Former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, has called on members of the legal profession to stand for the rights of every Nigerian in the face of oppression and injustice. He said the judiciary remains the last hope of the common man and the downtrodden, as he urged lawyers not to allow material gains becloud their sense of judgment. Gowon made the appeal in Lagos on Friday at a dinner and award ceremony organised by the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ikeja Branch, to round off its 2014 Annual Law Week. The event, held at Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja, also featured the conferment of awards on six distinguished personalities for their meritorious service to humanity.
Those honoured are the former President, Court of Appeal, Justice Ayo Salami (retired), the Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief, The Sun Newspapers and President, Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), Femi Adesina, erudite scholar, Prof Akin Oyebode, late activist, Chima Ubani (Post-humous), Commissioner for Physical Planning, Lagos State, Olutoyin Adedamola Ayorinde and the Chief Judge of Lagos State, Hon Justice Ayotunde Phillips.
Addressing the gathering, which had in attendance the representatives of the governors of Lagos and Ogun States, the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Adeyemi Ikuforiji, human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Lagos State, Mr Adeola Rahman Ipaye, the representative of Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, Mrs Abimbola Akeredolu, who is also the state Attorney General and other eminent guests, Gowon urged legal practitioners to uphold the rights of all humans, irrespective of their social or economic status.
The former Head of State urged lawyers to encourage healthy competition in their profession, stressing that men of wig and gown should be guided by the fear of God in their defence of truth, justice and fairness. Gowon commended the awardees for the honour bestowed on them, noting that Adesina has maintained a defining career of commitment to the truth, no matter whose ox is gored.
Also speaking, the Chairman, NBA, Ikeja Branch, Monday Ubani, said his branch has become the most vibrant among other branches He said the branch also organised the Alao Aka Bashorun Lecture, where Chief Wole Olanipekun, faulted the popular tradition of running to the court to declare election results. In a lecture entitled: “Electoral Justice as a Panacea for Peaceful Transition,” Olanipekun argued that elections should be decided at the polls, not in the court.
Ubani said this year’s Law Week featured other memorable events like the novelty match between the Tigers and the NBA Lagos Island Branch, visit to Ikoyi Prisons that afforded the lawyers a glimpse into the dark world of several inmates awaiting trials, promising that steps would be taken to let some of them off the hook. Responding on behalf of other awardees, Justice Phillips said the honour bestowed on them provided a strong motivation to continue their good work for the society and humanity.