The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, has sought the support of the judiciary for the key reforms the present administration planned for the sector.
“We have a lot of work to do in the war against corruption, in the reform of legal education, in the judiciary and in the administration of justice generally.
“On my new appointment, I want to solicit your support, prayers and advice in ensuring that we succeed in the task ahead. The tasks are by no means easy.
“When I settle down, I will also pay attention to the needs of the Nigerian law school and how best to assist them,” noted the AGF, who was one of the awardees who said the judiciary is a critical component of the President Bola Tinubu-led anti-corruption war.
The AGF spoke at the annual reunion and award ceremony that members of the Class of ’85’ of the Nigerian Law School organised in Abuja, stated, “Be rest assured as an ambassador in this administration, I will not let the class or the nation down.
Besides, he congratulated 34 other members of the class who were equally honoured during the event.
“I can see that quite a few of them are Heads of different Courts in Nigeria. I believe the honour is well deserving as a testimonial that the awardees are worthy ambassadors of this class.
“I happily rejoice with all the awardees and urge them to keep up their good works that had earned them this honour,” the Minister added.
On the ongoing project of the group, the establishment of a medical centre at the Lagos Campus of the Nigerian Law School, Fagbemi, SAN, stressed that the project must be completed, despite initial challenges.
“I will continue to do my utmost best in assisting toward the early completion of that project,” Fagbemi, who was the pioneer member of the class to be conferred with the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, in 1996,11 years after he was called to the Bar, stated.
In his remarks, Chairman of the class, Emeka Ngige, SAN, said he was happy with what members of the group had accomplished.
“We have celebrated numerous appointments, elevations and other achievements by members of this great Class.
“I am happy to note that within the year under review, four of our class members were appointed as Heads of Courts in Ondo, Oyo, Benue and Kaduna States.
“We also witnessed the appointment of one of us as Secretary to the Government of Lagos State.
“The climax is now the appointment of our Leader, Prince Fagbemi as Nigeria’s 24th Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice.”
Ngige said that the project for the establishment of the medical centre at Lagos Campus was likely to gulp the sum of N400 million.
“To make the execution of the project less strenuous, we have revised the execution period. The project, including furnishing and equipment, will now be within 24 months.
“The plan is to ensure that the medical centre is ready for commissioning in 2025 when, by the special grace of God, we will be marking our 40 years of Call to Bar,” he added.
Likewise, the Chairman of the Local Organising Committee, Senator Ita Enang, said the reunion was a way of giving back to the universities they graduated from.
“Each of us come together to say although we are each from the Nigerian Law School Class of 85, what is happening to the Faculty of Law that we graduated from?
“It is our way of giving back to the university that raised us. What can we contribute to a society that can make meaning to society as we are ageing and making progress in society.”
Enang urged the Federal Government to set up a Judicial Commission of Enquiry to look into loans that have so far been taken by Nigeria.
“We need to know what loans were applied for and the repayment we are making, among others.
“The President has enough courage. They should recommend every person, wherever he is today who was part of taking any loan, in charge of managing that loan and tell us what happened to that money.”
On his part, one of the members of the class, Patrick Ikwueto, SAN, called for urgent judicial reforms which he said should start with a review of the mode of appointment of judicial officers.
“It will start also by making the judiciary really independent. Independent in the sense of not just saying it’s independent.
“This is because until the judiciary becomes the manager of its affairs and control of its resources and funds, it cannot really be said to be independent.
“The courts have to be decongested. The Justices are overworked and we need to think of how we decongest cases in court,” the senior lawyer added.
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