Abubakar Malami, SAN, Minister of
Justice
Abubakar Malami, SAN, Minister of
Justice
The Honourable Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister
of Justice (HAGF), Abubakar Malami, SAN has assured of Nigeria’s
support and cooperation to the Institute of Law Development
Centre, Uganda to improve in its Legal Profession.
The HAGF made this known when a delegation of the Law
Development Centre Management Committee paid a courtesy call
to the Ministry.
The delegation led by Lady Justice Stella Arech
Amoko, Justice of Ugandan Supreme Court and Chairperson
of the Committee were on a mission to Nigeria to learn best law
practices and upgrade their legal Profession to a better
standard.
The HAGF promised to support the delegation to understand the
Legal System through the Nigerian Law School.
He explained that, “when you talk of learning in
planning, we stand as a nation to learn from each party and that
make collaboration a fundamental, and success undertone if indeed
this visit will translate into success”.
Malami believed that the confidence placed in Nigeria and her
support system is not misplaced, noting that it is a decision
because of the development Nigeria has undergone with Particular
reference to Institutions, Policies etc.
‘’Our experience as a nation in terms of law and legal
development is peculiar but the major undertone is to rise to the
success which is rooted in legislation. So the starting point is
for you to consider the possibility of acquiring the relevant
legislation that constitutes the legal frame work of the basis
operated as a nation,’’ HAGF explained.
According to Malami, “Nigeria Law School is an institution
established by law which started as a single campus in Lagos and
with manifesting challenges of increase in population, it called
for decentralization. A legislation came in as well, which brought
about additional campuses over time, thereby laying a legality of
whatever related and made the expansion to multiple campuses”.
Earlier, Uganda’s Justice of the Supreme Court and
Chairperson of the Committee, Lady Justice Mary Stella Arech Amoko
in her brief address explained that they are on learning,
information sharing and fact- finding mission to Nigeria.
Arech Amoko disclosed that Nigeria and Uganda has a long
history. She explained that the first Attorney-General after
Independence was a Nigerian, by name Sir Udo Udoma who left a
record with a Portrait in the library. She explained that the
Committee were in Nigeria to learn a few things from Nigeria. She
added that the Institute, Law Development Center was established
with the Act of Parliament with main purpose to train lawyers so
that they could get the Upper or the Diploma in their profession
which is equivalent to Nigeria Law School.
She said, ‘’the number of students kept increasing because the
numbers of our university that are offering law keep increasing. I
think is the same case here in Nigeria. So as a result, the
facilities are getting stretched and the Lecturers are not enough
and the funding is not enough’’, Uganda’s Justice of the Supreme
Court.
She noted that before one gains admission, a pre-examination
would be written after the LLB, but that is scribed and anyone who
has an LLB will automatically join the Institution, because of the
large number of students.
She thanked the Director General, Nigerian Law School, Professor
Isa Kayatu Chiroma for warm welcome to the law school , adding that
he told them the over view of the school, as they visited the
Library and also witnessed the student been grilled by external
examiners
Arech Amoko noted that they were quiet impressed with the size
of the Institution, while commending the DG for his wonderful and
diligent work in the school.
The Director General, Nigeria Law School Professor Isa Kayatu
Chiroma in his brief remarks thanked the HAGF for his warm welcome
and assured his utmost assistance.
The Chairperson of the 9-men delegation, Justice Mary Stella
Arech Amoko presented a plaque to the HAGF while in return the HAG
did same to her.
Ogundoro Modupe
For: Deputy Director (Information)