The Chief Judge of Rivers State, Justice Simeon Amadi has asked lawyers to continuously support the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to aid its efforts at promoting the rule of law and the group’s activities.
Amadi spoke at the weekend at Isiokpo, a town in Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State, while declaring open the newly built “NBA Isiokpo Bar Centre,” donated by an indigene of the community, Dr Joseph Nwobike (SAN).
The Chief Judge observed that the donor is the first lawyer in the state to build and donate a secretariat for the NBA and urged lawyers to always find ways to help the association and aid young lawyers to grow professionally.
Nwobike gave an insight into what informed his decision to build the centre and plegde to do more to alleviate the plight of lawyers in his community and enhance their practice.
He said: “On the 22nd day of August 2022, Stephen Alu, Esq., led some members of the IhieIsiokpo, an association of Isiokpo born lawyers, and some other members of the NBA Isiokpo branch to my chambers in Ikoyi, Lagos, for a courtesy call.
“One of the lawyers in that delegation was Mr. Simple Dioha of the NBA Isiokpo branch. In the course of our discussions around the activities and challenges facing the NBA Isiokpo branch, Mr. Dioha spoke passionately about the problem of office accommodation confronting the branch since its creation by the O. C. J. Okocha, SAN, OFR led NBA National Executive Committee, in 2002.
“He, together with others who attended the meeting, sought for my support to enable the Branch
commence the process of acquiring its secretariat for better and efficient discharge of the Branch’s mandate.
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“I accepted to support the branch in that respect and immediately directed Stephen Alu, Esq., to source for land in Isiokpo town for that purpose.
“I purchased the land and, on the 22nd of September, 2022, handed over the ownership of the two plots of land to the branch at a ceremony attended by the Executives and members of the branch.
“At that event, the branch Chairman, Dr. Cashmia Ofurum, in his address, pleaded for my assistance in their quest to construct a befitting secretariat for the branch.
“Following this plea, I announced my decision to build and deliver a befitting secretariat on that land to the branch within the shortest possible time.
“What we are gathered here today, being the 23 of June, 2023, is the highpoint of that unconditional commitment made by my humble self to the NBA Isiokpo Branch on that day.
“This project, I must confess, is one of my little ways of giving back to the profession from which I have derived so much.
In all, I want to thank God for providing the means, grace and divine understanding which clearly enabled the completion of this project within this time.
“I also proceed to thank the members and executives of the Branch for naming this secretariat after my humble self. My family and I are indeed humbled by this gesture,” Nwobike said.
“In his remarks, Ofurum thanked the donor for providing the magnificent edifice to the branch.