Funke Busari, Lagos
Nigeria’s Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo will be gracing the Nigerian Bar Association Lagos Branch 2021 annual Law Week themed “Disruption, Innovation and The Bar.
This information is contained in a communication unveiling plans for the annual event.
The Chairman of the Branch, Mr. Omoyemi Akangbe disclosed that this year’s event will also have David Halliwell, Partner, Pinsent Masons Birmingham from the United Kingdom to give an overview of how technology, innovation and trade liberalisation are disrupting the practice of law across the globe and what it means for the Nigerian legal practitioner.
According to him, the virtual and in-person event will amongst other things, spotlight vital topics such as “National Security and our Fundamental Rights”, “Built to Last: Creating World Class Law Firms in Nigeria”, “Bringing Justice Delivery in Nigeria Into the 21st Century”, “The Changing Landscape of Arbitrator Disclosure Obligations.”
Among the panelists; Mrs. Oby Ezekwesili and Mr. Femi Falana SAN Partner, Falana & Falana Chambers, Prof. Akin Oyebode, Prof. Chidi Odinkalu will discuss the recent encroachments by the government on fundamental rights on the grounds of national security.
The plenary is to be moderated by Mr. Charles Adeogun-Phillips, a former UN genocide and war crimes prosecutor and also a Partner with Charles Anthony Law.
Four plenaries scheduled for the event will have Mr. Asue Ighodalo, Founding Partner, Banwo & Ighodalo; Mrs. Myma Belo-Osagie, Founding Partner, UUBO; Mr. Theo Emuwa, Partner, Aelex; Mr. Adeleke Alex-Adedipe Managing Partner, Duale, Ovia & Alex-Adedipe; Moray McLaren Lexington Consultants will share their experiences of building law practices designed to stand the test of time. They will touch on their challenges, the future of law practice, and succession planning while Mr. Baba Alokolaro, Managing Partner, TNP will moderate the plenary.
The third plenary for the day will have Mr. Babajide Ogundipe, Justice A.O. Faji, Justice Lateefa Okunnu, Mr. Fidelis Oditah QC SAN discuss the current state of justice delivery in Nigeria, causes of delays in justice delivery, the extent to which judicial officers should be involved in court administration and the ways in which technology can be deployed to birth a justice delivery system that is fit for purpose as Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun will moderate the panel.
Babatunde Fagbohunlu SAN, Mrs. Mia Essien SAN, Chief Gbola Akinola, Mrs. Olamide Aleshinloye will discuss recent cases and developments relating to the obligation of arbitrators to disclose possible conflicts of interest while Seyilayo Ojo moderates the last plenary for Monday 26th July, 2021.
The discussions will continue on Tuesday with “Financial Autonomy of the Judiciary: Key to Judicial Independence or Ruse?” will take the centre stage by retired Hon. Justice Iyizoba, recently retired Hon. Justice Babajide Candide-Johnson, Y.C. Maikyau SAN, Olawale Fapohunda Honourable Attorney General of Ekiti State, Mrs. Ayo Obe as Prof. Konyinsola Ajayi, SAN, moderates the panel to focus on the recent clamour for financial autonomy for the judiciary and examine whether it will deliver the much-desired judicial independence just after Mr. Dapo Akinosun, SAN.
Attention would also be diverted to the welfare of young lawyers during the sixth panel discussion, with the topic: “Soro Soke!: Young Lawyers, Minimum Wage, Brain Drain and Professional Development,” where contemporary issues affecting young lawyers touching the question whether there should be a minimum wage, brain drain in the legal profession, professional development by Ayuli Jemide, Caleb Adebayo, Mayowa Owolabi, Modupe Odele (Mochievious), even as the panelists would proffer suggestions on what should be done to retain young talent in the profession during the session to be moderated by Dayo Okusami.
George Etomi, Chief Anthony Idigbe SAN, Mfon Usoro, Mr. Dele Belgore SAN, Dayo Idowu will direct discussion by Wolemi Esan as the discussants interrogate the growing trend of lawyers practicing across borders and the likely impact of the AfCFTA on the liberalisation of legal practice on the African continent. Panelists will also discuss the opportunities and threats presented by this trend and make suggestions on how Nigerian lawyers can either prepare for or prevent the liberalisation of legal practice during the session on Lawyers Without Borders, Opportunities and Threat?
Mrs Bola Tinubu, Dr. Wale Babalakin SAN, Prof Gbolahan Elias SAN will climax the event with their discussion on legal education, professional development, and strategies for young lawyers to develop and flourish in the legal profession during the “Career Development Strategies for Professional Growth” session to be anchored by Tobenna Erojikwe.
The Chief Judge of Lagos State, Honourable Justice Kazeem. O. Alogba, is expected to launch the Lagos Bar Journal at the annual event.
