Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State has called on the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, to ensure the enthronement of the principles of rule of law in the country.
The governor spoke on the occasion of the 2017/2018 National Executive Council Meeting of the association in Uyo the Akwa Ibom State capital.
Speaking at the commencement of the meeting, he described members of the Bar as bastion of hope for equity and justice in the country.
He enjoined them to rise in defence of the country’s democracy.
The governor stated that democracy could not thrive in the absence of the rule of law and urged the lawyers to always speak against irregularities in handling cases including electoral matters.
Emmanuel frowned at the persistent drop in the revenue from the Federation Account, explaining that there had been improvement in the price of the crude oil at the international market.
He also appealed to the jurist to explore ways of correcting the irregularity.
While highlighting his development strides, the governor pledged his administration’s resolve to take development programmes to the hinterland to enable him touch on the lives of the rural dwellers.
He congratulated members of the association on their elevation as Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN) and thanked the association for their choice of Akwa Ibom state for the conference.
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Earlier, in a keynote address, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, in the state, Barrister Uwemedimoh Nwoko, expressed appreciation to the Barrister Abubarkar Balarabe Mahmud-led association for creating congenial operating environment for legal practitioners to carry out their duties.
Nwoko explained that the conference would afford NBA opportunity to take stock of the association’s activities in the concluding year as well as brace up for the incoming year.
He said that the state government had played active role in ensuring justice delivery with the establishment of robust institutional framework for the enthronement of rule of law and ensuring a vibrant democracy in the country.
The commissioner advised legal practitioners to protect the integrity of the profession and abhor conduct that might bring the profession to disrepute.
The National President Nigerian Bar Association, Barrister Abubarkar Mahmud, SAN, called on the Bar to join in the fight against violation of the rule of law and reiterated the commitment of the Bar to making judiciary the last hope of the common man.
He commended the state government for the passage of criminal justice administration saying that it would aid in the speedy dispensation of justice in the state.
Mahmud sued for contributions from delegates comprising national officers of the association, past presidents, secretaries and branch chairmen that would enable the legal profession attain greater heights.
