Kemisola Oye
IKORODU branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has committed to contributing to charting a course and direction for the new administration. headed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Chairman of the Branch, Idris Kolawole Thany disclosed this while speaking with newsmen on activities lined up for the 2023 Law Week of the association which commenced with a Jumat service at Omitoro Town Central Mosque, Ijede Road, Ikorodu.
Thany said the theme was carefully chosen in a bid to chart the course and direction for the new administration in Nigeria. “It was carefully chosen to serve as a working material to assist and guide the new administration on what is expected of it by the people of Nigeria.”
The theme of this year’s conference of the Bar, “2023 and Beyond: The Imperative of True Federalism In Nigeria” and the lecture topic, “The 1999 Constitution, Restructuring and True Federalism: The Way Forward”
To support the decision of the Ikorodu branch of the NBA, Thany quoted from the works of the first indigenous lawyer in Nigeria, the late Christopher Sapara William who said: “A lawyer lives for the direction of the people and advancement of the course of the society”
He said they were aware that prior to the election, there were hues and cries about the lopsidedness in appointments, alleged nepotism, among other issues in the country.
He noted that it was high time lawyers took up the challenge to guide the political leadership and politicians in Nigeria.
“I believe that after the lecture, which centres on the 1999 Constitution, restructuring, true federalism and the way forward, the federal government would have been better informed. It will serve as a raw material for the policy thrust of the federal government.
“We want to contribute our own little quota by the theme and lecture, to the development of Nigeria such that future generations would be proud to call Nigeria their own.”
He further said that this is why they have arranged cerebral senior lawyers of repute to speak at the event tagged, “16th Annual Lecture of Chief Babatunde Olusola Benson (SAN)”, held on Tuesday, 6th June to enlighten the public regarding the topic of the lecture.
He said the Chairman of the lecture would be a former Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Chief Iyiola Oladokun (SAN), while a former Chairman of NBA Abuja and a presidential candidate in the 2018 election of the national NBA, Mazi Afam Osigwe (SAN) will be the guest speaker.
The discussants will include Chairman, Oyo State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) and Chairman, Egbe Amofin, Aare Isiaka Abiodun Olagunju (SAN); a former NBA Lagos Branch Chairman, Dr Ajibade Babatunde, Mr Chukwuka Ikuwuazom (SAN) and Olusegun Fabunmi (SAN).
Thany further disclosed that through the Police Duty Solicitor Scheme (PDSS) activities during the last year, the bar in Ikorodu, under his watch, secured freedom for 93 persons inmates from Ikoyi and Kirikiri custodial centres of the Nigeria Correctional Services (NCS), Lagos State.
He said that a walk against domestic and sexual violence and all other forms of gender-based violence will hold Saturday, commencing from the Bar Centre to Ikorodu Youth Centre and Mini Stadium at Ita-Elewa where they would be having a novelty match between NBA Ikeja and NBA Ikorodu.
“At the mini stadium, we would also have health checks for members in attendance. This is to ensure that we are fully and physiologically prepared for this Law Week and to ensure that nobody will take ill suddenly.
“After this football match, between 5 to 7 pm, we would be at Lagos State Park and Garden by the jetty at Ebute to have our variety and cultural evening. Members of our branch will be in attendance and we would have a fun time there with ourselves. Being a cultural evening, everyone is expected to wear traditional attire and bring their traditional foods for exchange amongst members.
“Sunday 4 June between 9 am and 11 am, we would converge at RCCG, Fair Heavens, Dele Kuti Street, Ebute, Ikorodu where we would be having our church thanksgiving service. Immediately after the service, we would also attend to members of the community in Ebute and the church members and render free legal consultancy services to them.
“Monday 5th June, between 9 am to 11 am, we will be here at the Bar Centre for human rights committee sessions. We have sub-committees of human rights, including the domestic and sexual violence committee, child rights, persons living with disability, the legal aid committee, PDSS and other law enforcement agencies committees and the pro bono committee, amongst others will be here to sensitize members of the community on their legal and fundamental rights under the law and ensure that nobody’s rights are being infringed upon and that we can better educate members of the public as to their rights under the law.
“The PDSS will visit all the police stations within Ikorodu on Monday. As is our usual practice, we would ensure that nobody is being illegally detained in any police station within Ikorodu’s jurisdiction. Members of the public are welcome as it would be an open session, and members of the public will be attended to here. We would also give free consultancy services to members of the public who join us here between 9 am and 11 am.
On Tuesday 6th June, we will be having the signature programme of the Law Week, which is the 16th Chief Babatunde Olusola Benson (SAN) Annual Memorial Lecture. The topic is “1999 Constitution: Restructuring and True Federalism-The Way Forward”.
“On Wednesday 7th June, we will have the grand finale of the Law Week programme. We will converge at Aguila Events Centre on TOS Benson Road, Ikorodu at 6 pm for Chief Adebayo Ogunsanya’s (SAN) Annual Law Dinner, a social event that will attract cream de cream of the legal profession. The Chairman will be Mahmud Adeshina (SAN), while the keynote speaker will be the ex-Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development in Lagos State, Prince Rotimi Ogunleye.
Eighteen-Eleven Media