Lagos NBA launches secretariat

The Lagos branch of  the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has said it would launch a N1.2 billion Bar Centre and Secretariat during the 2016 law week. According to the association, about 10 Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs), judges and prominent Nigerians will attend the law week conference.

The event, slated to hold between October 5 and 8, 2016 has the theme: “Judicial Independence and the Democratic Process”.In a briefing, the Committee Chairman, Mr. Oluwakemi Balogun (SAN), said the theme “is germane in the light of perceived assaults on judicial independence, and the deleterious impact such anomaly may have on our nascent democracy.”

He said this year’s Law Week is designed to be the best-ever to be held by the premier and foremost branch of NBA in the country with over 6000 registered members, as it would witness several activities, including a high-profile opening ceremony at the MUSON Centre on Thursday, October 6.

Balogun also said the opening ceremony would be chaired by a former justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, George Oguntade (CFR), while the keynote speaker would be Dr. Olisa Agbakoba (SAN). Dr. Wale Babalakin (SAN) would do justice to the topic, “Judiciary in an Emerging Economy: Challenges and Prospects.”

Also, renowned jurist and secretary of the Presidential Advisory Committee on Corruption, Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye would speak on ‘Financial Due Diligence and Anti-bribery Laws’. 
 

Other discussants for the session include Chairman of United Bank for Africa (UBA), Mr. Tony Elumelu as well as the Human Resources & Corporate Services Executive at MTN Nigeria, Ms. Amina Oyagbola.

According to the Committee Chairman, other topics would be awarded to participants at the Law Week. “Technical and breakout sessions would also hold at the same venue on October 6 and 7,” he stated.

He also said the Law Week would kick-off with visits to Ikoyi and Kirikiri Prisons by the Branch Executive Committee and members of the 2016 Law Week Committee, in addition to a novelty football match at the Campos Stadium, Lagos.

Other activities for the event includes; Independence Dinner at MUSON Centre, where leading members of NBA are expected to support the launch of a building fund towards the N1.2 billion secretariat for the branch.

Dignitaries expected at the event includes: the Director-General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Security Agency, (NIMASA) Dr. Dakuku Peterside, Chairman Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ibrahim Magu, 
former Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase and others.