The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Tanko Muhammad, has said
there is a need for more cerebral legal practitioners to emerge in
Nigeria in order to resist tyranny and expand what he described as
frontiers of jurisprudence in the country.
Justice Muhammad said with more good lawyers, the fundamental
issues of the rule of law and the basic human rights would be
promoted and defended at all levels of society.
![image](/2020/11/NWLR-1.jpg")
The CJN stated this on Wednesday during the public presentation
of “Two Decades of Forensic Advocacy at the Inner Bar,” a
collection of legal writings In honour of Yusuf Ali (SAN).
The book presentation, which held in Abuja, was chaired by
Justice Muhammad and attracted many of the leading lights in the
Nigerian legal circles, including Prof. Wahab Egebwole (SAN), who
spoke on behalf of the editors of the book, the Vice-Chancellor of
the Lagos State University, Prof. Olarenwaju Fagbohun (SAN), and
the President, Nigerian Bar Association, Mr Olumide Akpata.
Others who graced the occasion included Prince Lateef Fagbemi
(SAN), Dr. Wale Babalakin (SAN), Kehinde Elejo (SAN), Dr. A.W.A
Ibrahim, among others
In his speech, the CJN, who was represented by Justice Helen
Moronkeji Ogunwumiju, said: “As judges, when you read some briefs,
you are like ‘Oh, my God!’ because you are aware of the kind of
research that was involved in ensuring that justice is done,
considering the facts and all the available laws.
“So, when briefs are written with a view to espousing the law
and are ingeniously written that you step back mentally and say
‘Wow, this is good. This person has thought things through,’ that
is the kind of briefs that usually emanates from the chambers of
Yusuf Ali, SAN. But that is not to say I always agree (with his
assertions). But I always admire the level of work he puts into his
briefs.
“When good briefs are read and judgments are written, they
espouse the law and expand the frontiers of jurisprudence in a
matter. It is a thing of inspiration to the legal profession in
Nigeria.
“For tyranny to succeed, you must first eliminate good
lawyers.”
The CJN described his impression of Yusuf Ali (SAN) as a noble
gentleman, adding: “He is a person that has shown such depth of
knowledge, creativity, erudition, and research in his briefs. He
has also been a man that has helped in shaping the present
jurisprudence in Nigeria in so many areas, particularly the area of
human rights.”
Speaking on the motivation to compile the book, Prof. Wahab
Egbewole (SAN) said, “The whole idea was to examine the honouree
through the cases he had handled as an advocate.
“This project was informed by our perception of the honouree as
a person whose works must be showcased for the upcoming generations
to learn and be inspired from.
“It was not difficult for us to get learned seniors and
colleagues to buy into the idea of writing their comments on cases
handled by Yusuf Ali, SAN, in his two decades of sojourn at the
inner bar.”
In his remarks, Oba Rufus Olarewaju Ajayi Ogidi Olu Obagbaja
Arolagbade II, Oba of Gbomina Ekiti Kingdom, in Kwara state, said
there was a decline in the number of good lawyers in the country
worthy of mentoring the upcoming generations.
He said, “Though a first-class graduate of law from UNILAG, I
learned from Yusuf Ali, SAN, before I mounted the throne of my
forefathers. He is an expert. He is good not only knowledge but in
character and in his religion.”
Oba Arolagbade II, recommended that the collection of legal
writings “Two Decades of Forensic Advocacy at the Inner Bar,” in
honour of Yusuf Ali (SAN) be adopted by all institutions of legal
studies and practice in Nigeria and read by younger lawyers to
imbibe the knowledge therein into their practice.
On his part, the honouree, Yusuf Ali, reiterated his view of the
rule of law, saying there would be a better society when it is
given a principal place in the affairs of the nation.
“It’s in our interest to observe the rule of law. We should not
jettison it on the grounds of convenience,” he said.
The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Tanko Muhammad, has said
there is a need for more cerebral legal practitioners to emerge in
Nigeria in order to resist tyranny and expand what he described as
frontiers of jurisprudence in the country.
Justice Muhammad said with more good lawyers, the fundamental
issues of the rule of law and the basic human rights would be
promoted and defended at all levels of society.
The CJN stated this on Wednesday during the public presentation
of “Two Decades of Forensic Advocacy at the Inner Bar,” a
collection of legal writings In honour of Yusuf Ali (SAN).
The book presentation, which held in Abuja, was chaired by
Justice Muhammad and attracted many of the leading lights in the
Nigerian legal circles, including Prof. Wahab Egebwole (SAN), who
spoke on behalf of the editors of the book, the Vice-Chancellor of
the Lagos State University, Prof. Olarenwaju Fagbohun (SAN), and
the President, Nigerian Bar Association, Mr Olumide Akpata.
Others who graced the occasion included Prince Lateef Fagbemi
(SAN), Dr. Wale Babalakin (SAN), Kehinde Elejo (SAN), Dr. A.W.A
Ibrahim, among others
In his speech, the CJN, who was represented by Justice Helen
Moronkeji Ogunwumiju, said: “As judges, when you read some briefs,
you are like ‘Oh, my God!’ because you are aware of the kind of
research that was involved in ensuring that justice is done,
considering the facts and all the available laws.
“So, when briefs are written with a view to espousing the law
and are ingeniously written that you step back mentally and say
‘Wow, this is good. This person has thought things through,’ that
is the kind of briefs that usually emanates from the chambers of
Yusuf Ali, SAN. But that is not to say I always agree (with his
assertions). But I always admire the level of work he puts into his
briefs.
“When good briefs are read and judgments are written, they
espouse the law and expand the frontiers of jurisprudence in a
matter. It is a thing of inspiration to the legal profession in
Nigeria.
“For tyranny to succeed, you must first eliminate good
lawyers.”
The CJN described his impression of Yusuf Ali (SAN) as a noble
gentleman, adding: “He is a person that has shown such depth of
knowledge, creativity, erudition, and research in his briefs. He
has also been a man that has helped in shaping the present
jurisprudence in Nigeria in so many areas, particularly the area of
human rights.”
Speaking on the motivation to compile the book, Prof. Wahab
Egbewole (SAN) said, “The whole idea was to examine the honouree
through the cases he had handled as an advocate.
“This project was informed by our perception of the honouree as
a person whose works must be showcased for the upcoming generations
to learn and be inspired from.
“It was not difficult for us to get learned seniors and
colleagues to buy into the idea of writing their comments on cases
handled by Yusuf Ali, SAN, in his two decades of sojourn at the
inner bar.”
In his remarks, Oba Rufus Olarewaju Ajayi Ogidi Olu Obagbaja
Arolagbade II, Oba of Gbomina Ekiti Kingdom, in Kwara state, said
there was a decline in the number of good lawyers in the country
worthy of mentoring the upcoming generations.
He said, “Though a first-class graduate of law from UNILAG, I
learned from Yusuf Ali, SAN, before I mounted the throne of my
forefathers. He is an expert. He is good not only knowledge but in
character and in his religion.”
Oba Arolagbade II, recommended that the collection of legal
writings “Two Decades of Forensic Advocacy at the Inner Bar,” in
honour of Yusuf Ali (SAN) be adopted by all institutions of legal
studies and practice in Nigeria and read by younger lawyers to
imbibe the knowledge therein into their practice.
On his part, the honouree, Yusuf Ali, reiterated his view of the
rule of law, saying there would be a better society when it is
given a principal place in the affairs of the nation.
“It’s in our interest to observe the rule of law. We should not
jettison it on the grounds of convenience,” he said.