We want to associate with your office’— NBA tell Oyo Deputy Governor 

The Executive Committee of Nigeria Bar Association, Ibadan branch on Wednesday paid a courtesy call to the former Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in Oyo State, as well as the immediate past Chairman of Oyo State Housing Corporation, Barrister Adebayo Abdul-raheem Lawal on his appointment as the Deputy Governor of Oyo State. 

The NBA Chairman, Mrs. Folasade Aladeniyi being the first female chairman of the branch in 68yrs led other members of the Executive Committee to the Deputy Governor’s office who are Mr. O.K Abimbola (Vice Chairman), Mr. Olakunle Akintola (Secretary), Mr.Hub reel Adio Kareem (Asst. secretary), Mrs. Oluwatosin Ige (Treasurer), Mr. Oluwatobi Fatoki (Publicity Secretary), and also; Mr. Yusuf Raimi (Immediate Past Secretary) and Mr. Boluwatife Sanya (Chairman, Young Lawyers Forum) who were all inaugurated on Monday, 27th June, 2022.

While speaking, Mrs. Aladeniyi who appreciated the Deputy Governor for receiving them, revealed that she had to invite the Executive Committee of the branch for the courtesy call without hesitation. 

She stated that ‘the Deputy Governor is from her Constituency (NBA) and has always been a highly respected leader of the bar, hence, the need to congratulate and associate with him. 

The Chairman of the Association, Mrs. Aladeniyi further disclosed that Adebayo Lawal had served in the public sector where he performed creditably and ensured that he left the place a better place than he met it by doing things differently and uniquely. 

“For instance, when the Deputy Governor was an Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice in Oyo State, the Ministry was always at the fore-front as the neatest ministry in the Oyo State Secretariat. Also, when he was posted to serve as the Chairman, Oyo State Housing Corporation, the place was more or less moribund but being focused and determined for a great and positive impact, he was able to overhaul the place totally not knowing that the Executive Governor of Oyo State, His Excellency, Engr. Oluseyi Makinde was watching.”

The Chairman, Mrs. Aladeniyi was very grateful on behalf of all the Executive Committee of the branch for the Deputy Governor’s words of advise and support to the bar. 

She then made mention of the steps the branch has taken so far in seeing to the plight of young and indigent lawyers in the branch by setting up an Advocacy Committee of the branch to see to pro-bono cases among others. 

She also prayed for the assistance of the Deputy Governor being a legal practitioner for support towards projects the branch intends to commence such as augmenting the Bar Center donated by Aare Afe Babalola SAN amidst other supports that will ease the branch at the forthcoming Annual General Conference of the NBA as Ibadan branch has always been the premier bar and must forever stand firm and strong in being at the fore-front.

In his response, the Deputy Governor, Bayo Lawal, who was also delighted to equally receive the Executive Committee members of the NBA Ibadan branch urged the lawyers to be unique and distinguish themselves/tenure through positive and good projects that will benefits the branch. 

He seeks for the improvement of the welfare of Young Lawyers by creating a pool of resources from senior and successful Lawyers to aid them in discharging their duties as legal practitioners. 

Bayo Lawal also charged for discipline at the bar and for lawyers to maintain being properly dressed in line with the ethics of the profession. 

He thus advised the Executive Committee members of the branch to be unique and improve the bar during their administration.