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Author: BOSAN

Ethics and Professionalism in the Practice of Law.

Speakers Chief O.C.J Okocha, OFR, SAN Mrs Funke Adekoya, SAN Mr Osaro Eghobamien SAN (Moderator) Date: October 5, 2023 Time: 4pm Topic 1: Legal Ethics and Professionalism in the Practice of Law Topic 2: The Relationship of Senior Advocates with other Lawyers

2022 BOSAN Scholars And Prize Winners!

We are pleased to announce the 2022 BOSAN Scholars and prize winners of ₦1,000,000 (One Million Naira) each. The recipients of the awards are: 1.     OFOMA, CHISOM. M         BABCOCK UNIVERSITY 2.     UWAGBOE, ESEOSA. A         AFE BABALOLA UNIVERSITY 3.     UKATU, WHITNEY. O         BOWEN UNIVERSITY 4.     CHUKWUONYE, COLLINS. C         AFE BABALOLA UNIVERSITY 5.     HARUNA, KHADIJA GARBA          BAZE UNIVERSITY According to a report presented by Mr. Dele Adesina, SAN, FCI.Arb, Chairman, BOSAN Scholarship Sub-Committee to the Body at the Annual General Meeting that held in June, 2023, the Scholarship Programme is one of the initiatives of the Body of Senior Advocates of Nigeria that aim to arrest the falling standard of practice in the Legal Profession and in doing, BOSAN believes that priority attention must be given to the University’s Faculty of Law and the Nigerian Law School, by setting targets that will motivate intending lawyers to aspire for excellence. The Scholarship Scheme is intended to inspire students of 100-300 level to put in their best in their studies and behavior in order to qualify for the Scheme in their final year in the Universities and in the Nigerian Law School, thereby impacting positively the standard of legal education and legal practice in Nigeria. At the commencement of the Scheme, the Committee received nomination of a total of 178 Law Students from 36 Nigerian Universities (Public and Private) spread nationwide while 165 of the nominated Students from 32 Universities who met the cut-off requirements/criteria of 4.5 CGPA or its equivalent were selected for the qualifying examination. The Committee approved Dragnet Solutions Limited (Dragnet), a foremost Computer Base Test (CBT) service provider as the technical partner and administrator for the online examination. The Committee also recommended a live demonstration to acquaint the students with an understanding of the examination procedure and to familiarize the students with the examination platform. The examination questions were in two parts; Part 1 consisted of one hundred (100) objective questions, and Part 2 consisted of ten (10) written essay questions and students were expected to answer five (5) of their choice. The questions comprised of both academics and professional ethics and were crafted by the following senior advocates and academics: Professor Enefiok Essien, SAN Former VC, University of Uyo Professor Oluyemisi Bamgbose, SAN DVC, University of Ibadan Professor Lanre Fagbohun, SAN Former VC, Lagos State University A total of 135 candidates participated in the examination, and all participants successfully submitted their answer sheets to the essay and objective questions. One (1) of the candidates was a physically impaired student and was provided with the necessary technical support – Fifteen (15) candidates who met the cut of mark of 73 percent average of both the objectives and essay questions were shortlisted for an oral interview. The oral interview was to assess the appearance, comportment and carriage, leadership skills and articulation of the candidates. The oral interview was held on Wednesday, 7th December 2022 at the Conference Hall, Nigerian Law School, Lagos Campus, Victoria Island, Lagos State between 11:00am and 4:30pm. The candidates were provided with accommodation and feeding, particularly those who were invited from other states for the interview. The interview panel consisted of six (6) members – who are members of the BOSAN Scholarship Sub-Committee (Academia and Advocates). The panel members are: Mr. Dele Adesina, SAN Lagos Mr. Hassan M. Liman, SAN Abuja Ms. Olufunke Aboyade, SAN Lagos Professor Enefiok E. Essien, SAN Uyo Professor Oluyemisi Bamgbose, SAN Ibadan Professor Lanre Fagbohun, SAN Lagos At the end of the exercise, five (5) candidates emerged as winners, having scored the highest percentage in both the online examination and oral interview. The Scholarship Scheme attracts a prize of ₦1,000,000 (One Million Naira only) – ₦500,000 (Five Hundred Thousand Naira) at the final year in the university, and ₦500,000 (Five Hundred Thousand Naira) at the Nigerian Law School. However, the beneficiary of the Award carries the enviable status of “BOSAN Scholar” not only in the University and the Nigerian Law School but throughout the practice years in the profession. The first tranche of ₦500,000 (Five Hundred Thousand Naira) has been paid to the BOSAN Scholars. It is the policy of the body that any beneficiary that falls short of the required academic standard, behavior, or character at any time during the pendency of his or her enjoyment of the award shall have the award withdrawn. It is also worth mentioning that a past winner of the 2019 maiden edition of the BOSAN Scholarship was ranked the overall best student at the Nigerian Law School in 2020 while the winners of the 2021 edition are currently at the Nigerian Law School. We congratulate the 2022 BOSAN Scholars, and we wish them the best in their future endeavours. BOSAN Secretariat Room 18, Nigerian Law School, Lagos Campus, Victoria Island, Lagos. 09031352227; 07044444124

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