Revisit Ige Murder Trial, Williams Tells NBA
By Gboyega Akinsanmi
Chief Rotimi Williams (SAN) yesterday tasked the Nigeria Bar Associa-tion (NBA) to revisit the trial of the suspects in the murder of former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Bola Ige.
Speaking in the valedictory court session organized in honour of Chief Debo Akande at Lagos High Court Foyer, Williams said it is necessary to bring the perpetrators of the act to book and make them face the wrath of the law.
Akande was the lead prosecution counsel in the Ige murder trial. The principal suspect, Senator Iyiola Omisore was acquitted by an Ibadan High Court, while the Oyo State government entered nolle prosequi for the 11 other accused.
He said that "It is very sufficient for me to say that NBA has sacred roles to play or a duty to address the questions pertaining to or connected with the proceedings relating to identification, investigation and prosecution of the suspects in the affair of the assassination of the late Chief Bola Ige, a person who held the high position of the chief legal officer of this nation at the time of his assassination".
While emphasizing the urgent need to fish out Ige's killers, Williams said it would be ridiculous on the part of the nation's criminal justice system and security operatives if the perpetrators of the murder of the nation's chief legal officer are allowed to go unpunished.
"This is not the appropriate forum or the appropriate occasion to discuss many questions raised in public statements made by our late colleague on matters relating to or connected with the role of Chief Debo Akande as a lead counsel for the prosecution of those suspected of the offence which led to the death of the late Chief Bola Ige", he said.
He commended Akande for his brilliant contributions to the legal profession. He added that "in celebrating the life and contributions of our late colleague, Chief Debo Akande, it is right for us to do so in the context of the need to maintain and uphold the fundamentals of our democratic system of government nurtured by the rule of law and principles of true federalism".
He said it was largely through his activities and participation within the institutions of legal profession that the Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) brought his ideas, philosophy and professional capabilities to bear upon, influence and direct the management of the affairs of the profession.
While Williams urged the living legal practitioners to learn from Akande's philosophy, lifestyle and approach to issues, he noted that "this must not be allowed to derogate from his influence as a legal practitioner in his own right or derogate from his influence and contributions as an acknowledged leader of thought in this nation."
"The law and the constitution of this nation are not scraps of the paper. They embody the expression of the sovereign will of our people. Everytime we make the slightest effort to bend the rules laid down in the law or constitution of the nation, we are doing a disservice to the rule of law", he added.
Williams noted that Akande had done well in the upkeep of the rule of law and contributed his own quotas to national growth and development.
"Our late colleague lived and died a professional legal practitioner. Throughout his life, he was conscious of the role of the profession of his choice in the maintenance of the fundamentals of our political democracy, of the principles of true federalism and above all of the rule of law", he remarked.
Tasking all legal practitioners to take a cue from Akande's life, Williams reminded all members of the Bar across the country that the carefully worded provisions of the nation's constitution designed to safeguard the principles of true federalism were very vital to ensuring and maintaining the unity of various nationalities and ethnic groups in the nation.
He said "every legal practitioner should make continuous effort to maintain our legal and justice system as Chief Akande has done during his stay on the surface of the earth".
Also speaking at the occasion, Lagos State Chief Judge, Justice Adetula Alabi, extolled Akande for living an exemplary life and setting a pace in the development of the legal profession.
Justice Alabi said "I live on the advice he gave me when I was appointed the Chief Judge of Lagos State. So, his death is not only a great tragedy to the legal practitioners and officials of the Judiciary organ but a great loss to the entire Nigerians.
"We can only forget you, but what you have achieved and what you lived for during your short, but productive span on the earth will keep ringing in the mind of this generation and the generation to come. Egbon, you are a legacy to this country and to the legal profession. O dabo o. A o pade lese Jesu Olugbala (Adieu, we shall meet in heaven)"
Also present at the occasion are Chief G.O.K. Ajayi (SAN), Lagos State Solicitor-General, Mr. Fola Arthur-Worrey representing Lagos State Attorney-General, Professor Yemi Osinbajo (SAN), Lagos Chapter NBA Chairman, Mr. Akin Akinbote, Ikeja Chapter NBA Chairman, Adekunle Ojo, judges of the Lagos State among others.
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