From Godwin Tsa, Abuja
Daughter of the president, Halima Buhari, together with an octogenarian, Enebeli Pius Chika and 2, 257 other law graduates were, yesterday, admitted into the Nigerian Bar.
Her mother, Hajia Aisha Buhari and other members of the first family at the International Conference Centre in Abuja. Halima was not the only centre of attraction at the colourful ceremony as there was also an 80-year old graduate of the Law School who caught the eyes of dignitaries at the event.
While presenting successful candidates for the call to bar, Director-General of the Nigerian Law School, Mr. Olanrewaju Onadeko admonished the new wigs to strive to ensure that the sanctity of the legal profession was not compromised. Onadeko said the candidates were eligible to become members of the legal profession, having successfully completed the vocational training at the Nigerian Law School as prescribed by the Legal Education Act.
He drew the attention of legal body to the persistent challenge of violation of admission quotas by some Faculties of Law in the country.
“The allocated figures are a product of empirical evaluation of available facilities in the faculties. Consequently, failure to keep to these numbers impacts negatively on the quality of the products. The extent of violation has been profound in some cases.”
Onadeko appealed to varsity authorities that, “due heed should be paid to the decision of the Council of Legal Education and the National Universities Commission in this regard.”
In a related development, Chairman of the Body of Benchers, Bandele Aiku (SAN), told the new lawyers that success at the Bar demands more than distinction in law examinations; “it demands correct behaviours, true and proper professional spirit and proper understanding and wise use of the tools of the craft.”
Aiku highlighted the codes to include: “respect to the court and seniors, courage and independence, help and advice to colleagues.”
With over five decades of robust legal practice, Aiku told the new wigs that, “the path to professional excellence at the Bar is long, tortuous, rough and bumpy.”
He, however, calmed their nerves as he said the “profession is intellectually exciting and glamourous.”
One of the high points of the ceremony was the call to Bar of 80-year-old Enebeli Pius Chuka, whom the law school boss said made history as the oldest new wig ever to be produced by the law school.