Functional Judicial System Essential To Career Growth Of Young Lawyers - Adepitan-Olaniyi

Elsie Adepitan-Olaniyi

ABEOKUTA - The Chairperson, Young Lawyers Forum of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ijebu-Ode branch of Ogun state, Mrs. Elsie Adepitan-Olaniyi on Thursday maintained that, the career growth of young lawyers in the country is determined by the level  at which the judicial system functions.

Adepitan-Olaniyi who disclosed this in her welcome address at the 1st Inaugural lecture of Nigerian Bar Association Young Lawyers Forum, Ijebu-Ode branch on the theme "The influence of Justice and Order In A Developing Society" said the younger generation of legal professionals have to deliver their quota in achieving a positive influence in the society which alongside sharpens their career.

She said the lecture was put together in order for young lawyers to gain more knowledge towards attaining success in the legal practice. 

She maintained that the career growth of young lawyers is determined by the level at which the judicial system functions and the manner with which "our laws are enforced and sanctions strictly observed."

She expressed concern that lawlessness "is fast becoming the order of the day" due to the privilege of the social media. 

She stressed that, "In recent times we have been privileged through social media to gain information on world happenings and the fact that lawlessness is trending and fastly becoming the order of the day.

"There is hope in our judicial system to do justice and restore order to the society using the machinery and tools of the law.

"Our legal practitioners especially the younger generation who are ministers in the temple of justice, are not left out in their roles to deliver their quota in achieving a positive influence in our society which alongside sharpens their career.

"It is on this premise that we have been able to put together this platform to discuss the theme of the lecture in relation to Lady Justatia which is a symbol of law and order and also in relation to the development of Young lawyers career in our society today."

Speaking earlier, A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Joe-Kyari Gadzama, expressed worry over feud between the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Muhammad Tanko and the Supreme Court justices, saying it would compound the delayed justice system if the crisis is not urgently resolved. 

Gadzama equally said lawyers have huge roles to play in rescuing Nigeria from its quagmire.

Gadzama, who chaired of the lecture titled "The influence of Justice and Order in a developing society", submitted that entrenchment of justice and order would guarantee socioeconomic development of the country. 

The legal luminary who identified insecurity and poor economy as some of challenges confronting the nation, said lawyers need to come to the aid of Nigeria. 

Highlighting lawyers' role in the society, 

Gadzama said the lawyer "is the five senses of the visible body of common man - the eye, the mouth, the eardrum, the nose and the receptor of the common man."

"The country as a state and as a nation is facing a lot of challenges, from the issue of safety to the issue of whether we should restructure this country or not.

"The economy is below the ladder and we have been referred to as the poverty capital of the entire world. Some are saying we are gravitating towards becoming a failed state. Some have even opined that we are already a failed state. 

"So, it's the lawyers who can come to aid of this country," Gadzama said. 

Delivering the lecture, Chukwuma Ikwuazom (SAN) also agreed that effective judicial and justice system would help in resolving Nigeria economic challenges. 

According to him, one of the questions  investors ask is, how effective is the nation's judiciary in settling commercial dispute. 

"And the answer to that question maybe be between, investing in Nigeria, for example, or in Ghana. 

"So, if we are serious about driving the development (of Nigeria), we must begin to do the things we need to do to be able to make our judicial sector functional," Ikwuazom said.