The 1974 set of the Nigerian Law School at the weekend rounded off its 40th anniversary of call to the Nigerian Bar with a lecture and a banquet at Wheatbaker Hotel, Ikoyi, Lagos.
The event provided another nostalgic feeling for the set, which had bestridden the legal profession like a colossus, to meet friends and relatives, some of whom they had not seen for years.
The event also lived up to expectation with the attendance of prominent Nigerians from far and near who took time off to celebrate and thank God with the set.
Some of the dignitaries at the event included former Vice President, Dr. Alex Ekwueme and his wife; former Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice George Oguntade who chaired the banquet; Publisher, The Guardian, Lady Maiden Alex-Ibru; Presiding Justice, Court of Appeal, Lagos Division, Justice Amina Augie; former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Dr. Olisa Agbakoba; and former Chief Judge of Cross River State and member of the set, Justice Dorothy Edem.
Other members of the set in attendance were Chief Tessa Egbe Ikimi, Chief Mike Ahamba (SAN), Chief Sena Anthony, Chief Robert Clarke (SAN), and Mr. Goke Ekisola, among others.
The Director of Research, National Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, University of Lagos Campus, Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye, in a lecture entitled “Retiring Well and Ageing Gracefully”, provided a soothing nerves for the set when he urged them to plan their retirement in such a way that it will not affect them negatively.
According to him, a retirement that is not well planned or well used may lead to early arrival at the departure lounge and early flight home to the creator.
The professor, who stressed the importance of inheritance at the point of retirement, advised the audience to put their houses in order before death.
According to him, it is important that every retiree put his/her house in order.
He said: “This does not necessarily mean that death is few days away but that should the inevitable happen, the family can be taken care off under an arrangement conceived by you. Do not leave this to chance as intestate succession issues are often with rancour even in the family of accomplished lawyers.
“At this point, if you have estates not known to the family, endeavour to let the family know not just the nature but also the extent and location of the estates. If there are hidden interests (children, wife, concubines) outside, not known to the nuclear family, please endeavour to let someone trustworthy at least know about them and document your interest.
“Be courageous to indicate if they should inherit out of your estates and make adequate provision for all whose destinies you have a role in. Leave nothing to chance. It is appropriate that the family know of all property so that such do not fall into the hands of strangers after you leave the scene.”
In her remarks, Maiden Alex-Ibru stressed the need for proper retirement planning and not to leave anything to chance.
She, however, expressed concerns that African culture does not encourage women to advise their husbands to put their houses in order since it could be misinterpreted as scheming for the death of their husband
She also picked holes with suggestion by Agbakoba (SAN) that parents should share their property while they are alive, saying the action could lead to acrimony among members of the family who may not like the location of their own inheritance.
In his own remarks, Justice Oguntade advised the set not to relent in making positive contributions to the development of the country, which he said, is facing turbulent times.
Prayers were also offered for deceased members of the set.
Meanwhile, the Lagos State Chief Judge, Justice Ayotunde Phillips, expressed dismay over quality of newly-graduating Nigerian Law School students.
Justice Ayotunde, who spoke with journalists at the event, said: "When you leave the Law School, you are just starting to learn the practice of the profession. What we have done in the university is purely theory, and now we are going to put it into practice. You are going to find out that the practice is purely different from the theory.
"You have to first master the practice, then the theory comes up from time to time. So, it is definitely not the same quality.”
Agbakoba, on his part, pointed out that the whole legal education infrastructure has collapsed, adding that the education and ethical system of the days of Ibironke and others when they were teaching has gone.
He said: "The quality with today’s graduating Nigerian Law School students has declined, compared to the quality of Nigerian lawyers and judges 40 years ago. The education and ethical system of the days of Ibironke and others when they were teaching us is gone. So, in a word, the quality now is nothing to write home about.
"Now, the whole legal education infrastructure has collapsed, so you cannot expect to see the type of lawyers you saw graduate 40 years ago from the Nigerian Law School. The decay is unbelievable. It is a general Nigeria’s problem that the national development infrastructure has collapsed," he said.
Agbakoba noted that if he has to determine how many students would be called to the Bar yearly, only twenty students would pass in every one thousand.
Clarke, who also lamented decline in the quality of newly-graduating Nigerian Law School students, advised young lawyers not to allow monetary consideration to affect their way of starting their practice.
He said: "Young lawyers who are coming into the profession should not allow monetary consideration to affect their way of starting their practice. They should try and fit themselves in reputable chambers and have pupillage of at least five to seven years before setting up theirs.
"The young lawyers should not embark on charge and bail practices. The legal profession of today has so many areas of professionalism that you can specialise in. The sky is the limit for anyone."
According to him, judges of 40 years ago were more determined in the dispensation of justice, without fear or favour, and this is due to many factors.
