Tag: Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee

Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Walter Onnoghen has appointed constitutional lawyer Sebastine Hon (SAN) as a member of the Legal Practitioners Privileges Committee (LPPC). This came as he marked his 51st birthday anniversary and 10 years as a Senior Advocate. Legal Editor JOHN AUSTIN UNACHUKWU reports.

Chief Justice Walter Onnoghen has appointed Mr Sebastine Hon as a member of the Legal Practitioners Privileges Committee (LPPC).

The Committee, established by Section 5(3) of the Legal Practitioners Act (LPA), is the body responsible for the screening of qualified legal practitioners for the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).

LPPC is also charged with making rules as to obligations and privileges to be conferred on SANs as well as restrictions and mode of appearance to ensure the dignity of the rank of SAN.

It is chaired by the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) and comprises 15 other members.

Chief Justice Onnoghen appointed Hon as LPPC member on January 9.

This was as Gboko Town in Benue State came alive as family and friends gathered to honour Hon, author of the well cited book: S.T. Hon’s Law of Evidence.

Dignitaries, including Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom, joined Hon in celebrating his 51st birthday.

The celebrant also marked the 10th anniversary of his being conferred with the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).

The event, which had morning and afternoon sessions, was held at the Tiv Traditional Council Chambers and at the J.S. Tarka Stadium in Gboko.

This is as Hon was named a member of the Legal Practitioners Privileges Committee (LPPC).

Governor Ortom described Hon as a versatile, erudite and learned silk whose life has been eventful and full of achievements within and beyond the legal profession.

“Your exemplary character, professional conduct and significant contributions to the Bar and the administration of justice in Nigeria cannot be overemphasised.

“As an illustrious son of Benue State, I am proud to identify with your landmark achievements and appreciate you on this momentous occasion.

“It is my earnest desire that you would continue to make useful contributions to the peace, unity and development of Benue State in particular and Nigeria in general.

“As you celebrate these auspicious events, I join your numerous friends, colleagues and well-wishers to rejoice with you and your family and  to pray God Almighty to grant you good health, wisdom and strength to continue to serve God and humanity and be a model to the younger generations,” the governor said.

Customary Court of Appeal President Justice Cosmas A. Idaye who spoke on behalf Benue judges congratulated S.T Hon for his “monumental achievements”.

“He is an asset not only to Benue State Judiciary, but to humanity in general. He is industrious, humble, loves the poor and humanity in general.

“He is a home grown product, all the schools he attended were here, he is an inspiration to the youth .

“A great author, his books are cited in almost the entire superior courts of record in Nigeria including the Supreme Court.

“Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo described him as a blessing to this generation because of his immeasurable contributions to the legal profession.

“The Vice President said: ‘I am a Professor of the Law of Evidence, I used to think I was the wisest when it came to the Law of Evidence; but since I started reading S.T. Hon’s Book on Evidence, I realised he is wiser than me. I honestly commend him for the weighty contributions he has made to the development of law in Nigeria.’

“Prof. Osinbajo is a genius because he taught us the law of evidence in the University of Lagos. So, for him to say this, then it means that the man we celebrating here today is also a genius,” Justice Idaye said.

In her goodwill massage, the member representing Gboko East Constituency in the House of Representatives, Mrs Agaigbe Utsaha, also felicitated with Hon.

“The birth of great men is heralded by great events and is usually for a mission. We at Gboko East Constituency and indeed the entire Benue State and Nigeria at large can attest to your doggedness, commitment to service and selflesness as reflected In your contribution to the peaceful co-existence and socio-economic development of our dear state and beyond.

Gboko East State constituency is an acclaimed beneficiary of your uncommon service to humanity.

“Our prayers are that the Almighty God, who has richly prospered you and ordered your every step these past years will continue to bless you with good health and fulfillment in the many more years of worthy service ahead of you,” Utsaha said.

Chief E. K. Ashiekaa (SAN), who chaired the event, described Hon as “extra-ordinary person, an extra-ordinary son of Tiv land, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, an erudite author, a philanthropist and a very hard working person, a man who loves the Tiv and people who come near him”.

He recalled how Hon encouraged him in his low moments as a lawyer, and spoke of the need for mentorship.

“We are celebrating an icon in his own chosen career,” Ashiekaa said.

Special Assistant to Governor Ortom on Community Relations, Hon. Silas Anjie, who chaired the event’s central planning committee, described Hon as humble, hardworking, God-fearing, dogged, diligent, generous and a gentleman.

He said Hon had a humane disposition and uncommon ability to mix with the under privileged without discrimination.

“You have contributed in no small measure to the legal profession and the development of the Federation of Nigeria at large,” Anjie stated

Silas Anjie said Hon contributed to the development of not only the legal profession but the country.

“These qualities which are the hallmark of greatness have endeared him to the people and earned him admiration, love and respect from people in and outside the state,” Anjie said.

The 2018 set of the Nigerian Law School graduates who have just been called to the Nigerian Bar presented a big framed photograph to Hon in recognition of his contributions to the development of the State and the legal profession.

The man Hon

Hon was born on December 9, 1967 in Kano. An indigene of Gboko, Benue State, S.T. Hon attended St. Francis Primary School, Gboko, where he obtained the First School Leaving Certificate in 1980.

He had a brief secondary education at Mbatiav Secondary School, Ikpenger but later, in 1981, attended Kings Comprehensive College, Mkar, Gboko, where he graduated in 1985.

Hon also undertook studies at the School of Basis Studies, Makurdi between 1985 and 1987, where he obtained the Interim Joint Admission Board (IJMB) Certificate.

In that same year 1987, he gained direct admission to study Law at the University of Jos; and he graduated therefrom in 1990.

He was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1991, after successfully completing the mandatory one-year programme at the Nigerian Law School, Lagos.

In 2008, Hon was elevated to the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria  (SAN). He was the only applicant elevated that year as an academic owing largely to his quite onerous task of combining research and book writing with legal practice.

After undertaking mandatory study at the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators Nigeria, Hon was inducted as a Fellow of that Institute, the highest any person can attain in arbitration.

Court of Appeal President Justice Zainab Adamu Bulkachuwa appointed Hon as a member of the Court of Appeal Rules Advisory Committee.

Hon is the author of many books. He is the co-author of: Management of Primary Schools at the Third Tier of Government in Nigeria: a legal manual (Based on Decree No. 3 of 1991; and published in 1992 during NYSC). He was the only NYSC member of set 1991 to publish a book.

He is the author of Constitutional Law and Jurisprudence in Nigeria (Based on the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 and published in 2004).

Hon is the author of Law of Evidence in Nigeria: Substantive and Procedural (Published in 2006), as well  as Civil Procedure In Nigeria [Federal High Court, State High Courts And FCT Abuja High Court] (Published in 2008).

His other books are: S.T. Hon’s Law of Evidence in Nigeria, VOLS. I AND II (2012), S.T. Hon’s Constitutional and Migration Law in Nigeria (2016), Nigerian Legal Diction and Phraseology (Manuscript), Nigeria From Medieval Times To The Year 2000: Facts, Figures And Details (Manuscript).