Lagos CJ, Olanipekun back Law Week

The Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Olufunmilayo Atilade has assured the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Lagos Branch of her full support in hosting a successful Law Week for its members. The annual high-profile event is scheduled for 24th to 26th June, 2015 at the MUSON Centre and City Hall, Lagos.

Meanwhile, former NBA President, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN) has also pledged to support the chapter in ensuring that the Law Week is a huge success, even as he made an immediate cheque donation to cushion teething logistical challenges usually encountered in hosting such event while promising to do more.

Justice Atilade made the pledge while receiving a high-powered joint delegation of NBA Lagos Executive Committee and the Law Week Committee members in her chambers at Ikeja.

The State Chief Judge promised that the judiciary would play an active role in the three-day programme, adding: “We look forward to the Law Week. I assure you of our participation as usual, especially at the Law Dinner. We would make sure judges attend.”

Justice Atilade, who received the delegation alongside Justice Abdulfattah Lawal, Magistrate Emmanuel Ogundare (Chief Registrar) and Magistrate Demi Ajayi (DCR, Legal) among other senior officers of the State judiciary, also promised the delegation that the judiciary would take active part in the Bar/Bench Forum to be held during the Law Week.

NBA Lagos Branch Chairman, Mr. Alex Muoka who led the delegation had while speaking earlier, informed Justice Atilade that the theme for this year’s Law Week is “The Future of the Legal  Profession: Protection from Exploitation.”

He noted that the special sessions and workshops would hold at MUSON Centre while a  high-profile Bar Dinner in honour of the outgoing Lagos State Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN) would hold at The City Hall, Lagos. The week will also witness Variety Night and prison visits.

Muoka hinted that though the Bar/Bench Forum was an initiative of the branch, “We need substantial buy-in from the judiciary to make it a success.

We are therefore inviting the judiciary towards having a robust Bar/Bench Forum that will discuss issues on the front-burner between the Bar and Bench, though we still need the regular Bar/Bench Forum.”

The NBA Lagos Branch chairman also briefed the Chief Judge on the Stamp Scheme initiated by the NBA national leadership as well as other pressing needs of the branch, even as the Chief Judge pledged to “look into” the issues.

Olanipekun who is one of the pillars of the branch, having contributed extensively in the upliftment of young lawyers, traced the genesis of the resurrection of the NBA after the 1996 crisis, noting that all lawyers must join hands to build the profession.