LAW SCHOOL: NYESOM WIKE GIFTS EMEKA NGIGE BEST BIRTHDAY PACKAGE

Rivers State Governor, Mr. Nyesom Wike has delivered a fitting birthday gift to the Chairman of the Council of Legal Education (CLE), Chief Emeka Ngige SAN with the completion of Dr. Nabo Graham Douglas Campus of the Nigerian Law School in Port Harcourt. Ngige turns 61 years today, July 11, 2022.

The CLE Chairman has been passionate about revamping the moribund infrastructure at the Nigerian Law School. Aside from securing several projects notably from Lagos and Rivers State Governments, the alumni and other stakeholders, Ngige spearheaded an ambitious “Nigeria Law School Support Initiative” which was launched during his 60th birthday to further the objective of positioning the Nigerian Law School as a world-class citadel for the training of lawyers.

At a gathering where Wike handed over more land title documents and hint on completion of the Law School Campus project to the authorities, Ngige described Wike as a promise keeper, adding that he promised to deliver on the audacious project a month before the deadline.

Governor Wike on the occasion re-emphasised that the Dr. Nabo Graham Douglas Campus of the Nigerian Law School in Port Harcourt has been delivered to be self-sustaining.

Ngige, following the latest project inspection and receipt of the further titled documents said: “July 21, 2021, when we came for foundation laying, His Excellency promised this project will be delivered in one-year. Behold, today is June 27, 2022, not up to July yet and he had delivered.

“Recall that when we were doing the ground breaking ceremony, His Excellency promised that every month he will give this campus N10 million for four years, and will be given in advance, that is about N480 million to run this institution.

“When I learnt that he had acquired adjoining property, houses, shopping malls and other business facilities for the Law School to rent out to raise revenue to run this institution. I can tell you it is unparalleled.”

A fulfilled Wike on the occasion, said: “We are using this opportunity to present Certificate of Occupancy of the property acquired and paid for by the Rivers State Government for the Nigerian Law School, Dr. Nabo Graham Douglas, Port Harcourt Campus to you (Chairman).

“We are giving the property to you for the purposes of making some revenue to run this campus. Whatever revenue derived is to be utilised for this campus alone.

“Soon, the state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice and Director-General will meet to prepare a Memorandum of Understanding. It will ensure that you won’t take revenue from here to subsidise for other campuses. Any money you make here, put it here in this campus.”

Wike conducted Ngige with Director-General of Nigeria Law School, Prof. Isa Chiroma, SAN, and other dignitaries round structures within the Law Campus that are completed and ready for formal handover, according to a THISDAY report.

He said with construction work on all the structures in the campus now completed, the state government awaits the Council of Legal Education to choose a date when they desire the campus be formally handed over to them.

Wike later took Ngige and other officials on a guided tour of the new Law School campus. 

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CHIEF JUDGE, OCJ OKOCHA LAUD CORDELIA EKE AT BOOK LAUNCH

The Chief Judge of Rivers State, Justice Simeon Amadi and former Nigerian Bar Association President, Chief O. C. J. Okocha SAN were among dignitaries who poured encomiums on senior lawyer and Director in the Rivers State Ministry of Justice, Mrs. Cordelia Eke at the public presentation of her book on criminal justice administration.

In his remarks, Justice Amadi noted that the book is an invaluable contribution to efforts to promote criminal justice administration, adding that it is one of the few books on the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) and Administration of Criminal Justice Law. According to the jurist, “There have not been many books on this subject,” even as he recommended the book to all stakeholders.

On his part, Okocha, who was Chairman of the Occasion, chided the Federal Government for its poor handling of Nigeria’s security, noting that there is a nexus between security and criminal justice administration.

The former NBA helmsman said that “The Federal Government should beef up security in this country from this people they call bandits, terrorists, separatists, whatever. They have sworn to protect life and property. Security has gone to its lowest level in Nigeria. This country should admit that it has failed. Otherwise, it should do the best it can to restore peace, law and order.

“Criminal justice is at the root of law enforcement, because at the end of the day, those who are found culpable for committing crimes must be taken to court and justice will be delivered.”

Eke, who is also the South-South Coordinator of African Women Lawyers Association (AWLA), said that she was inspired to write the book, “Criminal justice in Nigeria: A practical guide,” to guide judges, prosecutors and defence lawyers among others in navigating the difficult criminal justice terrain.

Her words: “With over 23 years experience in criminal prosecution and having shouldered various other responsibilities in the sector, I have seen good cases bungled by shoddy investigation by law enforcement agents, prosecutors losing their cases due to lack of attention to detail or non-compliance with the law, Legal Advice wrongly offered, and defence counsel that are unable to take advantage of opportunities in the interest of their clients because they are unaware of legal provisions in their favour. The judiciary is not left out either.”

Aside from Justice Amadi and Okocha, other dignitaries that attended the book presentation include Justice Dagogo-Jack who represented the First Lady of Rivers State, Justice Suzette Nyesom-Wike; the Vice Chancellor of Rivers State University, Prof. Nlerum Okogbule; Mrs. Efe Etomi, President of AWLA Nigeria and Partner at FRA Williams & Co; HRH Serena Dokubo-Spiff, Principal Partner at Serenity Legal Union; Mr. Sylvester Udemezue of the Nigerian Law School who was the Book Reviewer; a representative of the President of the Customary Court of Appeal, Justice L. T. Senewo; Mr. Elemchukwu Eke, the author’s spouse and Chief Azibaola Robert, the Chief Launcher who took 400 copies of the book for donation to indigent Law students in four higher institutions of learning.

The book is a seminal contribution to the study and practice of criminal law in Nigeria. It is also a compass for persons outside the country who wish to navigate through the Nigerian criminal justice system and gain an understanding of how it operates. It is written from a practitioner’s perspective, and is aimed at identifying and addressing practical issues thrown up on a daily basis with a view to improving the level of criminal justice practice and equipping intending practitioners with the necessary tools to enable them have a seamless practice experience.

The author dissects the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) and presents the topics in a reader-friendly manner, with anecdotes from actual courtroom experiences, statutory and judicial authorities, tips for lawyers and suggestions for reforms in certain cases. One of the highlights is the examination of the provisions concerning children in the criminal justice system, whether as victims or offenders.

Eke was admitted to the Nigerian Bar in 1995. She obtained a Master of Laws (LLM) degree in Public International Law from the University of Kent, Canterbury, in the United Kingdom and has practiced law both in the private and public sectors.

She has published several scholarly articles on the criminal justice system in authoritative peer-reviewed journals and was the Editor-in-Chief of the NBA SBL Business Law News Magazine (2007-2010) and the NBA Port Harcourt Branch BarNews (2006 – 2008). She was also the Editor of the African Women Lawyers Association (AWLA) Nigeria, Rivers State Branch publication, “Handbook on Widows Rights in Nigeria.”

Eke was a resource person on ACJA at the NBA Annual General Conference (AGC) in 2017 and has presented papers on the subject at various seminars and workshops. She was a Council Member of the NBA Human Rights Institute; Chairman, Prosecution Manual Drafting Committee and Team Lead, Honorable Attorney-General’s Special Legal Advice Decongestion Committee, both in the Rivers State Ministry of Justice, among others. She is also a member of several professional organizations. She is married with children.

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LAW SCHOOL: WIKE TAKES NGIGE ON TOUR OF P/H CAMPUS

Rivers State Governor, Mr. Nyesom Wike recently led the Chairman of the Council of Legal Education, Chief Emeka Ngige (SAN) on a guided tour of the Graham Douglas Campus of Nigerian Law School being constructed by the Rivers State Government. Chief Ngige was accompanied by the Director-General of the Nigerian Law School, Prof. Isa Chiroma, SAN.

Below are photos from the inspection tour.

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