Ahead of the 2024 Law Week of the Ibadan Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), commencing on Friday with Jumat Prayer at the Ansar Ud Deen Central Mosque, Oke Ado, Ibadan, the Chairman of the 70th Anniversary of the Branch, Asiwaju Adebayo Ojo (SAN), has declared that Ibadan is the home of legal practice in Nigeria with many distinguished lawyers having trained and taken off from the City.
Addressing the press at the Aare Afe Babalola Bar Centre, Iyaganku, Ibadan on Thursday, Ojo said the Bar having been inaugurated in 1954, deserves to be celebrated for its progressive existence at 70, noting that many of its founding fathers and mothers, dead and alive, who have kept it relevant, will be honoured with awards.
Flanked by a former Special Adviser on Media to Late Governor Abiola Ajimobi, (Dr Festus Adedayo), Secretary of the Ibadan Bar, Ibrahim A. Kareem-Ojo, Abdulfatai Oyedeji, among others, Ojo said many great lawyers and jurists in Nigeria, including Chief F.R.A. Williams (SAN), Late Chief Bode Thomas, Chief Femi Fani Kayode QC, Chief Richard Akinjide (SAN), Baba Aare Afe Babalola (SAN), Justice Kayode Edo, Justice Sekoni, Justice Jibowu, Atanda Fatai Williams, the first female senior advocate of Nigeria, Chief Folake Solanke, the second female senior advocate of Nigeria, Chief Fabian Ajayi Obe, among others, started their practice here in Ibadan.
Describing Ibadan as the cradle of legal practice in Nigeria, Ojo said Chief Akin Olujinmi (SAN), Baba Babatunde Aiku, the Agbajes, Akin Delano, Late Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN), Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN, AGF) who in this country became a senior advocate of Nigeria on the dot of 10 years, and stilk remain unbeaten till date; the great Baba Babalakin of the Supreme Court- are all part of the rich heritage we are enjoying till today in Ibadan, and we have continued to maintain the highest ethical standard of practice.
This year, Ibadan Bar is 70 years old. Looking back and going forward, we feel that this anniversary is worth celebrating. We have every cause to celebrate this milestone. Chief Akin Olujinmi and the late Oluwarotimi Akeredolu became Presidents of the NBA and they started from here. It is in pursuance of that that we decided that we should celebrate this milestone.
We have lined up a series of activities that will bring many dignitaries to Ibadan. Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), the current President of the NBA, Mazi Adam Osigwe, will grace the events.
The National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Surajudeen Ajibola Basiru and Dr Segun Sowunmi of PDP will lock horns on the Tinubu economic policies and how it has fared for Nigerians.
Aside from other intellectual discussions bordering on nation-building, the Anniversary Committee disclosed that the grand finale of the Law Week will be the dinner to be chaired by Alhaji Ahmed Raji (SAN). Are Olumiyiwa Akinboro (SAN) will give the dinner talk, as Justice Iyabo Yerima (Oyo CJ) and the Bar Chairman Ibrahim Lawal will host the dignitaries.
