By Famous Obebi Famous
As the demands for pragmatic leadership continue to resonate amid pervasive public dissatisfaction with Nigeria’s judicial sector and political fabric, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Yenagoa Branch, has emerged as a pacesetter in projecting the law as a means of arresting a dangerous slide into anarchy.
The 2025 Law Week of the NBA’s Yenagoa Branch was in many respects an elevation from previous editions. Held under the theme “Setting the Pace: Law, Leadership, and Transformational Development,” this year’s event did more than gather the finest legal minds. It sparked a necessary national conversation about the evolving role of law as a catalyst for holding leadership accountable to the people, for ensuring the rule of law and for radically improving access to justice for the public.
A week of passion and public engagement
After several weeks of diligent preparation by the Law Week Planning Committee, the anticipated programme teed off on May 5, 2025, with a well orchestrated Press Conference at the Koripamo Ungbuku High Court Complex in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State Capital.
Addressing a packed room of journalists from national and international media, the NBA Yenagoa Branch Chairman, Mr. Somina Johnbull, set the tone: “The branch is poised to build on the successes of previous editions of the Law Week to ensure that participants and guests have a first-rate experience this year; by offering solutions to generational challenges affecting leadership in Nigeria.”
He said with the investment in critical infrastructure upgrade in the state judiciary, such as automatic recording system and research support for judges, as well as the availability of small claims courts and a multi-door courthouse, litigation and adjudication had been greatly enhanced.
On his part, chairman of the Law Week Planning Committee, Iniruo Wills, remarked that stakeholder satisfaction was the key objective in organizing the events, hence the choice of theme and sub-themes that address issues of vital public interest, such as governance based on the rule of law and revolutionizing access to justice.
But as they say, health is wealth and all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. So on the morning of Saturday May 10th, the Branch Chairman, Somina Johnbull, led the teeming lawyers in a 10-kilometre roadwalk to keep body and mind fit. Only a sound mind in a sound body can do justice to the aggrieved. In the evening of that day, the lawyers let their hair down in an Embeleakpo (Ijaw for enjoyment) Night, where they shared fun times by way of various indoor games such as Chess, Scrabble, Whot and Monopoly, along with music and dancing, spiced with roasted fish and like delicacies at the poolside of a major hotel.
Continuing in that tempo, a novelty football match between the Branch and the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria took place at the Samson Siasia Stadium, Yenagoa on Monday May 12, ending in favour of the learned team.
And the next day, the Branch Chairman, Mr Johnbull, the Planning Committee Chairman, Mr Wills, and the Law Week Facilitator, Dr (Mrs) Boma Miebai, led the branch to pay a visit to the Daisy Home for Special Children at Igbogene, where they spent about an hour with the children and donated food items worth over a million Naira, after a joint rendition of the classic charity song by global stars, We are the World. Before leaving, the lawyers took time to motivate the kids towards becoming teachers, doctors, lawyers, pastors and successful business people in the future.
A Summit of Legal Minds and Policy thinkers
The week’s icing on the cake was the plenary session held on Friday May 16 at the ornate NCDMB Conference Hall, reportedly the first non oil and gas event to be held in the impressive Hall. The venue’s architectural elegance was matched only by the intellectual weight of the audience and resource persons of the day, headlined by one of Africa’s leading policy icons and public speakers, Prof Yemi Osinbajo (GCON, SAN), former Vice President of Nigeria, who delivered the keynote address.
Declaring the session open, the Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, stated unequivocally, “If lawyers stand by the truth and the rule of law, Nigeria will survive-and thrive.” His words resonated across the capacity-filled auditorium and synced with the profound exploration of the intersections of law, leadership and transformational development that followed.
Chief Judge of Bayelsa State, Justice Matilda Ayemieye, in her remarks stated her confidence in the Keynote Speaker’s renowned ability to do justice to the theme and also expressed her admiration for the organizers of the Law Week, noting that they had “raised the bar”, putting Bayelsa State in bright lights
Also speaking the State’s Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Biriyai Dambo, SAN, thanked the NBA “for choosing themes that reflect the urgent really of our time”, noting that in moments of upheaval people look to the law as a hope. In quotable words, he charged the NBA to continue to be “a conscience of the nation, not just an association.”
Vision for a new Legal Era
In what many have described as one of the most thought-provoking addresses of the year, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo delivered a keynote titled “The Legal Profession: A Vision for a New Era.”
With characteristic depth and clarity, evoking comparison with former US President Barrack Obama’s speech making,, Osinbajo glided though the emerging landscape of technology and law. “We are at the threshold of a major transformation,” he said, firing the first salvo. “Artificial Intelligence—tools like ChatGPT—are already reshaping the legal profession. The question isn’t whether we should adapt, but how.”
He warned that AI is not simply a convenience; it is a force that will change how legal services are delivered in the years to come, adding that, “Our profession needs a new set of tools to work with, that is AI tools which … could process huge volumes of documents in minutes.”
He said, “Before 2022, Lawyers were the sole gatekeepers of legal knowledge. But with AI, we are no longer the custodian and gatekeeper of legal knowledge.” However, he was quick to stress that no machine could replace a lawyer’s ethical compass or moral reasoning. “What machines can’t replicate,” he said, “is the lawyer’s ability to exercise discretion, to uphold justice, and to reason ethically.”
Against this backdrop he pointed out that the true value of lawyers must lie in focusing on the aspects of legal practice that machines cannot replicate. So in the face of this foreboding threat, what can lawyers do to remain relevant and competitive? The erudite silk has a gamut of solutions:
First, he asserted that the legal community must reform its educational system and curriculum to reflect new realities, urging a paradigm shift from rote theoretical training to hands-on, mentorship-driven models. He cited the British “filtered entry” approach as an example of how Nigeria might professionalize the Bar and the Bench to be effective and efficient.
Osinbajo also called for cross-disciplinary training for lawyers and the integration of AI as a subject in the curriculum while legal education must emphasize problem solving and adopt simulation-based learning. What is more, he posited that the mandatory one year law school where lawyers are kept in classrooms and taught physically was anachronistic and must now be reviewed, emphasizing the imperative for online, virtual learning in law school and university campuses. “The days of in person law school are over. This is the emerging trend,” he pointed out.
Pivoting to the ethical dimension, Professor Osinbanjo observed that with the integrity and reputation of the bar and bench greatly threatened by corruption, it was time for lawyers to “Sacrifice personal comfort for collective growth” He expressed worry over the unprecedented spate of conflicting court judgments which has greatly eroded the credibility of the legal system, urging the courts to “focus on justice over faults” “We have entered a new era, one that demands a new tool kit. This must be the pillar of our renewed vision”, he intoned.
Bridging the Gap between theory and practice
Following the keynote, a robust panel discussion unfolded, moderated by the erudite Justice Peter Affen, who provided a sobering reminder that legal education in Nigeria must catch up with global technological realities.
Boma Ayomide Alabi, SAN, Chairperson of the NBA Section on Legal Practice, was forthright when asked of the possibility of AI replacing lawyers: “AI will not replace lawyers. But lawyers who embrace AI will replace those who don’t.” Her point was echoed by Mr. Naboth Onyesoh, Director of Legal Services at NCDMB, who emphasized the Impact of law on business and investment: “The UK’s legal sector contributes over £45 billion annually to the GDP. Imagine what Nigeria could do if we reformed and digitized our legal systems.”.
But according to him, “People choose to arbitrate in the UK, causing capital flight due to the problem of lack of integrity and prestige here in Nigeria” He urged lawyers to take advantage of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Act which provides for local content (indigenous lawyers) participation in oil and gas matters.
On his part, Hon. Kemela Okara, former Secretary to the Bayelsa State Government, spoke on the role of government in promotung the rule of Law. “Law alone can’t do it; the government must be the catalyst enforcing laws, investing in the judiciary, and modeling discipline”, he said.
On his part, another panelist, Dr. Ayibakuro Matthew, framed the conversation philosophically, declaring that “a society with bad laws being implemented by good people will produce better justice than good laws being implemented by bad people. But with both good laws and good people, we can truly transform.”
Revolutionizing ease of access to justice
Prof Festus Emiri, SAN, former Deputy Director-General of the Nigeria Law School, gave a most thought-provoking presentation on the need to improve ease of access to justice even at the highest level of leadership. He skillfully touched on various critical sectors. On legal education reform, the Professor advocated for a shift from content-based to concept-focused curricula, centralizing experiential and apprenticeship education, and either abolishing or significantly reforming vocational legal education. On judiciary reforms, the distinguished Professor advocated for a more responsive and efficient judiciary through periodic institutional assessment and continuing education.
The day after the epic Plenary Session, the lawyers had their traditional annual Dinner/ Gala Night at the Governor Diepreye Alamieyeseigha Banquet Hall, with Prof Solomon Ebobrah giving a dinner talk on the quizzical topic “The Legal Profession: One Way Creek or Ocean of Opportunities?” With every reason to do so, the Yenagoa legal community marked the formal end of the Law Week on Sunday 18th May with a special thanksgiving service at the St Peter’s Anglican Church, Yenagoa.
A new standard is set, a new page of history opens
Indeed, the 2025 NBA Yenagoa Law Week will be remembered for opening vistas of insight and opportunity for a new era of bridging the gap between law, leadership and transformational development. The Yenagoa Branch of NBA has been receiving applause since the events, for raising the bar in branch law week standards.
Indeed, the Yenagoa Bar made an eloquent statement — that it has come of age and is setting the pace.