Lawyers have been described as problem solvers who needed the legal tools to proffer solution to society's problems.
Prof. Oghenemaro Festus Emiri (SAN) stated this at the just concluded Law Week of the Nigerian Bar Association, Oleh branch held at Oleh, the headquarter of Isoko South Local Government of Delta State.
Prof. Emiri who was the lead speaker of the Law Week themed, "Developing Lawyering Skills for Modern Practice" charged lawyers to acquire the requisite skills of finding the law, develop legal reasoning and communication skills, stressing that they should think, write and behave like lawyers.
The former deputy director general, Nigerian Law School (Yenagoa Campus) and professor of Jurisprudence and Rhetoric, emphasised that the legal market was shrinking due to artificial intelligence (Machine competition), and legal practitioners who failed to move with the new trend would have their selves to blame.
On the defective nature of Continuing Legal Education (CLE) in Nigerian and foreign climes, the one time Dean, Faculty of Law, Delta State University (Oleh Campus) stated, "I challenge the profession on CLE. Like is the case with legal educators, most lawyers CLE programs are anti-lawyering. Sadly, the majority of law teachers are anti-intellectual about their primary professional concern, namely interrogating the content and method of legal education."
He advocated for a reform in the law curriculum of universities to accommodate legal practice skills as against the present situation where the subject was taught only in the Nigerian Law School.
Delivering a paper on the theme, "Bail Procedure Under the ACJL of Delta State" the national Welfare Secretary of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Barrister Kunle Edun took an overview of the sections of the Administration of the Delta State Criminal Justice Law 2017 of the sections concerning bail procedure, frowned at section 158(2) mandating the applicant applying for bail to deposit with registrar of court a ream of typing sheet paper, two standard office file jackets and bottle of correction fluid for official use of the court, stating that the above provision negates Section 36(5) of the Constitution.
I know as a fact that many of Defendants being tried in courts cannot afford to pay lawyers. Then why should the State be transferring its responsibility to a suspect or a Defendant that is constitutionally presumed innocent, after paying filing fees?
He queried.
Edun who was represented by Barrister Patterson Osiobe pointed out that the said provision was unconstitutional and conflicts with the provisions of Section 36 (5) of the Constitution that guarantees the presumption of innocence of any person tried or charged with any offence until otherwise found guilty.
Speaking on the subject, "PATERNITY FRAUD - A HYDRA-HEADED MONSTER" Miakpo Emiaso called for the criminalising paternity fraud matters as, according to him, the immorally has wreaked devastating effect on families, especially, the man.
Harping on the consequences of the fraud, the former President of Area Customary Court who enunciated the reasons for its occurrence to include irresponsible sexual promiscuity posited, "A man who finds out that he has been a victim of paternity fraud is wrecked. It is a situation no man deserves to be found in. His burble is burst. His life is put on the reverse gear to no destination."
He therefore called for criminalising paternity fraud, even as he suggested that mandatory paternity testing for all children at birth, regulation of baby factories, paternity fraud victims to seek compensation in civil courts, among others would put the ugly trend in check.
The chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association, Oleh branch Mr. A. T. Aniko, and the chairman of the Law Week Planning Committee, Mrs. Ethel Ighaire in their separate speeches justified the theme of the programme because the Legal profession has been oppressed, adding it was opportunity for legal practitioners to learn new skills and equip themselves with modern techniques and approach.
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