The Ilorin branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) under the chairmanship of Muhammed Ayoola Akande on Wednesday (May 13, 2020) donated cars to legal practitioners to cushing the effect of lockdown order occasioned by the novel coronavirus pandemic that has killed thousands of people across the globe.
The two cars, according to the NBA, worth N3.5million and were handed over to Okegbenro Bodunde Oluwatoyin and Abdulkadir Abdulwaheed who are members of the Young lawyers’ Forum of the branch by the state Chief Judge, Justice Saidu Durosinlohun Kawu, after winning the Chief Wole Olainipekun SAN’s raffle draw.
The lawyers also received about N70.000 each for the fuel maintainace of the vehicles.
While speaking with this medium, the raffle draw winners betrayed emotions as they burst into tears, appreciating God as well as the legal body for deeming it fit to carry out the project.
The NBA also launched a digital library worth N4million and N10million worth of gymnastic centre.
The chairman of the branch, while speaking with this medium after the exercise, said the quest to make legal practise comfortable for members of the branch, especially the young wigs, informed the gesture.
He added that he has been able to make impact by doing what has never been done in the history of NBA.
“I wish I could do more, for every legal animal, you must be ready to make history which can only be achieved by doing what has never been done. Two years ago, when I came on board, I had a slogan then that ‘Ilorin Bar, new age’. Ilorin NBA is now digitalised.
“I can say authoritatively, none of the more than 130 branches of the NBA has e-library and gym centre, the judiciary will learn from us just as the chief judge said. Work can now be made easy even at this coronavirus period with the e-library,” Akande said.
Speaking further on his achievement, Akande said he has been able to use his tenure to mend cracking walls in the Bar and also avert crisis that would have impacted negatively on the NBA.
Mallam Yusuf Olaolu Ali SAN, who dedicated the digital library, however, called for oneness among lawyers of the branch as a way of ensuring growth and discipline in the legal practise.
Ali, who made allusion to when he was serving his principal years back, said he ensured solid relationship with his colleagues, despite engaging in all manners of arguments in court with them.
“We made all manners of arguments in court, that could have literally affected our relationship but, after the proceedings, we still meet at the bar house to chat.
“Life is more beautiful than keeping malice, grudgles, we should learn to maintain oneness, cases will go, but relationship should remain”. He said.
The Chief Judge on his part, urged the legal practitioners to ensure judicious use of the facility and shun all manners of acrimonies.
