UNILORIN trained us to be world best – Oke
A Professor of Energy and Electricity Law at the University of Lagos, Yemi Oke, has eulogised the Faculty of Law, University of Ilorin, for inculcating a culture of excellence, discipline and distinction in him and in generations of students who passed through the Faculty, which he described as prestigious.
Prof Oke stated this last Monday (December 11, 2023) while presenting the 2023 edition of the Justice Muhammad Mustapha Akanbi Public Lecture held at the Faculty’s Lecture Theatre.
While appreciating the University, the don, who belongs to the class of 1999, stated, “We remain very grateful for the way and manner we were mentored, taught, groomed and guided to be among the world’s best in academics, practice, bench and other components of legal services from the time we knew next to nothing. Indeed, it is a rare privilege, ordained by God, to be among the Law graduates of this great institution. We hold our heads and shoulders high around the world. The foundation of whatever we subsequently became in the legal profession and other activities was conceived, laid and nurtured in this great Faculty”.
While speaking to the topic of the lecture, “The Challenges of Internal Democracy, The Judiciary and its Impact on Good Governance in Nigeria”, Prof Oke, who is a Fellow of the Chattered Institute of Arbitration, posited that the judiciary is just an arm of government and what the public see as imperfections in the arm is a manifestation of the problem with the whole body.
He noted that the judiciary is always underfunded and overworked while hues and cries of over budgeting are always raised in respect of the executive and legislative arms of government.
He, however, berated the few bad eggs in the judiciary who perform executive functions by virtue of their offices.
The legal luminary counselled Law students to wisely choose which side of the moral aisle they would belong to because legal practitioners ultimately dominate government because they are spread across the Executive, Legislative and Judiciary arms.
Prof. Oke added that by the nature of their work, judges can neither protest against injustice imposed on them nor can they sue to seek redress.
In his remarks at the event, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Prof Wahab Olasupo Egbewole, SAN, who was represented by the Dean of the Faculty of Life Sciences, Prof Patricia Omojasola, described the Annual Lecture as a testament to the University’s commitment to intellectual excellence and promotion or legal awareness, noting that the honoree was a completely detribalised Nigerian.
While welcoming participants to the event, the Dean of the Faculty, Prof Nimah Modupe AbdulRaheem, asserted that in the light of the dissenting voices from the bench, the topic chosen for the lecture is apt and timely.
The Dean, who thanked all those that honoured the Faculty with their presence, also expressed delight that the lecture series has been revived after a brief pause.
The Chairman of the occasion and Grand Kadi of Kwara State Sharia Court of Appeal, Justice Abdulateef Kamaldeen, described the lecture as a honour to the memory of Justice Muhammad Mustapha Akanbi, who was a man of unwavering integrity and a beacon of hope to the common man, adding that the legacy of the honouree cuts across education, law and societal progress.
In his contribution to the discourse, a former Grand Kadi of the Kwara State Sharia Court of Appeal, Justice Saliu Olohuntoyin Muhammad, noted that the personalities on the bench are, more often than not, men of impeccable character, who find themselves in a system designed to soil them.
He, therefore, called for understanding of the complexity of the nation’s judicial system and the difficulties judicial officers go through. He thereafter announced a personal donation of the sum of One Million Naira to the Faculty.
The Chairman of the Lecture Organising Committee, Dr Muhammad Kamaldeen Imam-Tamim, disclosed that the choice of a distinguished alumnus as the guest lecturer at the event was a deliberate move designed to inspire the current students on the purpose of the strict academic environment in the Faculty and to let them see their future in the high flying guest lecturer.
Distinguished personalities at the event included the Director of JUPEB, University of Ilorin, Prof. Ibrahim Kayode Adam; a former Dean of the Faculty of Law, Prof Ibrahim Abikan; the Head of the Department of Islamic Law, Dr Azeezat Amoloye-Adebayo; the Deputy Director, Centre for International Education (CIE), University of Ilorin, Dr Bunmi Niyi-Gafar; Dr Ridwan Olagunju and Dr Barakat Raji.
The event was also attended by Dr Ahmed Onikosi, Dr Maryam Bayero and Barrister Mutiat Abdulkadri, all from the University of Ilorin and the representative of the Dean of the Faculty of Law, Kwara State University, Malete, Prof.Yahaya D. Hambali and the widow of the Vice Chancellor of the Kwara State University, Malete, Prof. Mohammed Mustapha Akanbi, SAN, Mrs Shakirat Akanbi.
Others were members of the Mustapha Akanbi Foundation led by its Head, Alhaji Muhammad Bashir Ore and the surviving eldest child of the late Justice Mustapha Akanbi, Dr Shehu Usman Oladipo Akanbi, who pledged an annual donation of N250, 000 towards the continuous organisation of the annual lecture.