Body of Benchers Sets Up Committee to Tackle Issues of Conflicting Judgments

Law school graduates 4,412 lawyers Otedola, Dangote, Wike donate buildings

The Chairman of the Body of Benchers (BoB), Rtd Justice Mary Peter-Odili, yesterday, disclosed that a committee has been set up to address issue of conflicting judgments of courts, which was fast bringing disrepute to the judiciary.

Peter-Odili made the disclosure at the swearing-in ceremony of 4,412 new lawyers in Abuja.

The committee according to her comprises of high ranking members of the Nigerian judiciary.

This was just as the Chairman of FBN Holdings and billionaire, Mr Femi Otedola and the President of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, as well as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, have pledged to build staff quarters and students hostels in the Lagos, Kano and Abuja campuses of the Nigerian Law School.

Speaking at the occasion, Mrs. Peter-Odili stated that the body was working hard to address incidents of conflicting judgments as the Judiciary works hard to regain public trust.

"You have been called to the Bar in a very important historic period in the legal profession in Nigeria; a period when the good, the bad and the ugly are all operating at the same time. The good to the extent that the Supreme Court now has the full complement of Justices required to man the court. The good to the extent that the welfare of Judicial Officers is being taken seriously and the Body of Benchers alongside other relevant bodies is championing the process.

"I have read in the papers about the increased funding of the Judiciary which is a positive development. I hope it will be backed by adequate release of funds as and when due.

"It is a bad period in the sense that the Judiciary is being bashed and public confidence in the legal system is dwindling, occasioned by incessant conflicting judgements by our courts and flagrant indiscipline amongst lawyers,

"In order to address this vexed issue of conflicting judgments, the Body of Benchers has constituted a Committee made up of ranking members of the Profession to came up with the best possible ways of addressing the concerns. When the Committee completes its assignment and presents its report to the Body of Benchers; it will, upon consideration and approval; be forwarded to the relevant bodies for implementation", she said.

Meanwhile, the former Supreme Court Justice, assured the new wigs that their welfare and remuneration would be given top priority, due to the current economic realities. According to her, young lawyers in private practice are practically left to fend for themselves as their take home pay is so poor that it can barely take care of their basic needs.

"I will like to use this medium to call for an urgent upscale review of the remuneration of lawyers. | am aware that efforts are being made to improve on the welfare and remuneration of judicial officers, it is my humble opinion that this good initiative should also be extended to the Bar", she added.

She accordingly advised them to as lawyers behave with honour and dignity at all times, to show that they are fit and proper persons to be admitted to the bar.

Director General of the Nigerian Law School, Prof. Isa Hayatu Chiroma, commended Otedola, Dangote and Wike for their interventions in the area of structural facilities in some campuses of the Law School across the country.

Chiroma while stating that the Nigerian Law School Headquarters and campuses have equally witnessed in the period under review new constructions, renovations and remodeling of many structures and building that hitherto continued to suffer serious neglect on account of poor budgetary provisions, noted that they have "achieved and still making the difference largely due to prudent use of very lean resources at our disposal and through the gracious interventions of good spirited Nigerians, Organisations and other concerned stakeholders.

"I am happy to place on record the latest intervention to the Nigeria Law School from the following: Mr Femi Otedola, who has agreed to build Staff quarters in Lagos Campus of the Nigerian Law School. Alhaji Aliko Dangote, who has agreed to build student's hostel in Kano Campus of the Nigerian Law School. The Honourable Minister of the Capital Territory, Abuja Barrister Nyeson Wike, CON who has agreed to build staff quarters in Abuja Campus of the Nigerian Law School as well as provision of official vehicles to the Nigerian Law School.

"These interventions are coming at a critical phase of our development period where there is an astronomical increase in the number of applicants into the Nigerian Law School. Words are not enough to thank you for your intervention in the Nigerian Law School", Chiroma said.

He however called on others to follow their footsteps. The DG said a total of 4,412 candidates, who were successful at the November 2023 Bar Final examinations as well as fourteen (14 candidates from previous Bar Final Examinations are being called to the Nigerian Bar.

In a breakdown of the figure, Chiroma disclosed that the "Total number of students who participated at the Examinations: 5,300; total number of successful candidates: 4,412;

(c) ‘The Nigerian Law School is proudly happy to report that a total number of two hundred and fifty-one (251) candidates bagged First Class grade in the last Bar Final examination. This is indeed an outstanding excellent performance and of course unprecedented.

"These figures translate to 83.3% success at the Bar Final Examinations",.,