Igbo lawyers honour jurists
The presentation which was made at the 2014 annual dinner and awards at the City Hall, Lagos, also saw Anambra State Governor and Chairman, South-East Governors Forum, Mr. Peter Obi, honoured. Others honoured were Justices Nwali Sylvester Ngwuta and Mary Ukaego Peter-Odili, both justices of the Supreme Court of Nigeria and Chile Eboe-Osuji, a judge […]
The presentation which was made at the 2014 annual dinner and awards at the City Hall, Lagos, also saw Anambra State Governor and Chairman, South-East Governors Forum, Mr. Peter Obi, honoured.
Others honoured were Justices Nwali Sylvester Ngwuta and Mary Ukaego Peter-Odili, both justices of the Supreme Court of Nigeria and Chile Eboe-Osuji, a judge of the International Criminal Court (ICC) at The Hague.
Others who also received the coveted plaques were the Presiding Justice of the Court of Appeal (Lagos Division), Justice Amina Adamu Augie, Justice Chinwe Iyizoba and Justice Samuel Oseji, all of the Court of Appeal, Lagos Division and Justice Kenneth Amadi of the National Industrial Court, Lagos.
Aside from the judges, some of the association’s members who were elevated to the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria and those either elected or appointed to positions of responsibility were also honoured. These include Mr. Louis Nnamdi Mbanefo (SAN), President, Nigerian Maritime Law Association; Dr. Olisa Agbakoba (SAN), member, National Judicial Council and Life Bencher; Mr. Etigwe Uwa (SAN);
Elder Paul Ananaba (SAN); Chief Anayo Goddy Uwazurike, President, Aka Ikenga Association; Mr. Monday Ubani, Chairman, Nigerian Bar Association, Ikeja branch, Mr. Alex Muoka, Chairman, Nigerian Bar Association, Lagos branch, and Mr. V. Uche Obi, Chairman, Capital Market Solicitors Association.
Chairman of the occasion, Senator Onyeabo Obi urged members to uphold the ideals for which the association was formed, noting that as a law society, the best traditions of the bar must be sustained at all times.
Presenting a dinner speech titled “Coastal Shipping & the Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund,” the Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Safety and Administration (NIMASA), Dr. Patrick Ziakede Akpobolokemi said the Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund (CVFF) was designed to curb the low level of indigenous participation in shipping trade.
Akpobolokemi who was represented by the Deputy Director-General, Cabotage, Mr. Hassan El-Yakub, noted that the new CVFF funding arrangement would checkmate past mistakes where industry operators benefited from the loan without paying back.
President of Otu Oka-Iwu, Mr. Zik Obi II traced the history of the association to 1971 when it was established to cater for the welfare of lawyers of Igbo extraction through continuing legal education and sustenance of best practices.
He noted that the honourees were carefully chosen in line with the goals and values of the association, adding that they have done the Igbo nation proud by distinguishing themselves in their chosen careers.
Speaking on behalf of the honourees, Justice Iyizoba who represented Justices Ngwuta and Peter-Odili among others, expressed “deep gratitude” to the association for finding them worthy of honour, adding that some of the judges were absent due to an ongoing conference at Abuja.
On his part, the Chairman of the Organizing Committee, Dr. Uche Ogbu thanked all the honourees and guests for attending, adding that the event has become a permanent feature in the association’s annual calendar.
Some of the dignitaries at the occasion included retired Justice O. J. Okeke and retired Justice Charles Archibong both formerly of the Federal High Court, Hon. Justice Sybil Nwaka of the Lagos High Court, Abia State Attorney-General Umeh Kalu, representative of NIMASA Director-General, and Mr. Hassan El-Yakub.
Others were Mrs. Funke Adekoya (SAN), Mr. Austin Alegeh (SAN) and Chief Dele Adesina (SAN).