Fashola, Others Urge Lawyers to Promote Legal Scholarship

Senior lawyers in Nigeria have been urged to plough back into the profession through writing and publication of books.

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