A frontline legal luminary and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Chief Wole Olanipekun has called the Federal government to consider financial autonomy for the judiciary, just as he affirmed that the judicial Institution has every capacity to be financially independent.
Olanipekun made the call at the official presentation /launching of a book titled: “Contemporary Issues in Nigeria Law, Security and Good Governance” in his honour in Ilorin on Friday.
He said the only way government could reposition the country’s judicial system was to ensure its full autonomy.
“I will continue to reiterate my calls to Government to respect the independence of the judiciary by ensuring the financial autonomy of the court, anything short of this will only amount to abuse of rule of law which is undemocratic.
“I want to plead with the bench to encourage the lawyers, bench must not intimidate lawyers.
” It’s only in Nigeria that there is disparity between the bench and the bar. We must set together and rearrange our profession
“Let us consider the future of the teeming ones we are producing at the school of law
” I will not want the profession to fall because I have done so much for it.
The Senior Advocate of Nigeria appeal to the government to support and provide for judiciary now and after they leave office.
The Chairman of Nigeria Bar Association, Ilorin Branch, Barrister Mohammed Akande, described the honoree as a rare gem in the legal profession.
He said that it took a lot of research and consultation before they arrived at the choice of the honouree.
