NGIGE

HOW BUHARI UNVEILED NIGERIAN LAW SCHOOL, PORT HARCOURT CAMPUS (VIDEO)

The Nigerian Law School has witnessed unprecedented revamp of its decayed infrastructure under the leadership of Bar Leader and Chairman of the Council of Legal Education (CLE), Chief Emeka Ngige OFR, SAN. 

The latest addition to the list is the state-of-the-art Dr. Nabo Graham-Douglas SAN Campus, Port Harcourt, built and donated to the Council by Rivers State Government under the leadership of its Governor and Life Bencher, Mr. Nyesom Ezenwo Wike.

Commissioned on November 18, 2022 by President Muhammadu Buhari (who was represented by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister for Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami SAN), the self-sustaining edifice has been adopted by the Council as a model for future campuses of the Nigerian Law School.

Many leaders of the Bar and Bench as well as key stakeholders in the justice sector attended the commissioning ceremony.

To view the ceremony, click here.

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BUHARI, BOSAN, CARDINAL HAIL NGIGE ON NATIONAL HONOUR

President Muhammadu Buhari has given reasons why he conferred the national honour of Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR) on respected Bar Leader and Chairman of the Council of Legal Education, Chief Emeka Ngige (SAN, OFR).

In an “Instrument of Conferment of National Honour” sighted by CITY LAWYER, Buhari stated that the honour was bestowed on the leading litigator “in recognition of your outstanding virtues and in appreciation of your services to our country, Nigeria.”

The honour coincides with the 20 years anniversary of Ngige’s conferment with the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).

Meanwhile, the Body of Senior Advocates of Nigeria (BOSAN) and Peter Ebere Cardinal Okpareke are among several bodies and individuals who have commended Chief Emeka Ngige (SAN, OFR) on the award of national honour of Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR) by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Congratulating Ngige among other members who received national honours, BOSAN wrote: “The Body of Senior Advocates of Nigeria (BOSAN) felicitates its eminent members on being conferred with the National Honour by President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR.”

On his part, Cardinal Okpareke, who is the Bishop of Ekwulobia Diocese of the Catholic Church, stated that “This is a recognition, at the national level, of your contribution to humanity and to Nigeria in a special way.”

Okpareke, who was recently ordained a Cardinal by Pope Francis, stated that “You have contributed to the development of jurisprudence in Nigeria both in your professional career as a lawyer and in your administration of the Council of Legal Education,” adding that “Our prayer is that God who has sustained you and given success to your labors (Ps 90(89):17) will continue to bless you and inspire many more people to take after your example of service to humanity.”

Meanwhile, a group called “Friends of Chief Emeka Ngige, SAN” and comprising about 200 signatories 145 of whom are Senior Advocates of Nigeria, also felicitated with Ngige on the award. The group also donated sundry medical equipment worth millions of naira to support Ngige’s pet project targeted at revamping the moribund infrastructure at the Nigerian Law School.

Others who also commended Ngige on the award include the Council of Legal Education (CLE); Class of 1985 of the Nigerian Law School which is chaired by Ngige; Institute of Chartered Mediators and Conciliators (ICMC); Otu Oka Iwu (Law Society); Dominican University, Ibadan; former Lagos State Police Commissioner, Mr. Fatai Owoseni; Mr. Samuel Zibiri, SAN; Mr. Rotimi Oguneso, SAN and Alor Dinma Initiative (ADI), to name a few.

More encomiums were poured on the respected Bar Leader and member of the Legal Practitioners Privileges Committee (LPPC) at a post-investiture reception which held at Gwarinpa, Abuja. The event was attended by many dignitaries especially judges of the Federal High Court, members and top management of the Council of Legal Education/Nigerian Law School, as well as senior lawyers and government officials.

Among those who attended the reception were former Transport Minister, Chief Chibuike Amaechi; the Chief Judge of Anambra State, Justice Onochie Anyachebelu; Senior Special Assistant (Media & Publicity) to President Muhammadu Buhari, Mr. Garba Shehu; Director-General of Nigerian Law School, Dr. Isa Hayatu Chiroma SAN; Chief Adegboyega Awomolo SAN; Chief (Mrs.) Victoria Awomolo, SAN; Prince Lateef Fagbemi SAN; Mr. Emeka Obegola SAN; former Chairman of Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Lagos Branch, Mr. Chijioke Okoli SAN and his successor-in-office, Mr. Chukwuka Ikwuazom SAN.

Others are HRM Igwe Ebubechukwuzo Collins Chukwumesili, the traditional ruler of Alor; Prof. Samuel Alege, Chairman of Governing Council of Nnamdi Azikiwe University; Mr. Chinedu Akubueze, Clerk of the Senate; Mr. Ahmed Al-mustapha, former Registrar-General of the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), as well as members of the 1985 Nigerian Law School set and 1984 University of Nigeria Enugu Campus (UNEC) Law Class.

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BUHARI DECORATES NGIGE, CLE CHAIR, WITH NATIONAL HONOUR

President Muhammadu Buhari has conferred the national honour of Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR) on the Chairman of Council of Legal Education (CLE), Chief Emeka Ngige (SAN).

Ngige, a foremost Bar Leader, was among the honorees who were bestowed with national honours yesterday by President Buhari at the International Conference Centre, Abuja.

In a letter dated 19th September, 2022, the Minister of Federal Ministry of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, Senator George Akume informed Ngige that “I have the honour to formally inform you that the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, has approved the conferment of the National Honours on you, in the rank of OFR (Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic).”

Ngige is reputed to have had a stellar professional career which remains a benchmark for many lawyers. He was among the pioneer prosecutors engaged by the Federal Government to prosecute matters at the Failed Banks Tribunal (FBT) established in 1994. The Tribunals were set up to curb rising cases of malfeasance and corrupt practices in the banking industry. He secured convictions against many of the accused persons that he prosecuted.

He was also in the team of lawyers engaged by the Federal Government to defend various cases challenging the recovery of the ‘Abacha loot’ at various courts in Nigeria. The legal team was able to secure reversal of various orders and judgments obtained by the claimants which had impeded the recovery of the loot overseas.

For his contributions to the development of Nigeria’s jurisprudence, Ngige was elevated to the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria by the Legal Practitioners Privileges Committee (LPPC) in August 2002.

He was in 2019 appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari as the Chairman of Council of Legal Education (CLE), a body charged with the responsibility of regulating legal education in Nigeria and overseeing the management of the elite Nigerian Law School. His tenure has witnessed significant changes in the infrastructural development of the school in all the six campuses across the country, and relying mainly on support and funding from the private sector, State Governments, MDAs and the alumni classes in line with recommendations of the Steve Oronsaye Committee. His tenure has also witnessed the construction by the Rivers State Government of the state-of-the-art Port Harcourt Campus of the Nigerian Law School, acclaimed as the best centre for legal education in Africa.

Ngige is a member of the Legal Practitioners Privileges Committee (LPPC), a body charged with the responsibility of bestowing the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) on aspirants who have achieved distinction in the legal profession. He is also a member of the Body of Benchers, a body of legal practitioners with the highest distinction. Until May this year, Ngige was a Non-Executive Director at Air Peace Limited, one of Africa’s leading airlines.

Ngige has held many positions in the Nigerian Bar Association and Body of Senior Advocates of Nigeria (BOSAN), including being a representative of NBA at the Body of Benchers (BoB). He was elected Publicity Secretary (1995-1996) and Secretary (1996-1998) of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Lagos Branch. From1991 to 2016, he served as a co-opted member of the NBA National Executive Committee (NEC). He was in 1990 appointed a Notary Public by then Chief Justice of Nigeria, Mohammed Bello. He holds the chieftaincy title of Ikemba N’Alor.

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NATIONAL HONOURS: BUHARI TO DECORATE NGIGE, MAIKYAU, OLANIPEKUN, OZEKHOME, OTHERS OCT. 11 (FULL LIST)

ALSO LISTED: DONGBAN-MENSEM, TSOHO, KANYIP, AYO SALAMI, ISHAQ BELLO, MALAMI, FASHOLA, BOSS MUSTAPHA, OKOCHA, SAGAY, BANIRE, ALLEN ONYEMA, AJOGWU, OSUMAN, GIDADO ….

The Chairman of the Council of Legal Education (CLE), Chief Emeka Ngige SAN is among the 437 honorees who are set to be bestowed with National Honours by President Muhammadu Buhari at the State House, Abuja on October 11, 2022.

In a letter obtained by CITY LAWYER and dated 19th September, 2022, the Minister of Federal Ministry of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, Senator George Akume informed Ngige that “I have the honour to formally inform you that the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, has approved the conferment of the National Honours on you, in the rank of OFR (Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic).”

Among prominent lawyers who have also been listed for the national honours are Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) President, Mr. Yakubu Maikyau SAN; Chairman of the Body of Benchers, Chief Wole Olanipekun SAN; Ondo State Governor, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu SAN, and the Executive Secretary of National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Mr. Tony Ojukwu SAN.

The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola and Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) are among only five Nigerians to receive one of the highest honours of Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON), even as a total of 437 honorees have been penciled down for the 2022 National Honours Award.

While 54 honorees will receive the Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR) award, 67 honorees will be awarded the Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) medal. Others are 64 honorees for Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR), 101 for Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON), 75 honorees for Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR), 56 for Member of the Order of the Niger (MON) and eight for Federal Republic Medal (FRM).

PREMIUM TIMES reports that other recipients include serving and former governors, serving and former presiding officers of the National Assembly, serving and former Chief Justices of Nigeria and serving and former members of the National Assembly. Others are serving and former service chiefs, traditional rulers, retired public servants, lawyers, philanthropists, businessmen, ministers and members of the academia.

GCON
Apart from Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala, the other recipients of the GCON are the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan; Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kayode Ariwoola, his predecessor; Justice Tanko Muhammad and UN Deputy Secretary General; Amina Mohammed.

CFR
Prominent on the list of recipients for CFR include Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila; Chief of Defence Staff, Lucky Irabor; former Speaker, Yakubu Dogara, and Appeal Court president, Monica Mensem, and former Army Chief, Tukur Buratai. Others are Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali, his predecessor, Mohammed Adamu, Emir of Lafia, Sidi Bage, and Tor Tiv, James Ayatse, among others.

OFR
Nominees in this category include Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, Ignatius Kaigama, CEO of the NNPCL, Mele Kyari, Nasiru Bayero and Muiz Banire. Others are Ishaq Bello, Aliyu El-Nafaty and Kehinde Aina, among others.

OON
Some nominees in this category include National Assembly members such as Alhassan Doguwa, Muktar Betara, Ndudi Elumelu and Nkiruka Onyejeocha. Others are a former Permanent Secretary, Sunday Echono, NBA President Yakubu Maikyau, Sarki Abba and Sabiu (Tunde) Yusuf, among others.

MFR
In this category are Sanusi Lemu, late DIGJoseph Egunike (posthumous), Haliru Nababa and Burna Boy. Others are Simon Shango, Billy Okoye, Akwa Okon and Emeka Agbanari, among others.

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  • EMEKA NWADIOKE
  • Mar 31, 2022
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‘THE FUTURE OF LAWYERS AND LEGAL EDUCATION,’ BY EMEKA NGIGE

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) recently organised a “Legal Education Summit” in collaboration with the Afe Babalola University. In a Goodwill Message to the Summit, Chairman of Council of Legal Education (CLE), CHIEF EMEKA NGIGE SAN embarks on a tour de force on efforts to rejig legal education in Nigeria and warns that scrapping the entire edifice in pointing to the future is not an option

A Goodwill Message By Chief Emeka Ngige, SAN, Chairman, Council of Legal Education to Legal Education Summit 2022, Organised by the Nigerian Bar Association in collaboration with Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti. 29 -30 March 2022

Theme: Re-Imagining Legal Education In Nigeria

✓ The Vice President, Federal Republic of Nigeria;
✓ State Governors Here Present particularly Governor of Ekiti State;
✓ The Hon Chief Justice of Nigeria;
✓ Hon Chief Judges of States in Nigeria Here present;
✓ Hon Justices and Judges of Superior Courts in Nigeria;
✓ The Hon Attorney-General & Minister of Justice;
✓ Hon Attorneys-General of States Here Present;
✓ The President, NBA;
✓ Hon Benchers Present;
✓ Senior Advocates of Nigeria Present;
✓ The Chairman, Legal Education Summit 2022;
✓ Distinguished members of the Council of legal Education Here present;
✓ The Director-General, Nigeria Law School;
✓ Vice Chancellors of Federal, State and Private Universities in Nigeria;
✓ Resource Resource Persons, Panelists and Facilitators of this Summit;
✓ Members, Nigerian Bar Association Here Present;
✓ All Invited Guests:
✓ Ladies and Gentlemen

I am delighted to have been invited to be a part of this Summit. I thank the President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mr. Olumide Akpata, for inviting me, and the Proprietor of Afe Babalola University (ABUAD), Aare Afe Babalola, CON, OFR, SAN, and the entire Management of Afe Babalola University, for collaborating with the NBA to deliver this great Summit, and for hosting the Summit.

I especially commend the leadership and membership of the Nigerian Bar Association for putting together a summit of this nature at such an auspicious time, aimed to assist in advancing legal education in Nigeria. As we all are aware, the NBA is a major stakeholder in the legal education project in Nigeria. First, and pursuant to the provisions of section 2(1) (e) and (f) of Legal Education (Consolidation) Act, Cap L10 LFN 2004, the NBA President and 15 other NBA representatives are members of Council of Legal Education. Second, by virtue of Article 3 of the NBA Constitution, 2015, among the major objectives of the Nigerian Bar Association are promotion and advancement of Legal Education, Continuing Legal Education, Advocacy and Jurisprudence, and Promotion of co-operation between the NBA and other National Institutions. Such national institutions include the Council of Legal Education/Nigerian Law School, Universities and institutions engaged in legal education of aspirants to the Nigerian Bar. Third, most, if not all, law students in Nigeria will end up as Legal Practitioners and as such members of the NBA and of the legal profession in Nigeria; all members of the Bar and the Bench were at one time or another law students. By virtue of section 4(1)(a) of the NBA Constitution, all persons called to the Nigerian Bar and duly enrolled at the Supreme Court of Nigeria as legal practitioners are members of the NBA. Accordingly, progress or otherwise in legal education directly impacts the legal profession. Whatever happens in the legal education sector should be of serious interest to the NBA because failure in the former would seriously hinder progress, effectiveness and continued relevance of the latter in the country.

Furthermore, under Rule 11 of the Rules of Professional Conduct for Legal Practitioners in Nigeria, the NBA has some roles to play in the requirement of Mandatory Continuing Legal Education in the profession. Continuing Legal Education is an offshoot of the legal training of aspirants to the bar. Moreover, the NBA President is next to the Attorney-General of the Federation in the leader ship hierarchy of the Nigerian Bar, which comprises former law students, all Law Teachers, heads of the Council of Legal education, the Nigerian law School, the various Law Faculties in Nigeria, the heads of other law legal education training institutions in Nigeria. Finally, the NBA President, in the absence of a substantive Chairman of the Council of Legal Education, acts as the Acting Chairman. There is therefore no doubt that the NBA being s critical stakeholder in the legal education project in Nigeria, has the locus to organise a summit of this nature.

Legal education which comprises in the education of individuals in the principles, practices, and theory of law, is dynamic and all-encompassing, cutting across several jurisdictions, concepts, processes and stages, the overall aim being that of serving society liberally by imparting general and cultural education to law students to make them good law-abiding citizens, as well as instilling in them the significance and relevance of constitutional democratic culture. According to Harvard Law School’s Committee of Legal Education, legal education lays emphasis on training men for the legal profession, and providing centers where scholars might contribute to an understanding of law and government and participate creatively in growth and improvement of law, ethics and governance. To this end, legal education in the 21st century must be one that effectively responds to the economical, technological, and societal shifts that happen at an ever-increasing pace. It must be an education that sets children up to succeed in a world where more than half of the jobs they will have over their careers do not even exist yet (Sara Hallerman, Colon Lewis, and Brad Dresbach). Finally, as recommended by the New Teaching Curriculum in the Nigerian Law School, 21st century legal education in Nigeria is also aimed at producing lawyers who would be in a position to measure up to contemporary benchmarks and international best practices in the legal profession.

I am aware of the efforts so far made by the Council of Legal Education, and the Management and Teachers of the Nigerian Law School, as well as by past and current NBA leaderships towards encouraging a strong partnership between the Bar and the Council of Legal Education/Nigerian Law School in the practical training of aspirants to the Nigerian Bar with a view to meeting the needs of the 21st century. I recognize that a lot of progress has been made in this respect. I salute Law Teachers in the Law School, in the various law faculties and other other institutions that offer legal education in Nigeria. In their individual and collective capacities, Law Teachers in Nigeria have contributed towards the academic, professional and personal development of lawyers and law practice in Nigeria. However, a lot still needs to be done. Legal education needs to continually and consistently develop in order to remain relevant to the needs of a dynamic society. There is need for continuous and concerted efforts by all stakeholders at strengthening existing partnerships and collaboration with a view to improving on the quality of legal education. There is also a need for reorientation in our profession and there is no better place for this to start, than from the foundation, which is our legal education. This is why I consider this summit timely and the theme apt: “Re-Imagining Legal Education In Nigeria”.

Further, with the outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, and following the devastating and dislocating aftermaths of the pandemic, diverse opinions on the concept of legal education have emerged. The pandemic stretched its tentacles into diverse facets of life; the educational sector (including legal education) being among the worst-hard-hit; the pandemic exposed many weaknesses of existing systems, processes and procedures in legal education, especially in developing segments of the worlds, of which Nigeria is a part. As a form of response to the upshots of the pandemic, stakeholders in education began to explore new, alternative, and dynamic means of teaching and learning to avoid a repeat of the quagmire the restriction occasioned by Covid-19 had caused the world. The legal education sector, managers and stakeholders have no choice than to begin to explore new concepts, more dynamic, pragmatic and responsive teaching and learning methods and systems, In summary, reform, reinvention and re-imagining has become necessary to enable legal education in Nigeria key fully into what is now regarded all over the world as the “new normal”. In November 2021, the Federal Republic of Ghana held a summit of this nature under the them: “The Future of Legal Education in Ghana” and came up with a communique, which is expected to be followed up with necessary reforms to realise the objectives of the summit.

The above said, a very critical development in the legal education sector which this summit should pay serious and elaborate attention to is the recent development in respect of the Nigerian Law School. It should be noted that the Nigerian Law school currently has seven campuses. However, in an unprecedented move, the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria recently passed a Bill to establish six additional Campuses of Nigerian Law School. The decision of the Senate completely brushed aside opposing/contrary advice and views by the Honourable Attorney-General of the Federation, the Council of Legal Education, Nigerian Law School, the Nigerian Bar Association and other major stakeholders in the legal education sector in Nigeria. The extant law, the Legal Education (Consolidation) Act, in its section 1(2) and section 3 respectively confers on the Council of Lgal Education the “responsibility for the legal education of persons seeking to become members of the legal profession” and for “Continuing Legal Education”. By the combined effect section 2(5) and section 4 of the Act, the Council may “do such things as it considers expedient for the purpose of performing its functions” subject to general directions by the Hon Attorney-General of the Federation. Thus, the dissenting advice and views of the Council, of the Hon AGF, of the NBA and of some other stakeholders were based mainly on the reasonable realisation that establishment of additional Campuses for the Nigerian Law School are better left in the hands of the Council in collaboration with the NLS as administrative matters to be guided by expediency and need, among other factors. The Council of Legal Education, the Management of the Nigerian Law School, among other stakeholders are better -placed to make/take decisions in this respect. There is an adage that “he who wears the shoes knows where it pinches”. Besides, most of the existing seven Campuses of the Law School are in dire need of urgent infrastructure upgrade which on its part requires greater funding from government and stakeholders. It is hoped that these should be principal among what occupies the attention of stakeholders, rather suggestions for establishment of too many additional Campuses (at the same time), some of which may end up being not viable, as a result of paucity of funds and dearth of basic infrastructure. Finally, the Council’s views were guided partly by its belief that increased funding for the Nigerian Law School would bring about the needed upgrade in the Campuses, to adequately serve the need of growing number of aspirants to the Bar seeking admission to the Law School. It is hoped also that this Summit should subject the recent Bill passed by the Senate, among other issues, to rigorous discussions in order to come up with recommendations that would best serve the best interest of legal education, the legal profession, and the Nigerian nation.

At this juncture, it is pertinent to recall that in an effort to improve legal education, especially the practical training of aspirants to the Bar, the Council of Legal Education under the Chairmanship of Hon Justice M.O Onalaja (of blessed memory), had in 2008 constituted a Legal Education Review Committee, headed by Mrs Funke Adekoya, SAN. Other members of the Committee included Prof Yemi Osinbajo SAN (as he then was); Mr. Olisa Agbakoba, SAN; Prof Fidelis Oditah, SAN, QC; Mr. AB. Mahmoud, SAN; Mr. Ernest Ojukwu (then DDG and Head, NLS, Enugu Campus); Mr. Olanrewaju Onadeko (then DDG and Head, NLS, Lagos Campus); Mr. Nasiru Usman (then DDG and Head, NLS, Kano Campus); Prof. I.O Smith (Faculty of Law, UNILAG); Dr. Isa H. Chiroma (then, Dean Law Faculty, UNIMAID) and Mrs. Roli Hariman (then lecturer, Nigerian Law School).

The Committee had called for memoranda from all stakeholders in the legal education project in Nigeria. The Committee considered all memoranda received as well as all presentations made at the Legal Education Summit 2006 which had held in Abuja on March 03, 2006 under the theme:“The Future of Legal Education in Nigeria”. Also considered were reports and recommendations of the “National Committee on the Reform of Legal Education in Nigeria”. The Committee paid a visit several institutions, including the College of Law and the BPP Law School both in London England and the findings aided the work of the Committee (see: Ernest Ojukwu, Legal Education In Nigeria: A Chronicle Of Reforms And Transformation Under Tahir Mamman).

The result of the Committee’s work was positive; the Committee made far-reaching recommendations on reform and improvement of legal education in Nigeria. I am aware that the Committee’s recommendations had led to, among others, the birth in 2008, of a “New Teaching Curriculum” for the Nigerian Law School, a curriculum, which I am told, has been reviewed more than five times, to keep it in tune with developments in law, the legal profession, the legal education sector in Nigeria and across the globe. Thus, tremendous efforts have been made in the past. It is time to build on past and current efforts in order to move legal education to the next level. This Summit present a great opportunity in this respect.

Moreover, the law setting up Council Legal Education needs to be reviewed to reflect current realities and needs of the profession and the sector. To this end, the NBA has presented before the Body of Benchers, a draft Bill on Legal Education in Nigeria in Nigeria, which Bill seeks, inter alia, to create a Council of Legal Education that will be separate from Nigerian Law School and other private Law Schools to be established. It is hoped that this development will be among the matters that will be subjected to thorough and dispassionate examination and debates at this Summit, with a view to proffering recommendations on what is the best-suited for the profession, the sector and the nation, without destroying past and present efforts and achievements, without lowering standards, and without dislocating the fabrics and core values of the profession/sector. It is therefore my hope that deliberations and recommendations of this Summit should proceed on the notion that proposed improvements or reform or re-imaging of legal education in Nigeria can only yield more effective results and quickly if those proposed improvements acknowledge and are founded on past and existing efforts and achievements. Existing structures and achievements will provide a solid foundation to future improvements. We may not have not got to where should be. But, no doubt, we have left where we used to be. However, without continual continual collaboration, sand improvement, such things as growth and progress, achievement, and success have no meaning. I recall the counsel by Henry Ford, founder of the Ford Motor Company: “Coming together is a beginning, staying together is progress, and working together is success.”

In conclusion, let me assure this Summit and all participants that the Council of Legal Education will seriously consider any communique/recommendations emanating from this summit, to ensure that this effort is not in vain.

Thank you, and God bless you abundantly

Signed:
Chief Emeka Ngige, SAN,
Chairman, Council of Legal Education, Nigeria

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  • EMEKA NWADIOKE
  • Mar 21, 2022
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NIGERIAN LAW SCHOOL PORT HARCOURT GETS DDG

The Council of Legal Education (CLE), the proprietor of the Nigeria Law School, has appointed a Deputy Director-General (DDG) to head its newly created campus at Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

The new appointee is Mr.  Chinonso Uzodinma  Mmuozoba, a renowned author, teacher and current Director of Academics at Bwari campus of the institution.

CITY LAWYER gathered that the Council at its recent meeting presided over by its Chairman and respected Bar Leader, Chief Emeka Ngige (SAN) “unanimously approved the recommendation of Prof.  Isa Chiroma led management that Mr. Mmuozoba be appointed as a DDG and posted to Graham Douglas campus.”

The multi-billion naira Port Harcourt campus with state-of-the-art facilities is named after late Dr. Nabo Graham Douglas (SAN) and is being constructed by Rivers State Government under the leadership of Governor Nyesom Wike, a Life Bencher. The commissioning of the campus is projected to hold in June.

CITY LAWYER gathered that construction work at the campus is ongoing on a 24-hourly basis and has reached advanced stage. When commissioned, about 1500 Bar Part II students for the 2022/2023 academic session  would be posted to the brand new campus.

Mmuozoba, reputed as a Bar-man par excellence, was admitted to the Nigerian Bar in 1995. He was a member of the Continuing Legal Education Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Awka Branch. He joined the Nigeria Law School in 2001 and has held the positions of Director and Head of Academics, Dr. Augustine Nnamani Campus, Enugu as well as Head, Department of Civil Litigation, Professional Ethics & Legal Skills, Corporate Law Practice respectively.

The erudite law teacher popularly called ‘Onyenkuzi Mmuozoba’ is married with children.

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  • EMEKA NWADIOKE
  • Mar 13, 2022
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  • Comments Off on ADEKOYA RETIRES FROM AELEX, NGIGE HAILS LEGAL ICON

ADEKOYA RETIRES FROM AELEX, NGIGE HAILS LEGAL ICON

BY EMEKA NWADIOKE

Pre-eminent senior lawyer and Bar Leader, Mrs. Funke Adekoya SAN is set to retire from AELEX, a leading Tier-1 law firm she co-founded with four partners almost 18 years ago. This is coming against the backdrop of her attainment of the age of 70 years.

Perhaps pre-empting her retirement, Adekoya wrote in July 2020 on Twitter: “Time flies when you’re having fun! Glad to have been a part of this dream. Looking forward (with some trepidation I must confess) to the next step in the strategy plan – retirement! Many more mountains to climb!! #Lawfirmmanagement. #Strategy. https://lnkd.in/eNhQybh.”

Meanwhile, the legal industry has been agog with effusive encomiums on the respected legal amazon and globally acclaimed arbitrator. Extolling the virtues of the former Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) First Vice President, the Chairman of the Council of Legal Education (CLE), Chief Emeka Ngige (SAN) described her as “a great Amazon at the Bar.”

According to Ngige, “I took interest in Mrs. Adekoya when she contested and was re-elected as the National Treasurer of NBA at the 1991 NBA Annual General Conference held at Owerri. Her Treasurer’s report shook the conference to its foundations. Since then Mrs. Adekoya has remained a beacon of conscience and integrity at the Bar.”

Not done with his lavish praise, Ngige said: “As the 1st Vice President under Chief Wole Olanipekun’s able leadership she proposed the introduction of Stamp and Seal by the NBA to check the activities of fake lawyers. She has also contributed immensely to the improvement in the standard of legal education when she served as a member of the Council of Legal Education. She did her utmost best to raise the Bar in the legal profession with the setting up of one of the best law firms in Africa.”

Concluding, the CLE Chairman and former NBA presidential candidate said: “As Madam Funke clocks 70 and retires from active legal practice, I join her numerous well wishers and brothers in wishing her a joyful birthday, many happier returns, sound health, greater heights and peace of mind! I am very proud to be associated with her.”

Adekoya is a founding Partner at the firm and heads the Dispute Resolution Practice Group. Appointed Notary Public in 1986 and elevated to the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) in 2001, Adekoya has almost 50 years experience in Litigation and Arbitration. As a Litigator, she represents clients regularly before the Nigerian courts at all levels. She also provides expert opinions and has appeared as an expert witness on Nigerian law issues before the courts of England, United States and Turkey.

In the field of arbitration, she represents both local and transnational parties as counsel in domestic and international arbitration proceedings within Nigeria and abroad and has acted in numerous disputes as either party appointed Arbitrator, Sole Arbitrator or Presiding Arbitrator. She lectures regularly on arbitration law and procedure and has been approved by the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators as a Tutor at the Associate to Fellowship Course level.

A LLM graduate of the prestigious Harvard Law School, Boston, Massachusetts, Adekoya is regularly listed by leading global ranking entities as a go-to lawyer, especially in litigation and arbitration. She is ranked Band 1 (Dispute Resolution) by Chambers and Partners; Thought Leader (Arbitration) by Who’s Who Legal; “Most Outstanding Female Legal Practitioner” by Financial Standard Newspaper of the Year 2007, and “Most Outstanding Female Legal Practitioner” by Women Entrepreneurs African of the Year 2007 Network.

Reflecting on her service to the Sanctions Board of The World Bank Group, the board wrote that she “brought a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the Sanctions Board in the past years, ”adding that she “made deep contributions to the jurisprudence of the Sanctions Board and the World Bank Group’s anti-corruption agenda.”

Aside from being a former Chair of the NBA Section on Legal Practice (NBA-SLP), CITY LAWYER recalls that it was Adekoya – as Chair of an NBA Lagos Branch committee – who recommended litigation against the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and Attorney General of the Federation when the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) sought to compel lawyers to make reports on their clients to the Special Control Unit against Money Laundering (SCUML). The recommendation was unanimously endorsed by NBA-NEC. Both the trial court and Court of Appeal gave judgement in favour of NBA. It is not clear whether any further appeal is pending on the matter.

Adekoya who is the President of International Lawyers for Africa (ILFA) is frequently appointed to arbitral tribunals, either as sole or party-appointed arbitrator conducting proceedings under the rules of the ICC, ICSID, UNCITRAL and LMAA. Arbitrations in which she has been involved range from disputes arising from gas sales agreements, oil rig supply contracts to joint ventures in construction and real estate.

Her recent appointments have been in disputes brought under the ambit of either a BIT or an investment agreement. She was most recently appointed by the State party as arbitrator in an investment dispute between the purchasers of a monopoly electricity producer and the State in one case and in another case, the dispute was between an investor alleging breach of a mining contract by a State and the subsequent cancellation of the investor’s mining licence. She also advises clients on award enforcement issues within Nigeria and leads the counsel team in arbitration-related litigation.

Adekoya is a Fellow and has achieved chartered arbitrator status at the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, London and has served as the Chair of its Nigerian Branch. She was a founding Board Member of the Lagos Court of Arbitration (LCA) and a former member and a past Vice President of the Court of Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) in Paris.

Her other memberships include the London Court of International Arbitration African Users Council and the Cairo Regional Centre for International Commercial Arbitration where she sits on the Board of Trustees. She is also a member and past Vice President of the Governing Board of the International Council for Commercial Arbitration, in addition to being a member of the African Users Council of the Singapore International Arbitration Centre. She is a member of the Arbitration Foundation of South Africa’s International Arbitration Rules Drafting Committee’s Advisory Board and the International Appointments Committee of the Scottish Arbitration Centre.

A Life Bencher, Adekoya is listed on various panels, including the ICSID Chairman’s Panel of Arbitrators; those of CIETAC, the Kigali International Arbitration Centre, the Lagos Regional Centre for International Commercial Arbitration and the Panel of Neutrals of both the Lagos Multi-Door Courthouse and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).

She has been invited to conduct arbitration training courses in Accra, Ghana and Kigali, Rwanda and is a regular speaker on arbitration law and practice both within and outside Nigeria.

Adekoya holds both Nigerian and British nationality and in addition to her being called to the Nigerian bar, she is qualified as a Solicitor in England and Wales. She is a member of the Nigerian Bar Association, International Bar Association (IBA), International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (UK) and LCIA African Users Council.

Copyright 2022 CITY LAWYER. Please send emails to citylawyermag@gmail.com. Join us on Facebook at https://web.facebook.com/City-Lawyer-Magazine-434937936684320 and on TWITTER at https://twitter.com/CityLawyerMag. To ADVERTISE in CITY LAWYER, please email citylawyermag@gmail.com or call 08138380083. All materials available on this Website are protected by copyright, trade mark and other proprietary and intellectual property laws. You may not use any of our intellectual property rights without our express written consent or attribution to www.citylawyermag.com. However, you are permitted to print or save to your individual PC, tablet or storage extracts from this Website for your own personal non-commercial use.

  • EMEKA NWADIOKE
  • Dec 11, 2021
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  • Comments Off on BREAKING: BUHARI REAPPOINTS CHIROMA AS LAW SCHOOL DG

BREAKING: BUHARI REAPPOINTS CHIROMA AS LAW SCHOOL DG

President Muhammadu Buhari has reappointed Prof. Isa Chiroma SAN as the Director-General of the Nigerian Law School for another term of four years effective January 10, 2022.

CITY LAWYER gathered that news of Chiroma’s reappointment was broken to members of the Council of Legal Education (CLE) by its Chairman, Chief Emeka Ngige SAN at the council’s extraordinary quarterly virtual meeting last Tuesday.

A source at the meeting told CITY LAWYER that Ngige congratulated the renowned scholar on his reappointment, urging him to use his second tenure to consolidate on his achievements and take the Nigerian Law School to the next level of development. Members of the council then took turns to congratulate Chiroma while praying for his success.

It is recalled that Chiroma was in 2017 appointed by Buhari for an initial four-year term, replacing former Director-General, Mr. Olanrewaju Onadeko SAN following his retirement. He is a Professor of Law and was until his initial appointment the Deputy Director in-charge of the Yola Campus of the Nigerian Law School.

The respected jurist was born on 13th April, 1963 in Mubi, Mubi North Local Government of Adamawa State. He attended Mubi I Primary School from 1970-1976, Government Secondary School/Government Technical School, Mubi from 1976-1981. He holds LL.B. (Hons.) Degree, Second Class (Upper) from University of Maiduguri (1986), LL.M. (1991) and Ph.D. in Law (2005) from University of Jos.

Chiroma was admitted to the Nigerian Bar in March 1988 and joined the Faculty of Law, University of Maiduguri same year as Assistant Lecturer. He rose through the ranks to the rank of a Professor of Law in 2005. He was at various times Head of the Department of Shari’ah, Public Law, Deputy Dean, Dean of Law and Director, Consultancy Services Centre, University of Maiduguri. He was the Founder and Coordinator, Clinical Legal Education Programme as well as member of the University Senate and various standing and ad hoc committees at various times.

While in the university, he taught Constitutional Law, Administrative Law, Islamic Jurisprudence, and Islamic Family Law at the undergraduate level. He also taught Human Rights, Environmental Law and Policy and Humanitarian Law at the postgraduate level. He has supervised a substantial number of Masters and PhD candidates. His research interest includes Human Rights, Humanitarian Law, Environmental Law and Policy, Access to Justice, Ethics in the teaching and practice of Law and Law and Development.

Chiroma is a member of many professional bodies including the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), International Bar Association (IBA), African Law Association of Germany, Society for Corporate Governance, Global Alliance for Justice Education (GAJE), and Nigerian Institute of Mediators and Conciliators. He is a Fellow of the Institute Management Consultants and the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators. He is also a Notary Public.
Chiroma has attended several trainings and conferences including Intensive Training Course on Environmental Law and Policy organized by Centre for Environmental Management and Planning held at Aberdeen, Scotland (1997); The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Training Programme in Environmental Law and Policy held at the United Nations Environment Programme Headquarters, Nairobi, Kenya (1997); the University of IOWA WiderNet Project (Technician Training Workshop) for National Universities Commission, organized by the University of IOWA WiderNet Project, Abuja (2001); First African Clinical Law Teachers Training Workshop organized by University of Kwazulu-Natal, Open Society Justice Initiative (OSJI) and Open Society Institute (2004); Workshop on Management and Leadership Development for Good Governance of Nigerian Universities (2006); Third African Clinical Legal Education Teacher Training Workshop organized by University of Kwazulu-Natal and Open Society Justice Initiative (OSJI), held at Durban South Africa from 20th -24th November 2006.

Others are the 1st All African Clinician Round Table held in Cape Town, South Africa (2007); Conference on Human Rights organized by the Danish Institute of Human Rights in Rwanda; Commonwealth Legal Education Conference in Nairobi, Kenya, (2007); World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Regional Workshop on Intellectual Property and Technology Management for Universities, organized by World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) in collaboration with National Office of Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP) and Federal Ministry of Science and Technology of Nigeria, held at (2008); All African Course on International Humanitarian Law (IHL), organized by International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Pretoria, and Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria (2009); Certificate Course in Basic MS Office 2010 Application and Internet Productivity Tool organized by the African Centre for ICT Innovation and Training, American University of Nigeria (AUN), 2013 and Certificate Course in Research Paper Writing, organized by the African Centre for ICT Innovation and Training, American University of Nigeria (AUN), 2014.

He also attended a Certificate Course in IPad Basics organized by the African Centre for ICT Innovation and Training, American University of Nigeria (AUN), December 2014; Legal Writing Course (Learned Writing) organized by the Write House (Legal Writing Consultants & Trainers), 2015; Executive Certificate in Information Management (Information Project Management, Computer Application for Managers and Executives, System Dynamics, Internet and E-Commerce organized by the African Centre for ICT Innovation and Training, American University of Nigeria (AUN), 2015; Global Alliance for Justice Education (GAJE) Conferences and Trainings in India, Philippines and Turkey.

Chiroma is a member of Editorial Boards of many peer review academic journals and has served on accreditation teams of both National Universities Commission (NUC) and Council of Legal Education (CLE) to many universities. He has also served as External Examiner and Professorial Assessor to many Universities within and outside Nigeria. He has published widely; he is a co-author of Handbook on Prison Pre-Trial Detainee Law Clinic; a contributor of “Islam, Islamic Law and Human Rights in the Nigerian Context” in Islam and Human Rights, published by Peter Lang, Frankfurt, Germany, and “Making Justice Available to the Poor through Development Cooperation: A Case Study of University of Maiduguri Law Clinic,” published in Administration of Justice in Africa: Effectiveness, Acceptance and Assistance by Rudger Koppe Verlag Koln, Deutschland; Human Rights under the Military Rule in Nigeria, published in the Review of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights by the African Society of International and Comparative Law among others.

In addition to his teaching and scholarly activities, he served as a Legal Consultant to the Federal Ministry of Environment on Integrated Ecosystems Management Project in the Trans-boundary Area between Nigeria and Niger Republic (Legislation); United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) on Environmental Law and Policy; Legal Research and Resource Development Centre (LRRDC) on Reproductive Health and Rights; National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) on Review of NAFDAC Laws on Counterfeit and Fake Drugs and Unwholesome Products Foods (Miscellaneous Provisions) 2010, and Consultant to the Nigerian Law School on Legal Education Capacity Building Projects (IT Infrastructure Standards Assessment of the Campuses). He was a member of Presidential Advisory Committee on Prerogative of Mercy from 2005-2009; Member, Council of Legal Education; Member, Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (NIALS), and Member, Legal Practitioners Privileges Committee for the Selection of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) from academics. He was a member of Committee for the review of Legal Education in Nigeria, Commonwealth Legal Education Representative in Nigeria, and member of Vision 20: 2020. He is currently a Member of the Governing Council, Federal Polytechnic, Mubi.

Chiroma was the founding Deputy Director-General and Head of Yola Campus of the Nigerian Law School from 2011-2016. He is happily married with children.

Copyright 2020 CITY LAWYER. Please send emails to citylawyermag@gmail.com. Join us on Facebook at https://web.facebook.com/City-Lawyer-Magazine-434937936684320 and on TWITTER at https://twitter.com/CityLawyerMag. To ADVERTISE in CITY LAWYER, please email citylawyermag@gmail.com or call 08138380083. All materials available on this Website are protected by copyright, trade mark and other proprietary and intellectual property laws. You may not use any of our intellectual property rights without our express written consent or attribution to www.citylawyermag.com. However, you are permitted to print or save to your individual PC, tablet or storage extracts from this Website for your own personal non-commercial use.

  • EMEKA NWADIOKE
  • Nov 17, 2021
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  • Comments Off on SENATORS, NBA, NGIGE, FALANA DISAGREE ON NEW LAW SCHOOL CAMPUSES

SENATORS, NBA, NGIGE, FALANA DISAGREE ON NEW LAW SCHOOL CAMPUSES

The Council for Legal Education, Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Body of Benchers and some Senators have rejected a proposal by the Senate to create additional six Nigerian Law School campuses in the country.

They made their views known during a public hearing on a bill that seeks to establish one campus of the school in each geopolitical zone of the country organised by the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, in Abuja.

The Bill titled: “Legal Education (Consolidated etc, Amendment) Bill 2021,” was sponsored by Senator Smart Adeyemi, representing Kogi West.

The Senators that opposed the Bill were Ike Ekweremadu (Enugu West) and Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa West).

However, Senators that supported the Bill include Smart Adeyemi, Abiodun Olujimi (Ekiti South) and Kashim Shettima (Borno Central).

They argued that the establishment of the proposed six law schools will greatly enhance access to legal education in the country.

While Ekweremadu warned against any attempt to politicise the establishment of Law School campuses in Nigeria, Dickson urged his colleagues to tread cautiously.

Ekweremadu said: “The establishment of new campuses or Law Schools should be left at the discretion of the Council for Legal Education that is empowered by the Act that established it in 1962”.

On his part, NBA President Olumide Akpata (SAN) said the move was unnecessary as the existing six campuses of the school were grossly underfunded before the intervention of the Rivers State Government that built a well-equipped campus in Port Harcourt.

“With required infrastructure, the existing law schools across the country are enough to accommodate thousands of law students graduating from the various universities.

The Chairman of the Council for Legal Education, Emeka Ngige SAN, said the council is 100 per cent opposed to the move to create the six additional law schools.

Ngige said the position of the Council was informed by the deplorable condition of most of the existing ones due to gross underfunding.

“For instance, the deplorable condition in which students at the Yenagoa law campus are studying is worse than what prisoners in Ikoyi Prison are experiencing,” Ngige said.

He told the lawmakers that they will shed tears if they visit some of the existing campuses and see the deplorable conditions in which students and lecturers are living.

“The move by the Senate through this bill is more or less subtle usurpation of the functions of the Council for Legal Education.

“Any need for establishment of a new law school campus, is by law, to be routed through the Council for Legal Education as exemplified by the Rivers Model,” he stressed.

But activist-lawyer Femi Falana, SAN, supported the establishment of additional six law school campuses in all the geopolitical zones.

THE NATION reports Falana as saying: “It is important to clarify certain facts: the Council for Legal Education Act, was enacted in 1962 for the creation of one law school.

“Nowhere in the Act was it provided that we are going to have a multi-campus institution; it is important for our colleagues to realise that in 1999, we had six batches of students who had no place to go, they contacted me and I had to go to court.

“The law building of the law school in Lagos had already been sold to a businessman who wanted to turn it into a hotel when the school moved to Abuja.

“It was only one campus not until I went to court and we got an injunction restraining the government from selling the law school in Lagos.”

Copyright 2020 CITY LAWYER. Please send emails to citylawyermag@gmail.com. Join us on Facebook at https://web.facebook.com/City-Lawyer-Magazine-434937936684320 and on TWITTER at https://twitter.com/CityLawyerMag. To ADVERTISE in CITY LAWYER, please email citylawyermag@gmail.com or call 08138380083. All materials available on this Website are protected by copyright, trade mark and other proprietary and intellectual property laws. You may not use any of our intellectual property rights without our express written consent or attribution to www.citylawyermag.com. However, you are permitted to print or save to your individual PC, tablet or storage extracts from this Website for your own personal non-commercial use.

OPUTA MENTORING: CJ, GADZAMA, AGABI, NGIGE, OTHERS LIFT YOUNG LAWYERS

J-K Gadzama LLP has held its 6th edition of the “Honourable Justice Chukwudifu Oputa JSC Professional Training and Mentoring Programme for Young Lawyers.”

The event which held between April 23 and 25 was chaired by the Chief Judge of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Hon. Justice Salisu Garba while Chief Kanu Godwin Agabi (SAN, CON), former Attorney General and Minister of Justice of the Federation, delivered the Keynote Address.

The discussants included Mr. Muyiwa Oyetola Atoyebi (SAN), the youngest recipient of the rank of senior advocate and Managing Partner at Omaplex Law firm; Mrs. Dianne Okoko (FCIArb), Partner at Marcus Okoko & Co.; Mrs. Toyin Bashir, Partner at Banwo and Ighodalo, and Mr. Darlington Onyekwere, Partner at J-K Gadzama LLP. The hybrid event was well attended by lawyers who fell within the range of zero to 10 years at the Bar.

Participants were treated to a networking cocktail on Day One of the mentorship programme while Day Two witnessed the main event which was the mentoring and training programme. Curtains were drawn on the well-attended programme on Day Three with a breakfast session. The event was held under strict COVID-19 protocols.

In his opening remarks, Chief Joe-Kyari Gadzama (SAN), the host and initiator of the mentorship programme, noted that young lawyers need to be treated better, and advised them to work hard, persevere and utilize their networks to build a successful legal practice.

In his address, Chief Kanu Agabi (SAN) urged the lawyers to persist within the profession despite the gloomy appearance. He urged the participants to strive to add value before aspiring for financial largesse.

On his part, a representative of Justice Hassan Baba urged the lawyers to work diligently and await the rewards, which would surely come.

A cross section of participants at the mentoring programme
A cross section of participants at the mentoring programme
L - R: Mr Daniel Manasseh Tela, Secretary, Body of Benchers, Prof. Tahir Mamman SAN, Senior Partner at J-K Gadzama LLP, Mr Darlington Onyekwere, Partner at J-K Gadzama LLP, Mrs Toyin Bashir, Partner at Banwo and Ighodalo, Chief Kanu Agabi SAN, CON, the Keynote Speaker, Hon. Justice H. Baba, Mrs Dianne Okoko FCIArb., Partner at Marcus Okoko & co., Mr Oyetola Muyiwa Atoyebi, Managing Partner at Omaplex law firm and Joe-Kyari Gadzama SAN
L – R: Mr. Daniel Manasseh Tela, Secretary, Body of Benchers; Prof. Tahir Mamman SAN, Senior Partner at J-K Gadzama LLP; Mr. Darlington Onyekwere, Partner at J-K Gadzama LLP; Mrs. Toyin Bashir, Partner at Banwo and Ighodalo; Chief Kanu Agabi (SAN, CON), Keynote Speaker; Hon. Justice H. Baba; Mrs. Dianne Okoko (FCIArb), Partner at Marcus Okoko & Co.; Mr. Oyetola Muyiwa Atoyebi (SAN), Managing Partner, Omaplex law firm and Chief Joe-Kyari Gadzama (SAN)
Chief Joe-Kyari Gadzama SAN, the Principal Partner of J-K Gadzama LLP and Chief Emeka Ngige SAN, the Chairman of the Council of Legal Education during the networking cocktail.
Chief Joe-Kyari Gadzama (SAN), Principal Partner, J-K Gadzama LLP and Chief Emeka Ngige (SAN), Chairman, Council of Legal Education during the networking cocktail.

A young lawyer asking a question during the session.

A young lawyer asking a question during the session. 

Copyright 2020 CITY LAWYER. Please send emails to citylawyermag@gmail.com. Join us on Facebook at https://web.facebook.com/City-Lawyer-Magazine-434937936684320 and on TWITTER at https://twitter.com/CityLawyerMag. To ADVERTISE in CITY LAWYER, please email citylawyermag@gmail.com or call 08138380083. All materials available on this Website are protected by copyright, trade mark and other proprietary and intellectual property laws. You may not use any of our intellectual property rights without our express written consent or attribution to www.citylawyermag.com. However, you are permitted to print or save to your individual PC, tablet or storage extracts from this Website for your own personal non-commercial use.

  • EMEKA NWADIOKE
  • Jan 31, 2021
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  • Comments Off on UNION CRISIS: UBANI GETS INDUSTRIAL COURT JOB

UNION CRISIS: UBANI GETS INDUSTRIAL COURT JOB

The President of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, Justice Benedict Kanyip has appointed former Nigerian Bar Association Vice President, Mr. Monday Ubani as a Public Trustee to administer the affairs of Nigeria’s oldest industrial union, Nigeria Civil Service Union following the nullification of the union’s January 2018 National Delegates Conference.

Though one Comrade Lawrence Amaechi was purportedly elected at the conference, the election was set aside as being in contravention of a valid court order that status quo be maintained pending the determination of a substantive suit on the matter.

CITY LAWYER gathered that though Ubani’s initial attempt to resume duty this January was frustrated by the said Comrade Amaechi’s led Executive, this was reversed on 29th January, 2021 when the appointment was enforced by the Public Trustee with the support of the Court and the Nigerian Police.

The appointment letter from the Industrial Court, dated 29th of December, 2020 stated that Mr Ubani’s appointment is sequel to the Order contained in the judgement delivered on the 25th October, 2019 by Justice Sanusi Kado of the Abuja Judicial Division of the National Industrial Court in the suit between Comrade Benson Ekasa and 1 other v. Comrade Kiri Mohammed (then National President of the Union).

The letter reads: “Pursuant to Section 19(c) of the National Industrial Court Act, 2006; Order 59 of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria(Civil Procedure) Rule, 2017 and the Order contained in the judgement delivered on the 25th October, 2019 by His Lordship Hon Justice Sanusi Kado, in the above subject matter suit, I hereby appoint you, Monday O. Ubani Esq, as the Public Trustee for the Nigeria Civil Service Union(hereinafter referred to as the “Union” for an initial period of three (3) months, effective from the date of your acceptance of the appointment, on the following terms:

1. To oversee and superintend the running of the administration and finances of the Union.
2. To convene National Delegates Conference of the National Civil Service Union and organise election to elect new executive members in line with the constitution of the Union.
3. To render account of your activities within the above specified period in a report to be forwarded to the Court immediately after the expiration of the tenure.
4. To forward a copy of the report to the Honourable Minister of Labour.
5. In the event that you are not able to conclude your assignment within the three months period stated above, you may apply for re-appointment for another three months. In this event, you shall be requested to provide satisfactory reasons why you may be so re-appointed.”

Ubani has now received the commitment of the various Heads of the staff who are running the administration before his appointment. They all promised to support the Public Trustee to succeed in the onerous task that is placed before him.

The appointment of a Public Trustee by the Industrial Court is to enable him conduct free, fair election and enthrone a leadership that is acceptable to all and sundry including restoring sanity and stability to the operations of the union. 

Mr Ubani has since paid a visit to the Ministry of Labour and Employment where he met with the Minister of State for Labour & Productivity, Mr. Festus Keyamo SAN and the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Dr. Yerima Tarfa to intimate them of his appointment by the Court. He has also submitted his letter of notification and acceptance to the Minister, Dr. Chris Ngige.

  • EMEKA NWADIOKE
  • Nov 26, 2020
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  • Comments Off on EKWEREMADU TO TACKLE LAWMAKING DYNAMICS, AS UWECHUE CLOCKS 82

EKWEREMADU TO TACKLE LAWMAKING DYNAMICS, AS UWECHUE CLOCKS 82

BY EMEKA NWADIOKE

Former Deputy Senate President, Prof. Ike Ekweremadu (PhD, CFR) will deliver the Keynote Address at the virtual birthday celebration of respected former Chairman of Nigeria’s Body of Benchers, Chief George Uwechue SAN, FNIALS who clocks 82 years on Monday.

The event which is aimed to honour Chief Uwechue, a former Speaker pro Tempore of Nigeria’s House of Representatives, has as its theme “The lawyer in Parliament: A catalyst in the legislative process.” The birthday lecture is billed as a tour de force between politics, lawyering and lawmaking. Chief Uwechue was the Deputy Leader of the Nigeria Peoples Party (NPP) Caucus and Chairman of the Public Petitions Committee.

A statement by the Chairman of the Planning Committee, Chief Emeka Ngige, SAN which was made available to CITY LAWYER noted that “As Owelle was a lawyer-member of the House of Representatives in the Second Republic, we consider the topic apposite for the occasion, moreso as Senator Ekweremadu is not only the immediate past Deputy Senate President but is also a lawyer and has been in the Senate for unbroken 17 years.”

The event which kicks off at 4:30 pm will be chaired by renowned senior lawyer, Senator Onyeabo Obi. It will witness goodwill messages from political leaders and foremost jurists. It will also be streamed on several social media channels as well as feature sensational saxophonist, BeeJay Sax who is billed to thrill the global audience.

Chief Uwechue is adjudged one of Nigeria’s foremost jurists, with many leading precedents to his credit. These include Magnusson v Koiki; NAS LTD v BA PLC; Ashibuogwu v AG Bendel State, and the regularly referenced Adeniyi v Governing Council of Yabatech which concurrent verdicts of the trial court and Court of Appeal he upturned at the Supreme Court upon being hired by the appellant.

A longstanding Faculty member at the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (NIALS), Chief Uwechue was appointed as a Member of the Rules of Court Advisory Committee of the Supreme Court between 1985 and 1986. He produced a draft review of the rules which was later subsumed into the Supreme Court Rules 1999 (as amended).

Chief Uwechue, the “Owelle of Ogwashi Uku,” was born on 30th November, 1938. He was a two-time member of the House of Representatives, representing Aniocha Federal Constituency of former Bendel State on two different party platforms. He rose to the pinnacle of the House leadership following his assumption of office as the Speaker pro Tempore.

Following the interruption of civil rule by the military, he returned to law practice and again rose to the apogee of the legal profession with his admission into the Inner Bar and his election as Chairman of the Body of Benchers, the apex body that regulates the profession in Nigeria.

He was admitted into the Honourable Society of the Middle Temple, Inns of Court School of Law for the English Bar in February 1961 and passed the “British Constitution” with distinction at the North Western Polytechnic, London. He repeated this uncommon feat at the Holborn College of Law, Languages and Commerce where in 1962 he again earned Distinction in “Constitutional Law.” His teacher and one of the world’s foremost constitutional lawyers, Prof. Ben Nwabueze SAN once described Chief Uwechue as unarguably the best among his classmates. This was during the launch of a compendium written by leading Nigerian jurists in Uwechue’s honour.

Chief Uwechue enrolled at the London School of Economics and Political Science courtesy of his mentor, Prof. Nwabueze, and in 1965 received his Bachelor’s Degree in Law, graduating with Second Class Honours. He returned to Nigeria the same year and enrolled at the Nigerian Law School. Having passed the Bar Finals, Chief Uwechue was admitted to the Nigerian Bar on January 21, 1966 – almost 55 years ago.

To register for the virtual event, click
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_19N9qdSbTXaheLKZBsZ-Pw OR https://bit.ly/OwelleAt82

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  • EMEKA NWADIOKE
  • Sep 19, 2020
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  • Comments Off on APPEAL COURT JURIST, FALANA, AKPATA, NGIGE, OTHERS FOR HUMAN RIGHTS BOOK LAUNCH

APPEAL COURT JURIST, FALANA, AKPATA, NGIGE, OTHERS FOR HUMAN RIGHTS BOOK LAUNCH

Leading jurists and human rights activists will on Thursday gather for the unveiling of a seminal book on human rights written by foremost human rights author and litigator, Chief Frank Agbedo.

Titled “Casebook on Human Rights Litigation in Nigeria: With Landmark Cases From Other Jurisdictions,” the event which will be held virtually is expected to be witnessed by the Presiding Justice of the Court of Appeal, Justice Mohammed L. Garba and the Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Kazeem Alogba.

Others expected at the book presentation are the Chairman of Council of Legal Education (CLE), Chief Emeka Ngige, SAN; Lagos State Attorney-General & Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Moyosore Onigbanjo, SAN; Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) President, Mr. Olumide Akpata; fiery human rights activist, Mr. Femi Falana SAN, and former President of Otu Oka-Iwu Lagos, Chief Chuks Ikokwu.

With renowned text writer, Prof. Fabian Ajogwu SAN as Book Presenter and The Guardian columnist, Mr. Sonnie Ekwowusi as Book Reviewer, others slated for the book presentation are Chief Babatunde Ogala and Mr. Yemi Akangbe (NBA Lagos Branch Chairman) as Guests of Honour;  corporate and commercial law guru, Mr. Mbanugo Udenze as Host and popular Bar Leader, Mrs. Tolani Edu as the Moderator. 

Available on AMAZON at https://www.amazon.com/Casebook-Human-Rights-Litigation-Nigeria/dp/6200313415, “This book painstakingly addresses the predicament of lawyers and judges in accessing relevant cases of interest, by providing and updating the practitioners with a comprehensive collection of (both current and locus classicus) reported cases mainly from decisions of the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal, on all notable issues of law and procedure relating to human rights litigation in Nigeria.”

An announcement on the book presentation states as follows:

Team Nominees Limited is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: Book Presentation of Case Book on Human Rights Litigation in Nigeria by Chief Frank Agbedo.

Date: Thursday 24th September, 2020 Time: 02:00 PM West Central Africa

Join Zoom Meeting

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Meeting ID: 931 8388 3288

Passcode: 091502

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BAR LEADERS PROFFER ROADMAP FOR LAW SCHOOL, LEGAL PROFESSION

Bar leaders and academics at the weekend stressed the need to leverage alumni networks for the development of legal education and law practice.

Speaking on the theme, “Alumni Networks and the Development of the Legal Profession in Nigeria” at a virtual conference hosted by the Nigeria Law School Class of 1989, a leading presidential candidate in the forthcoming Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) National Elections, Dr. Babatunde Ajibade SAN, made a strong case for the transformation of the Nigerian Law School Alumni Network into a world class framework.

Citing Harvard, Cambridge, Oxford university alumni as examples, Ajibade observed that alumni networks have been able to deploy huge human and material resources to boost the development of their alma mater, adding that “the situation should not be different for the Nigerian Law School that has produced distinguished personalities rendering invaluable services to humanity across the globe.”

The Chairman of the Counsel of Legal Education (CLE), Chief Emeka Ngige SAN, commended the management of the Nigerian Law School for deploying e-learning facilities to avoid interruption of lectures despite the COVID-19 pandemic. He also applauded the Nigerian Law School Class of 1989 for the e-learning platform donated to the school, adding that it would “go a long way to enhance remote learning for Nigerian Law School students.”

The Secretary to the Council of Legal Education & Director of Administration, Nigerian Law School, Mrs. Elizabeth Max-Uba enumerated the needs of the campuses of the school and appealed to the different alumni classes to help reposition the Law School campuses as befitting academic environments for the training of lawyers.

Speaking in the same vein, the Director General of the Nigerian Law School, Professor Isa Chiroma SAN urged alumni classes to “come to the aid of the Nigerian Law School in order to restore its lost glory.”

Contributing to the discourse, Mr. A. U. Mustapha SAN advised the coalescing of all Law School alumni classes into a single and formidable alumni association to enable better management and communication. He stated that this would spur the growth of the institution.

The Chairman of the Nigerian Law School Class of 1989, Mr. Emeka Albert explained that the soon-to-be-rolled-out multi-dimensional e-platform built by the Class includes an Alumni module that enables alumni members to engage and interact.

According to the leading justice sector reform consultant, “Lawyers need only to register with their call year and the system will group members according to year of call, making it possible for members to engage with their classmates and organise themselves into alumni associations just like the Class of ’89 and a few other Classes have done.”

Copyright 2020 CITY LAWYER. Please send emails to citylawyermag@gmail.com. Join us on Facebook at https://web.facebook.com/City-Lawyer-Magazine-434937936684320 and on TWITTER at https://twitter.com/CityLawyerMag All materials available on this Website are protected by copyright, trade mark and other proprietary and intellectual property laws. You may not use any of our intellectual property rights without our express written consent or attribution to www.citylawyermag.com. However, you are permitted to print or save to your individual PC, tablet or storage extracts from this Website for your own personal non-commercial use.

  • EMEKA NWADIOKE
  • Jul 14, 2020
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  • Comments Off on NGIGE, AJIBADE, LAW SCHOOL DIRECTOR X-RAY ALUMNI IMPACT ON LEGAL PROFESSION, YOUNG LAWYERS

NGIGE, AJIBADE, LAW SCHOOL DIRECTOR X-RAY ALUMNI IMPACT ON LEGAL PROFESSION, YOUNG LAWYERS

Top Bar leaders will on Saturday discuss the role of alumni networks on the legal profession.

Organised by the Nigerian Law School Class of 1989, an accredited NBA CLE Service Provider, the virtual conference is part of a series of webinars designed to highlight trends in continuing legal education, mentorship for young lawyers and the role of alumni in catalyzing growth in the legal industry.

The theme of the conference which holds at 2 pm is “NLS Alumni Networks and the Development of the Legal Profession.”

Listed as one of the discussants is prominent Bar Leader and Chairman of Council of Legal Education (CLE), Chief Emeka Ngige (SAN). Another key discussant is leading Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) presidential candidate, Dr. Babatunde Ajibade (SAN).

Other panelists are Mrs. Elizabeth Max-Uba, Secretary of Council of Legal Education & Director of Administration, Nigerian Law School and Mr. AbdulHakeem Mustapha (SAN), Principal Partner in A.U. Mustapha [SAN] & Co. He was Chairman of the Audit Committee of FINBANK PLC and is currently the President of the Business School Netherlands Alumni Association, Nigeria.

The conference will be moderated by Chief Osuala E. Nwagbara, General Secretary of the Class of 1989 and Managing Partner at Maritime and Commercial Law Partners.

According to a statement by top justice sector consultant and the Chief Editor of LEGALPEDIA, Mr. Emeka Albert, “the third in a series of webinars aimed at opening up vital conversations among lawyers on mentoring, CLE and support to the Nigerian Law School. Dr. Ajibade, being a strong supporter of the cause of our Class, is expected to provide uncommon insights on the subject consistent with his experience and track record.” Albert also doubles as the Chairman of the Nigerian Law School Class of 1989.

The class has recently held webinars on “Online Continuing Legal Education (e-CLE) in the COVID-19 Era and Beyond: Challenges, Benefits and Prospects” and “e-Mentoring for young lawyers: A paradigm shift.”

Prospective participants are required to register for the free virtual conference at https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0ocOCqqjotHdZDEe3ITruE-8nn59KWDEDG. After registering, participants will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Ajibade has gained renown as a cerebral lawyer and leading facilitator of continuing legal education in the legal industry. He was called to the Nigerian Bar in December 1989 and elevated to the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria in December 2007. He obtained a Bachelor of Law degree from the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University) in 1988. He obtained a Master of Laws degree in Corporate and Commercial Law from King’s College, University of London in 1990 and a Doctorate Degree in Private International Law from the same university in 1996.

Ajibade is a Fellow of the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies in London, an International Practice Fellow of the International Bar Association (IBA) and a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, United Kingdom. He combines the roles of advocate, a corporate/commercial solicitor, an administrator and a reformer and is reputed to have excelled in each of these areas.

The Nigerian Law School Class of 1989 donated an e-platform to its alma mater as part of its 30th anniversary celebrations. The facility is aimed to support quality training and retraining of Law School students and young lawyers. The electronic platform is reputed as a first in Africa aimed at transforming legal education and legal practice.

Copyright 2020 CITY LAWYER. Please send emails to citylawyermag@gmail.com. Join us on Facebook at https://web.facebook.com/City-Lawyer-Magazine-434937936684320 and on TWITTER at https://twitter.com/CityLawyerMag All materials available on this Website are protected by copyright, trade mark and other proprietary and intellectual property laws. You may not use any of our intellectual property rights without our express written consent or attribution to www.citylawyermag.com. However, you are permitted to print or save to your individual PC, tablet or storage extracts from this Website for your own personal non-commercial use.

  • EMEKA NWADIOKE
  • Jul 11, 2020
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NGIGE, BAR LEADER AND CLE CHAIR, CLOCKS 59

Consummate Bar Leader and Chairman of Council of Legal Education, Chief Emeka Ngige SAN is 59 years today. Fondly called “Emeka Ngige” by his teeming admirers, the renowned activist Bar Leader was born on 11th July, 1961 to the family of late Chief Pius & Mrs. Priscilla Ngige of Urueze-Ide Village, Alor, Idemili South Local Government Area of Anambra State. He is the last of seven children.

Shortly after the end of the civil war in 1970 Chief Ngige started his primary education at St. Francis Primary School, Uruezeani, Alor in 1970 and completed same at St. Patrick’s Primary School, Ogbete, Enugu. In 1974 he was admitted to St. John’s Secondary School, Alor for his secondary school education. He graduated in 1979 with the much coveted Division 1 grade.

After his secondary school education and precisely between August 1979 and September 1980, Chief Ngige had a stint with the Federal Ministry of Employment, Labour and Productivity where he worked as a clerical officer. In September 1980 he gained admission to study Law at the University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus (UNN). He graduated in July 1984.

In August 1984 he was admitted to the Nigerian Law School, Victoria Island for his Bar Qualifying Examinations. He successfully completed the programme in 1985 and was admitted to the Nigerian Bar on 23rd August, 1985.

Following his call to the Nigerian Bar, Chief Ngige was posted to Ondo State for the mandatory National Youth Service (NYSC) programme. His primary place of assignment was at the Nigeria Police Force, State CID, Akure where he prosecuted criminal matters on behalf of the Police.

Upon completion of his national youth service in 1986, Chief Ngige was employed as a Pupil Counsel in the Chambers of G. N. Uwechue & Co., Lagos. Chief Ngige practised in the law firm for four years and rose through the ranks to the position of Deputy Head of Chambers. In September 1990 Chief Ngige set up his law firm, Emeka Ngige & Co at the same Bank Chambers building before moving to his present location at Lewis Street in central Lagos.

Chief Ngige was on 10th July, 1992 appointed a Notary Public for Nigeria by then Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon Justice Mohammed Bello. In 2002 Chief Ngige was adjudged to have achieved legal excellence and distinction, and elevated to the enviable rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria on account of his contributions to the development of Nigeria’s legal profession. Chief Ngige was one of the private legal practitioners engaged by the Government to prosecute cases at the Failed Banks Tribunal at Enugu and Lagos. He was also among the private legal practitioners engaged by the Federal Government to represent the government in various cases filed by the Abacha family to stall the recovery efforts of the Government.

Chief Ngige is a consummate Bar man and has held various offices in the Nigerian Bar Association. He was a member of National Executive of the association between August 1991 and September 2016. Between 1995 and 1997, he served as Publicity Secretary, NBA Lagos Branch. He later became the Branch Secretary between 1997 and 1999. He was in 2009 appointed a member of the Body of Benchers as a representative of the NBA. He remained in that Body till November 2012.

He was also a member of the NBA National Disciplinary Committee between 2002 and 2004. Chief Ngige is a longstanding Assistant Secretary of Body of Senior of Advocates of Nigeria (BOSAN), having mounted the saddle since 2005. Chief Ngige also doubles as the Chairman of Class of ‘85 Nigerian Law School Alumni. The Class is among the alumni classes supporting the Nigerian Law School in various aspects including donation of law books and other materials.

Highly passionate about Bar governance, Ngige contested for NBA Presidency in 2012 and lost in very controversial circumstances. Subsequently, he penned a memorandum on Bar reforms, saying: “Every effort must be made to insulate the Election Committee from the influence, authority, direction or control of the National Secretariat or the National Officers. Under no circumstance should the Election Committee take directives or instruction from a National Officer or the National Secretariat.”

On 22nd May, 2019 Chief Ngige was appointed a non-executive Director of Air Peace Ltd, one of Nigeria’s leading airlines. A week later and precisely on the 28th May, 2019 Chief Ngige was inaugurated as Chairman, Council of Legal Education (CLE) by the Attorney-General of the Federation & Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami, SAN.

Chief Ngige is happily married to Mrs. Ogochukwu Ngige (Nee Anichebe), a civil servant with the Federal Institute of Industrial Research Oshodi (FIIRO). The lovebirds are blessed with four children. In recognition of his contributions to his community, Chief Ngige was conferred with the chieftaincy title of “Ikemba N’Alor.”

Copyright 2020 CITY LAWYER. Please send emails to citylawyermag@gmail.com. Join us on Facebook at https://web.facebook.com/City-Lawyer-Magazine-434937936684320 and on TWITTER at https://twitter.com/CityLawyerMag. All materials available on this Website are protected by copyright, trade mark and other proprietary and intellectual property laws. You may not use any of our intellectual property rights without our express written consent or attribution to www.citylawyermag.com. However, you are permitted to print or save to your individual PC, tablet or storage extracts from this Website for your own personal non-commercial use.

NBA DATABASE: OLANIPEKUN, NGIGE, FALANA IN ‘OBOLLO-AFOR’ BRANCH

* Mixed reactions, as errors mar project
* ‘We are in the dark on website contract,’ say EXCO Members

There is palpable anxiety over the current state of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) database as uploaded on the NBA website. While some members have their data correctly inputted, prominent Bar Leaders such as former NBA President, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN); former NBA presidential candidate and Chairman of the Council of Legal Education (CLE), Chief Emeka Ngige (SAN) and Mrs. Funmi Falana, wife of fiery human rights activist, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN) are among those whose data have errors. The trio are listed as members of NBA Obollo-Afor Branch. Continue Reading

NGIGE TO CHAIR LAW SCHOOL ALUMNI E-PORTAL LAUNCH

Leading litigator and Chairman of the Council of Legal Education (CLE), Chief Emeka Ngige SAN will hold court tomorrow as the 1989 Class of the Nigerian Law School launches its ground-breaking e-Learning/e-Mentoring/e-Continuing Legal Education (CLE) portal. The event is a part of the activities to mark the 30th anniversary reunion Dinner & Awards of the Nigerian Law School Alumni Class of 1989. Continue Reading