Uphold Professionalism – Okowa Urges NBA, Says Courts Remain The Hope Of The Aggrieved 

Delta State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa has charged the Nigerian Bar Association to always maintain professional standards because, according to him, “the law courts remained the hope of the aggrieved”.

He, also, urged the NBA join in the crusade against corruption in order to bequeath a nation of achievers as well creator of wealth and entrepreneurship to the next generation.

Okowa stated this at the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Warri Golden Jubilee celebration of the call to bar of the branch’s three icons, Chief Thompson Joseph Onomigbo Okpoko, OON, SAN; Alaowei Broderick Cherima Bozimo; and Chief Dr Young Esombi at Warri.

Okowa, who was represented by the Deputy Governor, Deacon Kingsley Otuaro, noted that the continued reliance on courts by those who seek justice has proven beyond reasonable doubt, that the law courts remained the hope of the aggrieved and therefore the bastion of democracy.

He said that the topic of the lecture, “Persistent Problems In Litigation In Nigeria,” was quite apt and interesting, pointing out that the degree of access to courts determined whether a potential litigant could file a lawsuit or not.

Governor Okowa enjoined NBA to continue to champion the cause of underprivileged and disadvantaged before the courts, “That way, the saying that the courts are the last hope of common man will continue to hold true”. He added.

He prayed and believed that the celebration would beam the searchlight on improving the state and nation’s criminal justice system.

Congratulating the three legal luminaries on reaching the golden jubilee milestone, Okowa revealed that gold had been a standard of exemplary purity and excellence among metals since time immemorial and that he was happy to be part of the milestone.

“Fifty years is a major attainment the for an institution, as it is for individual.

“So, today, I join you to pay homage to these three eminent and respected personalities who have weathered the storm since their call to Bar we salute them for fifty years of professional success and unparalleled commitment to Community, the state and country,” Okowa stated.

Earlier, the immediate past Governor of Delta State, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan, urged the NBA to partner with the government towards developing the state and the nation at large.

In his remark, the President of the Nigerian Bar Association NBA, Olumide Akpata, maintained that role models were pivotal to the development of one’s career and all the three icons had proven to be worthy role models to all present.

He noted that the body of laws would be incomplete without their contributions to the growth, relevance and sustainability of the Warri Branch of the NBA and to the development of young lawyers.

“I count it a great honour to celebrate these three icons of legal practices who were at different instrumental to my growth and development in this Noble profession,” he said.
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The lecture was delivered by Hon. Justice Amina Adamu Augie, Justice of the Supreme Court (JSC).