News
Ajogwu Extols Role of Lawyers in National Development
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
National Orientation Agency (NOA) has revealed that an investigation by its Community Orientation and Mobilisation Officers (COMO) uncovered unethical practices by some tertiary institutions, in collaboration with certain banks, that are depriving students of their rightful access to the Federal Government Student Loan Fund.
Paul Odenyi, deputy director of Communications and Media, in a statement Sunday, disclosed that several universities and financial institutions have been found engaging in fraudulent activities that prevent students from receiving the loans allocated to them.
Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, director general, NOA, shared these troubling findings following a high-level meeting with Mr. Akintunde Sawyerr, managing director, Nigeria Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), over the weekend.
According to NOA, preliminary reports led to an urgent intervention from NELFUND after it was discovered that some university officials had deliberately withheld critical details about student loan disbursements.
Further feedback from NOA confirmed that certain institutions, in collusion with banks, have intentionally delayed payments to approved applicants for dubious financial gain.
Additionally, some universities do not acknowledge the disbursements made by NELFUND to students.
Sawyerr confirmed that certain institutions have withheld information about loan payments issued in students’ names while still demanding tuition fees from them.
He warned that NELFUND is ready to take legal action against institutions found guilty of engaging in fraudulent practices.
He stated, “Recent findings by NELFUND have shown that some institutions have received student loan disbursements directly into their accounts yet neglect to inform the affected students or record the payments in their financial records, leading to unnecessary confusion.
“Withholding critical financial information from students is not only unethical but also a breach of the principles on which NELFUND was founded.
“We are prepared to take legal action against any institution engaged in such deceptive practices.”
The investigation revealed that in some instances, universities continued to demand full tuition payments from students, despite having already received the loan funds intended to cover those fees.
According to the NOA, this constitutes a gross violation of student rights and a betrayal of public trust.
Issa-Onilu, therefore, issued a strong warning to the institutions and collaborating financial institutions, demanding an immediate end to these actions.
He also directed all NOA state directorates to intensify feedback collection from students nationwide to aid the Federal Government in identifying and penalising the erring parties.
The NOA emphasised its commitment to transparency, accountability, and ensuring that students benefit fully from the government’s intervention in education financing.
The statement added that the investigation remains ongoing, and further actions are expected in the coming weeks.
Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has announced a remarkable $6.83 billion balance of payments surplus for 2024, marking a decisive turnaround from deficits of $3.34 billion in 2023 and $3.32 billion in 2022.
This achievement reflects the impact of sweeping macroeconomic reforms, stronger trade dynamics, and renewed investor confidence in the nation’s economic direction.
Speaking at the 36th Enugu International Trade Fair, Acting Director of Corporate Communications, Mrs. Hakama Sidi Ali, highlighted the CBN’s commitment to addressing economic challenges and fostering productivity, particularly for SMEs.
She emphasized the importance of robust financial systems, foreign exchange stability, and collaboration between monetary and fiscal authorities in achieving industrial development and global recognition.
The President of the Enugu Chamber of Commerce, Sir Odeiga Jideonwo, commended the CBN’s efforts but expressed concerns over the recent hike in interest rates, cautioning that it could hinder access to credit for businesses.
This surplus signals a positive trajectory for Nigeria’s economy, benefiting investors, businesses, and citizens alike.
News
Senate Committee Partners with Kuda Bank to Tackle Compliance Crisis as Nigeria Loses ₦3.4 Trillion
Over ₦3.4 trillion in financial infractions were uncovered across federal Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) in 2021, according to the Auditor General’s report — a staggering figure that highlights Nigeria’s deepening compliance crisis and the urgent need for stronger oversight in public institutions.
In response, the Senate Committee on Legislative Compliance is hosting a high-level workshop to address the root causes of weak oversight and institutional gaps. The two-day event, with the theme ‘Consolidating Strategies for Strengthening Legislative Compliance by MDAs’, will take place on April 15 and 16, 2025 at NAF Suites, Abuja, bringing together lawmakers, regulators, and over two hundred representatives from federal MDAs.
Kuda Microfinance Bank is co-sponsoring the workshop as part of its commitment to supporting responsible innovation, governance, and regulatory alignment in Nigeria’s financial ecosystem.
Rasaq Kadri, Kuda’s Head of Compliance, will deliver a keynote address on the second day of the event, highlighting the efforts of Nigeria’s fintechs to promote inclusion and financial literacy without compromising on compliance best practices.
“When public funds go unaccounted for, it doesn’t just damage government credibility, it affects the entire financial ecosystem, including fintechs,” said Kadri. “We can’t build trust-driven products in a trust-deficient environment. Every time compliance is treated as a box-ticking exercise, we miss the chance to build something that lasts. Fintechs have the tools and perspective to support better governance, but more importantly, we have a responsibility to be part of the solution.”
As a sponsor, Kuda will take the workshop to engage directly with key stakeholders in Nigeria’s regulatory and public service ecosystem.
Plenary sessions will be chaired by the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi SAN, and the Honourable Minister of Finance, Wale Edun. Conversations will focus on closing compliance gaps, strengthening institutional transparency, and promoting cross-sector collaboration.
The Senate Committee on Legislative Compliance Workshop is a unique platform for dialogue, knowledge-sharing, and collaborative action.
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