The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Hon Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad, former Managing Director/CEO of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Chief Bassey Dan-Abia, and other notable justices on the Supreme Court bench, justices of the Appeal Court, judges and other senior lawyers gathered together to mark the 40th anniversary of their call-to-bar in Abuja.
The epoch making event provided the opportunity for the senior justices, judges and lawyers to share testimonies of their success stories in judiciary and other spheres of life as major actors in the country today.
Chief Dan-Abia, who is currently representing the South-South region as a federal commissioner of the Nigeria Law Reform Commission, was present at the event to relish the day and celebrate with his classmates.
Chairman of the National Planning Committee, Chief Chris Uche, SAN, has earlier hinted on the anniversary celebration to Judiciary correspondents in Abuja in the company of the Class chairman, Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN.
Chief Uche said that the anniversary is to bring together all lawyers called to the Nigerian Bar in 1981 with a view to appreciate God in their individual lives and to forge a common front on how to strengthen the practice of the legal profession, improvement of the justice delivery system and contribute more meaningfully to the national development.
He added that there was so much members of the 1981 set can do as a group to influence policy and decision making at the highest levels in the legal profession for improvement and reforms in the justice delivery system, the development of legal education and indeed for the peace and stability of this great country as they consolidate their coming together as front-line stakeholders for the good of the present and future generations.
“Forty years’ post-call is indeed and unarguably a huge, glorious and uncommon milestone, worthy of celebration and thanksgiving. When we look back, 40 years ago in the lives of each and everyone of us, we certainly have so much to be grateful for.
“As a class, we have also done exceedingly well, and indeed, have become the most blessed, accomplished and successful Set in contemporary history in the legal profession in this country as well as in many sectors of the economy and branches of life.
“As we know, our set currently boasts of 6 members at the same time in the Supreme Court, with a Chief Justice of Nigeria, and a 7th Supreme Court Justice, now, the Emir of Lafia.
“We have many justices of the Court of Appeal, chief judges of several states, both serving and retired, presidents of Customary Courts of Appeal, serving and retired, very many Judges of the Federal and High Courts, as well as many accomplished legal practitioners, many Senior Advocates of Nigeria, many Professors of Law, many successful politicians, business moguls, religious leaders.”
