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By Amos Odhe, Yenagoa
The Young Lawyers Forum of Nigerian Bar Association, Yenagoa, has held a three-day conference with the theme ‘The Making of the Senior Advocate of Nigeria.’
Speaking to newsmen at the event, held at the Harold Dappabriye Hall, Golden Tulip, Government House, chairman of the Young Lawyers Forum, Barr. Deinmobowei O.S Abila, said the essence of the conference was to build the capacity of young lawyers practicing in Bayelsa State in order to produce competent and senior lawyers in the nearest future.
He noted that Abuja, Lagos, Osun, Rivers and other states with more SANs are not better than Bayelsa State in the law practice emphasizing that they all attend the same Law school and went through the same assessment to qualify as lawyers.
Abila suggested that the problem Bayelsa lawyers are facing is either being naive or lack of proper information to take steps to become a SAN.
He however said it is possible to have more SANs in the state if conscious effort is made by large number of lawyers to apply in one stretch for SAN every year.
On the issue of integrity of lawyers in the state, the Bayelsa Young Lawyers Forum chairman said every lawyer is bound by the principles that are already set down by the rules of professional conduct in the law school and should be able to maintain integrity and personal relationship.
Also fielding questions on the absence of a Court of Appeal in the state, which is a challenge for practicing lawyers filing ligations and court appearance, Barr. Abila said that the Appeal Court in Port Harcourt received more appeals from Bayelsa State in 2019 than from Port Harcourt.
He charged judicial officers and the Bayelsa Government to collaborate with relevant authorities to establish the Appeal Court in the state which he stated will reduce cost implications of filing appeals, engage more lawyers and aid the processing of producing more Senior Advocates of Nigeria in the state.
Responding to calls for lawyers that have deviated from the profession, he re-emphasized the advice by the acting chief judge of the state, Her Lordship Justice Maltida Abrakasa Ayemieye, as survival, which is at the core of the initial moment of law practice experienced by young lawyers.
He noted that the town is crowded while there is always a space at the top and call on lawyers called to the bar from one to five-year practice where it seems difficult to survive, pay transport, have good clothes to persevere and make sacrifice stressing that there will be a point of emancipation when their clientele base is expanding with resources flowing in.
Barr. Abila, who is the son of Late Barr. Syvanus Abila, former commissioner in Bayelsa State advised young lawyers to have vision, remain focused and work hard to achieve set goals.
In his presentation, the keynote speaker, Michael Aniba, SAN, represented by Somina Jumbo, Esq. commended the Young Lawyers Forum for organizing the conference and advised them to use the practical steps highlighted during the conference.
The keynote speaker stated that the lawyers belong to a noble profession and enjoined them to uphold the dignity and tenet of the profession in their day to day practice.
The three-day conference featured football match between Young Lawyers Forum Yenagoa and the Sagbama branch at Hamilton Garden, general meeting at the Customary Court of Appeal, sitout/hangout at Hamilton Garden among others.
