Nigerian law school class of 1977 celebrates 40 years of call

It has been 40 great, exciting and amazing years since the dynamic members of the Nigerian Law School Graduating Class of 1977 were called to the Nigerian Bar as Barristers and Solicitors of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

The Set of 77 members have distinguished themselves by making notable contributions in the legal profession, as well as in both the public and private sectors of the economy, contributing in no small measure to the professional, social and economic development of Nigeria, Africa and the world at large.

To mark its 40th Anniversary, the alumnus will hold a two-day event starting from, June 30 to July 1st (the actual date of call) 2017, to commemorate this significant milestone. On Friday the 30th June, an Anniversary Lecture is scheduled to hold at the Lagos Campus of the Nigerian Law School, Victoria Island, Lagos at 10am; whilst on Saturday 1st of July the Anniversary Dinner which is strictly by invitation, will take place at the prestigious Eko Hotel also in Victoria Island.

Speaking for the Organising Team, Sade Adetiba described the infectious excitement amongst members about the forthcoming Anniversary. She explained that the Organizing Team is “leaving no stone unturned to ensure that our colleagues have a refreshing and memorable interaction at the re-union. It will be interesting especially to see how our members who could not attend the 35th anniversary we had 5 years ago will be able to recognize one another.

“We’ve been receiving goodwill messages from well wishers for witnessing the epoch milestone. This includes a cherished congratulatory message from one of our lecturers who is the current Olowo of Owo, his Royal Majesty Oba Folagbade Olateru Olagbegi III CFR SAN, who described ours as one of the best Nigerian Law School sets”.

The Anniversary celebration promises to provide a warm environment for discussions and networking with friends and colleagues within and outside the legal profession, and  “We’re all going to let our hair down”, says George Etomi who will be co- anchoring the Lecture programme with Soji Awogbade, another eminent alumnus.

The anniversary lecture themed, “We are Lawyers, we are Judges: Now Justice!” will be delivered by an Alumnus of the Set; who is also the current Director-General of the Nigerian Law School (NLS) Olanrewaju Onadeko SAN.

An erudite Panel of discussants drawn from different backgrounds, who will provide diverse perspectives and challenge the thinking on this critical topic include 2 other distinguished alumni of the set, Hon Hassan Bubacar Jallow, a Gambian jurist and politician who is currently the Chief Justice of the Gambia; and Prof. Ameze Guobadia of the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (NIALS). Others are Prof. Akin Oyebode of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) Boma Ozobia OON, past President of the Commonwealth Lawyers Association and Mr. Yomi Orimobi, a legal practitioner and Cambridge University alumnus. The Chairman and moderator of the Panel is one of the revered former lecturers of the Law School, Dr. (Chief) Kole Abayomi, SAN.

The distinguished NLS 77 Set has an array of accomplished members: including 3 judges currently on the Supreme Court bench Justices Ejembi Eko, Mary Peter Odili, and Muhamad Musa Dattijo, 3 other alumni currently at the Court of Appeal are Justices Abdu Aboki, Rita Pemu and Fatima Akinbami; and as   President Customary Court of Appeal, Ondo State is Justice Folashade Aguda Taiwo. Serving Chief Judges include Justices Ibrahim Auta, Federal High Court, Ibrahim Bala Mairiga, Kebbi State; whilst Justices Nnenna Otti and Atiku Shehu retired recently as Chief Judge of Abia and Kano States respectively.

Whilst some members currently serve as Judges in different States of the Federation including Borno, other alumni members have retired as  Judges at different levels of the judiciary from the Supreme Court, as Chief Judge of a couple of States including Rivers and Delta, and some retired as Judges of Lagos and Anambra States, among others.

Apart from their robust contribution to the bench, the Class of 1977 has produced outstanding legal practitioners with the prestigious rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria including Charles Adogah SAN, Efe Akpofure SAN, Agatha Obiozo Mbamali SAN, Dr Olanrewaju Ondeko SAN, and Udechukwu Nnoruka Udechukwu SAN.

Other Class of 77 alumni who have distinguished themselves in the academia; in  public service; in industry, as well as in private legal practice include Prof Ameze Guobadia, Prof Eunice Uzodike, George Etomi, erstwhile Chair of the Section on Business Law of the Nigerian Bar Association and Member Body of Benchers, Tokunbo Adesanya,  Orok Oyo, Chief John Ochoga, Julie Oyegun, Ngozi Ebuzeme Okoye, Bisi Moore Akodu, Hashiya Ben Umar, Kayode Folayan, Hadiza Katsina Hassan as well as Folasade Adetiba, Bola Latinwo and Boma Doherty, who distinguished themselves as Federal State Counsel.

In the diaspora, NLS 77 alumni include Malebu Kotu Ramopo- SA and Margaret Poultney, from Kenya. In addition, Senators Daisy Danjuma, Umaru Dahiru and Femi Lanlehin have plotted the Set of 77 on the political landscape of Nigeria.

The NLS Class of 1977 has extended its invitation to members of the NBA, learned colleagues and business associates to join them as they commemorate their 40th anniversary.