Prof. Fabian Ajogwu, SAN, Principal, Kenna Partners recently stated that lawyers have a vital role to play in the development of the society through a clear understanding of the importance of professionalism and ethics.

Prof. Ajogwu stated this at a colloquium to mark the 25th anniversary of Kenna Partners, a multi-service law firm based in Lagos.

The event with the theme: “Footprints in Law and society towards a paradigm shift” was held at Oriental Hotel in Victoria Island.

He noted that Law and society are inextricably tied by loosely connected yet solid strings, stressing that a clear understanding and recognition of the importance of this link forms the basis of a good society.

According to him, “Lawyers play a vital role in the development of society through a clear understanding of the importance of professionalism and ethics.

“Having chosen the noble profession, the lawyer should aim to live a life of integrity and dignity, accompanied by a competent and professional approach to the delivery of legal service and discharge of the judicial function.

“The legal practitioner must aim for excellence and to hold his own among his peers anywhere in the world, with high ethical conduct, not of regressive, unorthodox approach to the practice of law but of progressive, technology driven style of legal practice dictated by the finest traditions of the profession and by ‘the good that happens elsewhere’.

He also used the commemoration of the silver jubilee to highlight the landmark cases they have been privileged to work on in the past 25 years.

He added that the achievements recorded in the past 25 years were because of the heavy investment made in human capital development and information technology enhanced platform.

The unveiling of ‘Brief Insights: A Selection of Milestone Cases’

Prof. Ajogwu thanked members of staff of the firm for their dedication, expertise, commitment in carrying out their duties from the early days to date.

“The measure of achievement is based on the dedication, expertise, commitment and strength of the men and women who have helped steer the Firm’s ship from the early days to date.

They have done more than is required and gone much further than is expected. Without such dedication, the Firm would not be where it is today,” he added.

Speaking at the event, Chief ‘Folake Solanke, SAN, The first female Senior Advocate of Nigeria, decried the poor quality of graduates our tertiary institutions are churning out, noting that the problem could be traced to compromise on the part of lecturers in our institutions.

Chief Solanke, who was the chairman of the event called on the government and other public spirited organizations to protect our educational sector from collapse.

She noted that something urgently needs to done to address the hydra headed monster in our tertiary institutions.

She further called on judges to urgently start making use of electronic tools in carrying out their duties, adding that it’s a must for them to familiarize themselves with ICT tools if we want to move forward as a nation.

“Judges and lawyers must just go digital in carrying out their duties,” she added.

Mr. Odein Ajumogobia, SAN, senior partner, Ajumogobia & Okeke delivering a speech at the event stated that we should be equal before the law irrespective of class or status.

He noted that rule of law is fundamental in the development of any society.

He stated that lawyers have a role to play in safeguarding rule of law in the country.

The legal profession, according to him is severely under threat in the country.

He called on the profession to being to work towards lifting the country from the shackles of stagnation.

Cutting of the 25th anniversary cake at the event

Earlier, Mr. Damian Dodo, SAN, principal, D.D. Dodo & co said that if we want to witness a significant paradigm shift as a people, we should look at the quality of people we elect into elective positions especially in our legislative houses.

He also noted that we as a people must review the party supremacy rules to thrive.

Mr. Dodo said that we should have a mechanism in our laws that will be able to fish out those who committed electoral offences and adequate punishment meted out accordingly.

He appealed on lawyers to go back to the standards set by fore fathers of the profession, adding that time has come for a paradigm shift in the country.

He called for dispute resolution mechanism in the country to be intandem with global best practices.

The highlight of the event was the unveiling of a book titled Brief Insights: a Selection of Milestone Cases, which chronicles some notable decisions of the Nigerian Courts.

The book is a careful selection of cases which celebrate matters brought by litigants before the Courts, the persuasive arguments of lawyers and the decisions that have enriched legal practice and modern legal history in recent times.

The milestone cases selected and discussed, touch on the practice and procedure of the Courts, company law, real estate, fundamental human rights, election petition, oil and gas, maritime amongst others.

The book is another contribution to legal knowledge and practice in Nigeria by the law firm of Kenna Partners