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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
Bismarck Rewane, renowned economist and chief executive officer of the Financial Derivatives Company, has warned that the recent outbreak of the tomato leaf miner, commonly referred to as “Tomato Ebola,” is a disruption to Nigeria’s agriculture value chain.
Bismarck Rewane, CEO, Financial Derivatives Company
Speaking on Channels Television’s Business Morning programme on Thursday, Rewane emphasised that the impact of the outbreak extends far beyond tomatoes, triggering a cost ripple effect across the broader food basket.
“The effect of an increase in the price of tomatoes leads to cost elasticity which means that the price of other substitutes will begin to increase, including the price of carrots, the price of tomato paste, price of tomato puree and other things.
“One for the reddening, two for the effect and the thickening on the sauce you’re making.
“However, because tomato is a perishable commodity, it also means that if there is tomato ebola, then the price has increased, and also the supply has reduced, it has a knock-on effect on so many other things,” Rewane explained.
He added that Nigeria’s lack of food storage and preventive mechanisms has worsened the crisis, causing severe supply chain disruptions.
Rewane’s comments come amid a sharp increase in the price of tomatoes, with a 50-kilogramme basket of the commodity which used to sell for N5,000, now selling for N10,000 to N30,000, thereby compounding food inflation and straining household budget.
The Federal Government said Nigeria has so far lost over N1.3 billion to the outbreak of the invasive pest in key tomato-producing states like Kano, Katsina, and Kaduna.
Abubakar Kyari, minister of Agriculture and Food Security, explained that the outbreak has significantly disrupted tomato supply chains, causing a surge in prices.
He noted that the outbreak of tomato Ebola highlights the fragile nature of Nigeria’s horticultural systems, and that the invasive pest can destroy tomato crops within 48 hours, resulting in catastrophic yield losses.
He added that this crisis highlights the urgent need for integrated pest management strategies, investment in resilient crop varieties, and enhanced support for farmers to safeguard the country’s food supply chains.
A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has adjourned the N12.3 billion loan controversy case involving the Chairman of Honeywell Group, Oba Otudeko, and three others, to June 11, 2025.
Oba Otudeko,
Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke postponed the case to allow time for either a peaceful settlement or the formal arraignment of the suspects.
The decision followed reports that negotiation are still ongoing between the parties involved for out-of-court settlement as advised by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), who is trying to mediate.
During Thursday’s hearing, Otudeko’s lawyer, Bode Olanipekun (SAN), told the court that negotiations for an out-of-court resolution were still in progress.
Similarly, the lawyer for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Bilikisu Buhari, acknowledged the discussions but asked the court to set a new date for arraignment in case the negotiations fail.
It will be recalled that at the last sitting of the court on March 17, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN) had informed the judge that a meeting involving all counsel had been convened at the instance of the Attorney General of the Federation.
He said that this was aimed at reaching a peaceful settlement of the case.
Olanipekun had also stated that substantial progress was made, and the AGF directed all parties to refrain from actions that could jeopardize the resolution process, including filing further applications.
The court will reconvene on June 11 to hear the outcome of the settlement talks or proceed with the arraignment if no agreement is reached.
The Zamfara State government has signed an agreement with Oracle to invest in youth development, workforce capacity building and the digital economy under Oracle University’s Skills Development Initiative (SDI).
The agreement was signed at Oracle’s Offices in London, United Kingdom, with Governor Dauda Lawal representing the Zamfara State government.
A statement on Wednesday by the Governor’s spokesperson, Sulaiman Bala Idris, explained that the development will foster collaboration between the Zamfara Information and Technology Development Agency (ZITDA) and Oracle.
Secretary to the State Government, two Special Advisers and the Executive Secretary of ZITDA were also present at the event, along with Siobhan Wilson, Oracle UK Country Leader and Senior Vice President, EMEA.
The statement said, “Zamfara State government has signed a strategic agreement with Oracle to drive digital skills development across the state.
“Facilitated through the Zamfara Information Technology Development Agency, the collaboration will use the expertise and learning services of both Oracle Academy and Oracle University in their digital transformation efforts.
“The collaboration signifies a commitment to education and a strategic investment in the future of Zamfara’s youth, workforce and digital economy.
“Oracle Academy, Oracle’s global philanthropic educational programme offers a robust portfolio of technology education teaching and learning resources, including curriculum and software access, to educators and students worldwide.
“With the support of the Zamfara Information Technology Development Agency, these resources will be made available to validate higher education institutions across Zamfara.
“ZITDA will help lead efforts to integrate Oracle Academy offerings into Zamfara’s higher education curriculum, equipping educators with the tools and resources they need to guide students in learning hands-on tech skills and toward Oracle’s professional certifications and foster a new generation of tech-savvy leaders.
“In addition, Oracle University’s Skills Development Initiative, a global programme that provides access to world-class learning and certification programmes at no cost to eligible learners, will further expand opportunities for learners in Zamfara.
“Through a co-branded Learning Portal in collaboration with ZITDA, Oracle University plans to provide free access to digital learning paths and foundational certifications for eligible participants across Zamfara. This includes curated learning journeys offering over 200 hours of professional-level training in high-demand areas such as Cloud, AI, Data Science and APEX development.”
In his remarks at the ceremony, Governor Dauda Lawal restated that the collaboration with Oracle is part of his administration’s commitment to transforming Zamfara into a hub of innovation, education, and digital excellence.
He said, “on behalf of the government and the good people of Zamfara State, I extend my deepest appreciation to Oracle for believing in our vision and for partnering with us on this transformative journey.
“What we are doing today goes beyond technology, it is about giving hope, creating opportunities and unlocking the future. By investing in digital education and innovation, we are offering real alternatives to poverty, to joblessness and to despair. I sincerely thank Oracle for standing with us, believing in the power of partnership, purpose, and shared dreams.
“Today, we are not just signing a document, we are making a promise, promise that every child in Zamfara will have a fair chance to dream, to learn, and to succeed. A promise that technology will be our bridge to a stronger, more inclusive economy. And, a promise that Zamfara will not merely participate in the digital revolution, we will lead it.”
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