uphold the principle of justice at all times against any person, institutions, authority and government. I believe in Law as a veritable instrument for development and inclusiveness in governance, for an equitable and egalitarian society.
What would your advice be to anyone wanting a career in Law?
The person must have the vision and passion, for upholding the rule of law. The lawyer should believe in hard work to accomplish his vision. He must build integrity, trust and discipline, which are the hallmark of his personality, and should avoid inordinate quest for money by sacrificing justice. He should be well read, develop research skills, and expose himself to relevant materials that could assist him to build his particular area of practice. He should develop constant synergy and collaboration with successful colleagues from whom he could learn.
If you had not become a Lawyer, what career would you have chosen?
I would have been a Philosopher or a Psychologist, digging deep into the complex issues of humanity.
Where do you see yourself in ten years?
I want to be at the peak of my career, to develop the law for the betterment of the citizens and the development of the society; to create sustainable legal platforms through which more lives could be positively impacted, and to use the law as an instrument of liberation and progress.