“IKEJA BAR’S TRIP TO GHANA WILL BE WONDERFUL” Amina Imana

On Wednesday the 12th November 2008, the Squib spoke with pretty Barrister Amina Imana an active member of the Nigerian Bar Association Ikeja Branch and the Secretary of the Junior Lawyers Forum of the Ikeja Bar on a few issues including the forthcoming December 2008 Excursion of the Branch to Accra Ghana. Amina is the co-ordinator of the Trip to Ghana. Please read on.

Squib: Our readers will like to meet Barrister Amina Imana.
Imana: My name is Amina Ohiovoluwa Imana. I was called to the Bar in November 2006 after graduating from the Lagos State University (LASU) Ojo Lagos. I am presently an associate in Adekunle Ojo & Co. Legal Practitioners. Before now I was with Olatunji Sofowora & Co. I did a stint with the U.N Information Technology Services (UNITES). After freelancing with UNITES them I joined Adekunle Ojo & Associates.

Squib: Can you tell us a little about the Junior Lawyers Forum (JLF) of the Ikeja Bar since you are the secretary?
Imana: I am the Publicity Secretary of the JLF of the Ikeja Bar. The JLF is a platform for the new-wigs to get to know what it entails to be a lawyer. In short getting to know the ropes of being a very good lawyer. Our chairman is Olawunmi Oluwaseyi. We meet every last Friday of the month to discuss issues, relevant to junior lawyers; issues like how to handle briefs well, how to over come court room fright. It is also a forum for young lawyers to ventilate their grievances in the profession and make known their observations. The JLF also presents the opportunity for young lawyers to embrace continuous legal education

Squib: We understand the NBA Ikeja is planning to take interested member on a one week visit to Ghana in December?
Imana: Yes that is true. In fact I was directed by Mr. Dave Ajetomobi the chairman of the branch to co-ordinate the plans to take our members to Ghana. The branch wants to use this travel programme to bring her members together in a serene and relaxed atmosphere whereby the seniors and juniors can mix freely. We want to create a situation where lawyers will for a little while abandon the normal high pressure life style of their work. To that end the leadership intend to take interested members to a seven day visit to Accra the capital of Ghana. We intend to visit the Ghana Parliament and the Supreme Court. We shall also visit the Elmina Castle, Kakun Park, (a game reserve) and the famous Mokola Market.

Squib: What's the cost implication of the trip?
Imana: It is not expensive. For only N50,000.00 participants will, for 7 days be transported, accommodated and secured in and about Accra, Ghana. You will agree with me that the fee of N50,000.00 is very reasonable. I hope none of our members will missed out of this wonderful opportunity.

“LAW IS A WONDERFUL PROFESSION” - Stephen Oteju

On Friday, the 7th November 2008, the Squib had a short but very interesting interview with Stephen Afolabi Babalola Oteju, Esq. a member of the 1968 graduate set of the Nigerian Law School in his expansive Palmgrove Estate Lagos home. Now about 74 years old, Mr. Oteju a widely traveled and successful businessman was the best over all student at the Law School (Bar Part 1) but practiced law for only a few months after qualifying as a solicitor and barrister of the Supreme Court of Nigeria. Mr. Oteju hails from Ikorodu, Lagos State.

SQUIB: In your time how was the legal profession regarded?
OTEJU: The law profession as at that time, just like now was highly regarded. Most people who went into law did so because we realised it is a field where you can be many things at a time. As a lawyer, you can also be a businessman. A lawyer can really be anything he wants. The very nature of law and the training make this so. I read law, I wanted to be lawyer all my life. At the same time, even when I was in London I was doing business. When I came back and qualified I practiced for some months before going back to business. But even as a businessman, I am very much interested in the law profession. The knowledge of law has been very useful to me in my life as a businessman. Two of my children are lawyers. This is a field that I very much admire. To me law is a wonderful profession. I was in London between 1961-1966 for my legal studies, I studied law at the Holborn College of Law. You must have the University degree of that College before coming back to Nigeria to qualify from the Nigerian Law School. We are the first set to do nine months of training at the Law School but usually it was three months. We are the 1967-1968 set.

SQUIB: What is your memory of the Nigerian Law School?
OTEJU: The Law School then was very strict, and we were very careful. Those of us who came from outside Lagos were accommodated in the legislative quarters at Victoria Island. Most of us were using one bedroom flat apartment. Dr. Orojo, was the Director of the Law School then. It was a beautiful arrangement.
The training then, was very good. People like Ogendegbe, Ibironke our lecturers.The lecturers were very dedicated. G.O.K Ajayi was also one of them though he was a part time lecturer. I remember that we were just a little above 100 students in our class but have lost 34 of us over the years.
If you don't pass Bar part one, you can not go to Bar part 2 then. Lawyers have always been looked up to, the society respects lawyers. Some people believe they are clever, intelligent. In our time many parents prefered their children to become either lawyers or doctors.
Dr. Elias the Attorney-General of Federation then, was a pillar of Nigerian Law School, I had the privilege of coming first in our Bar part one examination and I got a prize from Elias.
The Director of the Law School then Dr. Orojo was so pleased with me, after we qualified that he advised me and introduced me to Gani Fawehinmi (three years my senior) to practice with him. Gani and I were to form a partnership but the arrangement did not work out. After about six months of practice, I left to join my family in the U.K. I love law but my inclination has always been business. But I make sure that two of my children became lawyers.

SQUIB: Can you remember some of your Law School mates?
OTEJU: Some of my classmates, for instance are Kolapo Gambari (now Emir of Ilorin). I remember James Ogebe and Umaru Abdulilah (they are the one who organized this great occasion.) Goodie Ibru, James Ademiluyi and his wife (they met at the Law School). Moshood Olugbani, Mustapha the Court of Appeal. Are also my mates at the Law school
Of course when we met in Abuja, November 1, 2008 after 40 years of leaving the Law School, we were all happy to see one another. It was our first re-union. We all have changed. Our hairs are now white, but we related as if we were still students. it was a great occasion. We were so happy meeting ourselves. I really appreciate the organisers of the 40th anniversary celebration for our set, James Ogebe and Umaru Abdullahi. I told our people that we must continue this re-union and make it biennial. We must also do something for the Law School, and for the Nigerian Bar Association. We must improve the practice of law. We must make our mark in that area. Those of us at the bar and on the bench, must not abuse our powers. Law is a wonderful profession. I must not forget to appreciate Goodie Ibru too. He gave us free dinner at the Sheraton Hotel.