By ABEL JOHNGOLD ORHERUATA
Delta State Governor, Sen. Ifeanyi Okowa says “the continued reliance on courts by those who seek justice has proven beyond reasonable doubt, that the law courts remain the hope of the aggrieved and therefore the bastion of democracy”.
Okowa noted this at the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Warri Golden Jubilee celebration of the Call to Bar of the Branch’s three icons, Chief Thompson Joseph Onomigbo Okpoko, OON, SAN, Alaowei Broderick Cherima Bozimo and Dr. Chief Young O. Esombi, on Saturday 19 June, 2021, in Warri.
Okowa, who was represented by his deputy, Deacon Kingsley Burutu Otuaro said that the topic of the lecture, “Persistent Problems In Litigation In Nigeria”, was apt, adding that “the degree of access to courts, determines whether a potential litigant can file a lawsuit or not which constitutes a key test of the quality of a legal system”.
Gov Okowa “hoped that the celebration will beam the searchlight on improving the state and nation’s criminal justice system”, even as he called on members of the Warri Branch of the NBA to always maintain professional standards and join in the crusade against corruption so that we can bequeath a nation of achievers, creators of wealth and entrepreneurship to the next generation”.
“You should continue to champion the cause of the underprivileged and disadvantaged before the courts. That way, the saying that the courts are the last hope of the common man will continue to hold true”, he added.
While congratulating the three legal luminaries on reaching this Golden Jubilee milestone, Okowa noted that “gold has been a standard of exemplary purity and excellence among metals since time immemorial” and that he was happy to be part of the milestone.
According to Okowa, “Fifty years is a major attainment for an institution, as it is for an individual. This celebration should not so much be a festivity but a solemn occasion to pause and look at their fifty years journey in the Bar”.
“So, today I join you to pay homage to these three eminent and respected personalities who have weathered the storm since their call to Bar. We salute them for fifty years of professional success and unparalleled commitment to community, the state and country. We are celebrating three 50-year practitioners who have personally impacted the legal profession and their achievements have had national recognition”.
The Delta State Governor prayed God to sustain and grant them sound health, wisdom and honour in their chosen profession. That may they continue to flourish for all times to come.
Earlier, the immediate past Governor of Delta State, Dr. Emmanuel Ewetan Uduaghan, called on the NBA to partner with Government so that together the State and Federal Government can develop the State and Nation at large.
In his remark, the President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Olumide Akpata, SAN, noted that role models were pivotal to the development of one’s career and all three icons have proven to be worthy role models to all present. Adding, he said “I definitely owe a lot of my career advancement to the groundbreaking strides their generation made in the development of the profession.
He said the body of law will be incomplete without their contributions to the growth, relevance and sustainability of the Warri Branch of the NBA and to the development of young lawyers.
“I count it a great honour to celebrate these three icons of legal practices who were at different times instrumental to my growth and development in this noble profession.
“As a young lawyer starting out practice in Warri, Delta State, I grew to idolize Chief T. J. O. Okpoko, OON, SAN, Alaowei Broderick Bozimo and Dr Y. O. Esombi for what they exemplified as senior lawyers in the profession. Like every other young lawyer within that jurisdiction, I looked up to and aspired to be like them”. He stated.
The lecture was delivered by Hon. Justice Amina Adamu Augie, Justice of the Supreme Court (JSC)