The long-awaited Gabriel Adikwu & Co. Annual Lecture held at the weekend in Yola, Adamawa State with a record attendance of members of the the Bar and Bench as well as other justice sector stakeholders.

The Annual Lecture is reputed as perhaps the largest gathering of jurists and justice sector stakeholders in the North East. The Annual Lecture has expanded beyond the shores of Adamawa State to include jurists across the North Eastern states and the federation.

These year’s Annual Lecture was themed, “The Law, The Court & The People” and held last Saturday, 17th May, 2025, at the Government House Banquet Hall located at Dougirei Yola, Adamawa State.

Among the high-profile dignitaries that attended the event were Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) President, Mazi Afam Osigwe SAN; retired Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, Hon. Justice P. A. Galumje; Justice Ita Mbaba OFR, formerly of the Court of Appeal; President of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN), Hon. Justice B. B. Kanyip; Chief Judge of Adamawa State High Court, Justice Hafsat Abdulrahaman; Adamawa State Attorney General & Commissioner for Justice, Mr. A. K. Jingi, as well as Royal Father of the Day and retired Chief Judge of Adamawa State; Hon. Justice N. Musa (Wakilin Alkalai Adamawa).

Also in attendance were 27 Justices of courts of record, over 400 senior lawyers and other members of the Bar across the North East and the Federation as well as some non-lawyers. The Annual Lecture also featured Award presentations and Lectures from revered jurists.

The first session of the Annual Lecture x-rayed the topic, “The Court as the last hope of the common man: Current realities and concerns.” Presented by Justice Mbaba, he shared his burden on the attitude of lawyers and judges  in the administration and dispensation of justice. He emphasized the need for judges to know that they are ‘deputizing’ for God in the affairs of men, adding that once they realize that they are being watched by God, such consciousness will make them to be bold, careful and to apply godly virtues in their judgements.

The second session dwelt on the topic, “Promoting and enhancing Labour Justice: Role of Lawyers.” Presented by Justice Kanyip, he emphasized the fact that the National Industrial Court is a special court with focus on labour related matters. He condemned employers who treat job seekers like lesser human beings not deserving of ordinary courtesies of human relations. Justice Kanyip admonished lawyers to avoid carrying over their trial court mindset to the NICN, even as he harped on the need to explore out-of-court settlement as the best option for resolving labour disputes in order to promote and enhance labour justice in Nigeria.

Curtains were drawn on the Annual Lecture with Goodwill Messages from  various organizations and from the Bar. 

Stakeholders adjudged this year’s Annual Lecture as not only educative and impactful but also as providing an avenue for lawyers and justice sector stakeholders to network, among other benefits.