Preface to The Contribution of Chief Folake Solanke SAN, CON at the Pre-Swearing-In Induction Programme for the New Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) at the Pre-Swearing -In Induction for the New Senior Advocates of Nigeria at the Victoria Hall, Lagos Continental Hotel, Lagos, on the 10th day of November, 2022.
Learned friends and Eminent guests I offer apologies for my painful absence. I salute everyone here present. However, on Friday the 21st day of October 2022, I fell desperately ill after the grueling Ibadan/Lagos Express journey which left me completely traumatized. I could not even attend the BOSAN Reception for the Hon. Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, the new Chief Justice of Nigeria where I was to speak as a Special Guest, and for which event I had travelled from Ibadan to Lagos. Our learned friend of the Silk — Chief Wole Olanipekun SAN kindly read my speech on my behalf, and I hereby offer my profound appreciation to him. I was evacuated to Ibadan on Sunday the 23rd day of October,2022 for treatment. I thank God for my survival, while still recuperating at home. In view of the foregoing, I hereby re-present my 2021 speech for my 2022 presentation “in absentia.” Thus, by the sheer powerful force of language, my 2021 speech has been transformed to my 2022 speech. I only add my copious congratulations and felicitations to the newly appointed Silks. I pray that God will bestow upon you all longevity in good health.”Deo volente ”. Please enjoy the speech The Contribution of Chief Folake Solanke SAN, CON at the Pre–Swearing–In Induction Programme for the New Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) at the Pre–Swearing –In Induction for the New Senior Advocates of Nigeria at the Victoria Hall, Lagos Continental Hotel, Lagos, on the 10th day of November, 2022. Protocol I thank Chief Felix Fagbohungbe SAN — Chairman of the Committee to Implement Recommendation on the Utilization of the SAN Leadership Fund and Prof. Olanrewaju Onadeko SAN — the Induction Coordinator — for their gracious letter dated the 19th day of November, 2021 inviting me to be a facilitator on the topic: “The Relationship of Senior Advocates of Nigeria with Other Lawyers” Relationship of Senior Advocates (SANs) with other Lawyers My focus in this Paper is to concentrate on the relationship of the SANs with junior lawyers. The SANs are well aware of how to relate to one another as learned friends of the Silk. It is always a source of joy for me to recall with nostalgia, the euphoria which I savoured forty (40) years ago when I became the first female Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN). The topic has powerfully reminded me of the tremendous professional impact which my elevation had on me. I am happy to share the experience with you. I believe that my mood of sheer euphoria and jubilation was captured in my Autobiography: “Reaching for the Stars” (Updated Edition),1 in the following words: Soon after my elevation, I had to appear in an appeal in the Supreme Court in Lagos. Having regard to my determination to show superb leadership at the Inner Bar, on the Sunday before the Monday court appearance, I took over a sitting-room in my home to refresh my mind on the details in the Record of Appeal, review the facts and the cases to be cited. A family friend, who came to visit us, was absolutely amazed to find me on a Sunday afternoon, surrounded by law-reports in my sitting room. On my first appearance in the Court that had just decorated me, my legal submissions must reflect my new status as a Silk! I confess that I enjoy the prose in a well- written judgment. The Inner Bar carries with it, not only immense professional dignity, but it imposes the awesome professional burden of leadership at the Bar so that the younger members can look up to the Senior Advocates to learn from them and be inspired by them. That also translates into the Senior Advocate demonstrating much learning and courtesy to the Bench and to learned colleagues. In short, a Silk must represent the best in professional ethics, tradition and history. I felt the heavy weight of that professional responsibility and still do. I am gratified that the Bar, both at the local and national levels, has acknowledged my modest contribution to the profession in many ways. I am a life patron of the NBA Ibadan and FIDA Ibadan and now decorated by the Body of Senior Advocates of Nigeria with the title of “Matriarch of the Bar’. I am most grateful. The relationship of the SANs with other lawyers is that of friendship at the Bar in the pursuit of justice. As SANs we must treat all lawyers with respect in our leadership role and help the juniors to develop. We should also collaborate with other lawyers to support the Nigerian Bar Association for the edification of our one and only learned profession. Section 34 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 acknowledges the right to the “dignity of the human person.” A Senior Advocate of Nigeria must always be conscious of this protected right by treating the other lawyers courteously and not contemptuously. As Ministers in the temple of justice, we owe a duty to assist and monitor the juniors in a manner that prepares them to be good Seniors in the future. The junior lawyers and lawyers in pupillage should be paid adequate remuneration and hours of duty must comply with the labour law which stipulates 40 hours per week. The learned juniors have a life beyond the law office . I expressed this opinion on the floor of the 2019 NBA Conference in Lagos. All people are equal before God and man. Thus the SAN must not debase the lofty status of a Silk by being rude to or oppress junior lawyers. Junior lawyers must not be bullied and treated as inferior lawyers. All lawyers are equal before the law without prejudice to the tradition that Juniors must be respectful to their seniors. It would amount to professional arrogance for SANs to bully junior lawyers. Mentoring the New Wigs As a SAN, you must not be too busy to monitor, counsel and train learned juniors. Every SAN started as a new
The Communique Of The 5th Annual Induction Programme for The Newly Appointed Senior Advocates Of Nigeria, Held On Thursday, 10 November 2022 At The Lagos Continental Hotel 52A, Kofo Abayomi Street, Victoria Island, Lagos
