Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Benin Branch (Lion Bar), led by its chairman, Nosa Francis Edo-Osagie Esq., on Monday, paid a courtesy call on the Governor of Edo State, His Excellency, Godwin Nogheghase Obaseki at state Secretariat in Benin City.
Other members of the delegation include the former chairmen of the branch, Ken Mozia, SAN; Princess Iyomoh; Ede Asenoguan, Esq, a notable member of the Edo State Judicial Service Commission, Dele Edokpayi, Esq.; Chief Thomas, and members of the Executive Committee of the Lion Bar, among others.
The list of the delegates included the Secretary to the Edo State Government, Osarodion Ogie, Esq., Edo State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Oluwole Osaze-Uzzi, Esq., the Solicitor-General of Edo State and Permanent Secretary of the State’s Ministry of Justice, Professor Faith Osadolor, Permanent Secretary, Government House and Protocol, Julie Olatunji, among others.
In his remark, Nosa Francis Edo-Osagie thanked the governor for his tenacity in the ongoing efforts to ‘Make Edo Great Again’ (MEGA) through his Transformation Agenda. The chairman also hailed the governor for transforming the Magistrates and High Courts both on Sapele Road, Benin City and other courts including the National Industrial Court (Benin division), relocating the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal (Benin divisions) from their former undignified locations to their present tranquil, modern and beautiful premises in the heart of the historic ancient city. The chairman also appreciated the support of the governor during the recently concluded year 2023 Law Week of the NBA Benin Branch.
The leader of the Lion Bar also requested the calm and attentive governor to activate the process for the swearing-in and resumption of work by the 8 Judges that were recently appointed for the state while also urging him to reconsider the restoration of the Customary Court of Appeal which was abolished in March 2016, by the then Governor of Edo State, Senator (Comrade) Adams Aliu Oshiomhole.
In his response, the governor commended the Bar and the Bench for their determination and commitment in the patriotic struggle to institutionalize and preserve the predominance of the Rule of Law in Edo State. He urged the leadership of the Lion Bar to give more attention to building the capacity of lawyers in Edo State.
On his part, the governor promised to provide free internet (Wifi) at the NBA Benin Secretariat to encourage and enhance legal research by members of the Lion Bar, particularly the young lawyers. The governor also promised to sponsor 25 young female lawyers from the Lion Bar to attend the 63rd Annual General Conference of the NBA which is scheduled to commence in Abuja, on Sunday, 27th of August, 2023.
The decision by the Governor to sponsor 25 lawyers in private practice to attend the 2023 Annual Conference of the NBA comes on the heels of his recent approval to sponsor 50 lawyers in the Edo State Ministry of Justice to attend the said Conference in Abuja, and the subsequent purchase of Nigeria’s largest compilation of Legal Research and Analytics Tool, the LawPavillion, for State Counsel in the Ministry of Justice.
Governor Obaseki further assured the chairman and his delegation that the Government of Edo State will give necessary action to his requests, and in addition, he pledged to support the Benin Bar in its ongoing construction of Phase 2 of the Lion Bar House Annex.
Similarly, the governor who began his 2nd term in office on the 12th of November, 2020, also said that his government would, pursuant to the recent constitutional amendment extending jurisdiction over Correctional Services to the Concurrent List, ensure that the foundation for the construction of proposed state-owned correctional centre is laid before taking his bow from the popular Dennis Osadebe Avenue.
The meeting ended with Nosa Francis Edo-Osagie, Esq. presenting an award of honour and copies of a Magazine published by the leadership of the NBA Benin branch, to the governor.
