The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, has charged lawyers across the country to defend the rule of law, protect citizens’ rights and liberties, and ensure equal access to justice, irrespective of social status, religion, ethnicity or political affiliation.
Fagbemi gave the charge at the weekend during the commissioning of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ikare-Akoko Branch Bar and Library Centre in Ondo State.
He said legal practitioners had a responsibility to strengthen the justice system, defend judicial independence and ensure that disputes were resolved lawfully and peacefully.
“As legal practitioners, we are entrusted with the duty to preserve the sanctity of the rule of law, protect the rights and liberties of every individual, strengthen the foundations of peaceful coexistence, and promote a justice system that is fair, inclusive, and accessible to all,” he said.
The minister stressed that lawyers must discharge their professional obligations without fear or discrimination, regardless of the financial means, ethnic origin, religious beliefs or political affiliations of those seeking justice.
He maintained that no individual or institution should be above the law, adding that the judiciary could not effectively perform its constitutional responsibilities without a competent, courageous and ethical Bar.
According to him, public confidence in the justice system depends largely on the conduct of legal practitioners and the quality of legal representation available to citizens.
Fagbemi said the Federal Ministry of Justice, the judiciary, the NBA and other stakeholders must continue to work together to strengthen judicial institutions, uphold constitutional governance and protect fundamental rights.
He urged lawyers to speak courageously and responsibly on issues affecting the administration of justice, insist on due process and maintain high professional standards.
The AGF also called for concerted efforts to remove barriers preventing vulnerable and underserved communities from accessing justice.
He charged the leadership of the NBA Ikare-Akoko Branch to make the new centre a hub for legal discourse, professional development, mentorship, community engagement and the promotion of ethical legal practice.
The centre was named after renowned legal practitioner, Kofo Salam-Alada, in recognition of his contributions to the legal profession and community development. Its foundation stone was laid earlier in the year by the immediate past NBA President, Afam Osigwe, SAN.
Congratulating Salam-Alada on the honour, Fagbemi described him as an embodiment of integrity, dedication and professional excellence, adding that the naming of the facility after him was a fitting recognition of his contributions.
Speaking with journalists, Salam-Alada said his commitment to the development of Akoko land and the wider community inspired his support for the project.
He explained that friends and associates who had benefited from his mentorship and support rallied resources to build the centre, adding that he was neither the builder nor had he expected the facility to be named after him.
“I have a resolve to continue to show love to Akoko land, to my alma mater, to everywhere that I’ve passed through, to continue to relate with them within my capability,” he said.
Salam-Alada described himself as someone interested in the socio-economic development of Akoko land rather than partisan politics, expressing hope that more people would support efforts to advance the development of the area and Ondo State.
The pioneer chairman of the NBA Ikare-Akoko Branch and former Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Taofeeq Abdulsalam, said the project was conceived through discussions about using Salam-Alada’s goodwill and network to establish a functional Bar centre.
Abdulsalam said lawyers and other beneficiaries of Salam-Alada’s mentorship and support contributed to the project, making the facility a collective achievement.
He added that the commissioning had brought prominent sons and daughters of Akoko together and renewed calls for unity, cooperation and community development.
In his remarks, the NBA Ikare-Akoko Branch Chairman, Omotan Ogunmodede, said the centre would support the professional development of young lawyers by providing access to legal books and research facilities.
He noted that legal practice required substantial financial resources, particularly for books, research materials and office facilities, which many young lawyers could struggle to afford.
Ogunmodede said the library would provide a valuable resource for lawyers who needed research facilities, while parts of the building could also serve as meeting spaces for practitioners who did not yet have offices.
He expressed hope that beneficiaries of the facility would, in the future, support similar initiatives for the branch and the legal profession.
Dignitaries at the event included the Ondo State Attorney-General, Dr. Kayode Ajulo, SAN; former NBA President Afam Osigwe, SAN; the Olukare, Oba Akadri Momoh; the Owa Ale of Ikare, Oba Adegbite; other traditional rulers; members of the NBA Ikare-Akoko Branch; and other guests.
