Senior lawyers in Nigeria have been urged to plough back into
the profession through writing and publication of books.
L-R: Book Reviewer, Prof Yemi Osinbajo; Lagos
State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola; author, Justice Oludotun Adefope-Okojie;
Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Ayotunde Phillips and former chairman,
Independent Corrupt Practices Commission, Justice Emmanuel Ayoola, during the
public presentation of a book titled, ‘Civil Litigation-A Quick Reference Guide
to Substantive Law and Procedure’ in Lagos… on Friday.
The call was made on
Friday in Lagos during the presentation of a book, “Civil Litigation: A quick
reference guide to substantive law and procedure” written by Justice Oladotun
Adefope-Okojie.
Chairman of the
occasion, Justice Emmanuel Ayoola, led other lawyers to canvass the need for
commitment to legal scholarship and education.
Ayoola, a retired
justice of the Supreme Court, said the move would preserve the history of the
profession while deepening legal education.
Also speaking at the
presentation of the 530-page book, the Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice
Ayotunde Phillips, said that the Nigerian legal practice had come a long way.
She said there was the need to write more reports and publications that would
document the record set from time to time.
She told the audience,
largely consisting of senior legal practitioners that, “Please write books as
she has done. I urge you to do so without fear of criticisms. We now have our
own law reports so let’s plough back into our profession.”
Lagos State Governor,
Babatunde Fashola, who was the special guest of honour toed the same line of
submission.
He said that he
eagerly looked forward to returning to the court room to practise his
profession.
Like other speakers,
Fashola commended the effort of the author, who he said, had continued to show
commitment to the legal profession.
Fashola said that
there was no gainsaying the need for continuing training and legal scholarship
as proposed by other speakers.
He said that it would
make the era of conflicting judgments a thing of the past.
“He said, “There is
the need to also take continuing education to a point of seeing what is
happening in other climes.
“On law reforms, Lagos
State is always reforming its laws and the next set is already being produced
and will be out soon.”
In his comments, a
Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Bode Rhodes-Vivour, spoke glowingly of
the author and asked others to follow in her steps – in the interest of the
profession.
Rhodes-Vivour, who
wrote the foreword of the book, said it would be of great asset to young and
old lawyers.
Meanwhile, the
author said that she intended to continue to update the publication in volumes.
She also said that proceeds from its sales would go to a foundation as a way of
giving back to the society.
The book was reviewed
by a former attorney general of Lagos State, Prof Yemi Osinbajo.
Source: Punch
