‘Hardwork, Zeal and Commitment to the Acquisition of Knowledge Constitute One of the Pillars of the Profession’
I am Chief Akuro George, a legal practitioner based in Port Harcourt, Rivers State and a former 1st Vice President of the Nigerian Bar Association under Olisa Agbakoba SAN. I have been engaged in active legal practice for over 30 years. I was born in Ibadan and grew up in Lagos before relocating to Rivers State.
I was admitted to the prestigious University of Nigeria and obtained a Bachelor of Laws degree LLB Hons. In 1980. I was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1981. I am also a member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (UK).
My early days as a young lawyer from the Nigerian Law School started with the mandatory National Youth Service, where I served as a Legal Research Officer at the Centre for Black and African Arts and Civilisation in Lagos. Shortly afterwards I joined the law office of Chief C. C. L. Williams Chukwu as an Associate in Port Harcourt where I practised law until I established the law office of Akuro R. George & Associates (Tamunokuro Chambers) as the Principal Partner
I have served as Secretary, Vice-Chairman and Chairman respectively of the Nigerian Bar Association, Port Harcourt branch. Member of the National Executive Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association from 1998 – 2014, Committee of Chairmen and Secretaries where I moved the motion for the resuscitation of the Nigerian Bar Association in Jos – 1997; 1st Vice President of the Nigerian Bar Association under the leadership of Olisa Agbakoba SAN, Member of the Body of Benchers April 2007 – January 2011, 1st Co-Chair Project 2011 Swift Count where we set up a group of observers nationwide for elections in the country, which I coordinated.
As Chairman of the Port Harcourt branch, I initiated the Port Harcourt Bar Centre project.
Have you had any challenges in your career as a lawyer and if so what were the main challenges?
During the course of my career as a legal practitioner. I have been confronted with several challenges, the most prominent of which is the perception of some members of the public that lawyers are in the main, persons that are lacking in honour. This perception is hinged on the hackneyed expression by some that lawyers are liars. This perception is based on the belief that lawyers are hired to plead causes of their clients irrespective of their blame- worthiness. The challenge therefore is to impress upon members of the public that lawyers by their training are indeed honourable but not dishonourable persons as some are wont to believe. The other challenge one has faced in the course of practice is the inherent frustration of the apparent slow nature of the litigation process in Nigeria. One is many a time confronted with the challenge of whether to advice clients as to whether they should have recourse to the courts of law for the ventilation of their grievances rather than find alternative means of resolving the conflicts. This challenge is still in the front burner, because of the lengthy period of time it takes to finally dispose of cases. What was your worst day as a lawyer? My worst day as a lawyer was during my formative years as a legal practitioner saddled with the responsibility of going to court to argue a motion for service of process outside jurisdiction. I had been advised by my senior colleague who prepared the process that it needed to be by way of a Motion on Notice. Apparently I was prepared for an easy ride in court. When the case was called I announced my appearance and proceeded to move the motion on notice when the learned trial Judge interjected and drew my attention to a certain section of the 1979 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which was then in operation. At that point I had become completely disoriented. I opened the section to the Constitution to which my attention was drawn and asked to read out the express provision of that section, which I frightfully did and later to a section of the Sheriff and Civil Process Act which I also read out. At this point, I was completely at sea and did not in the least comprehend what I was reading. The Judge then asked me whether in view of what I had read side by side with the rules of court, if I was still ready to move the motion. Having been primed and well prepared to move the motion, I answered in the affirmative whereupon members of Bar in court burst into laughter. I was advised by the Judge that in view of the circumstances I did not need a motion to do what I wanted to do, and should therefore withdraw the motion.
What was your most memorable experience?
The most memorable experience I have had, is in a case I conducted at the High Court of Rivers State and the Court of Appeal Port Harcourt Division, which had to do with a deceased person whose estranged wife sought declaratory orders for the management of the property of the deceased person as well as the responsibility for his final funeral rites.
The estranged woman lost the case at the High Court and proceeded to the Court of Appeal. The Court of Appeal affirmed the decision of the lower court and expressed very strong views about the nature of the claim and the attitude of the appellant and used very strong words such as the fact that “she was a disgrace to womanhood”. I felt thoroughly elated and vindicated.
Who has been most influential in your life?
The person that has been most influential in my life is my late father, Mr. Tamunokuro R. George of blessed memory. He was a father, friend and confidant. I had a very close relationship with him and he imparted in me the very enduring and enabling virtues of honesty, steadfastness and integrity I state with utmost modesty that I owe my ‘world view’ to the influence imparted on me by my late father. Why did you become a lawyer? My earliest recollection of what I wanted to be in life is that of becoming a lawyer. This desire is ostensibly based on the fact of my having acquired a critical analytical mind through the knowledge acquired by my voracious reading habit.
What would your advice be to anyone wanting a career in law?
For anyone wanting to become a lawyer, I would advise that such a person should first do a bit of introspection as to whether he is imbued with the attributes of hard work, honour, dignity, commitment of purpose and power of persuasion. Therefore my advice is after the bit of introspection the person should know that he has to be patient in the acquisition of material wealth because the practice of law does not immediately translate into wealth.
The person should carry himself and act honourably in the discharge of his responsibilities as a lawyer because the profession is a noble and honourable one which abhors cheating, dishonesty, deceit and all manner of disreputable conduct. It goes without telling that hardwork, zeal and commitment to the acquisition of knowledge constitute one of the significant pillars of the profession and so there should be no tardiness, sloppiness and laziness on the part of the practitioner. The person desiring to be a lawyer should conduct himself in a considerable measure of self-assurance because he is looked upon by the society as a leader and moulder of public opinion.
If you had not become a lawyer, what would you have chosen?
If I had not become a lawyer I would have preferred to be a psychologist. The reason being that I have a knack for wanting to analyse or rationalise the action of every individual that I have encounter with. Where do you see yourself in ten years? In ten years’ time I do hope to find myself having attained professional excellence and fulfilment in my personal life. I do hope at that time to curtail the level of visibility in court and do more of “backroom activities” of nurturing lawyers and do some measure of consultancy work. If possible also to engage in boardroom politics, giving back to society by way of involvement in non-governmental organisation.