The 19th Gani Fawehinmi Annual Lecture held on Sunday the 15th of January, 2023 (the call to bar anniversary of the late Chief Gani Fawehinmi) to celebrate the life and achievements of the legal colossus. The event which coincides with the Armed Forces Remembrance Day started during his lifetime as a platform to discuss topical issues in the country and to provide intellectual interventions.
This year’s edition came on a much bigger scale as it attracted many important dignitaries; especially the creme de la creme in the Nigerian legal space and the political circle. The Chief Host of the event was the Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Sanwo-olu who was represented by the Attorney General of Lagos State Mr Moyosore Onigbanjo, SAN while the Host was the NBA President Y. C. Maikyau, OON, SAN. The Special Guests were the Chief Judge of Lagos State, Hon. Justice Kazeem Alogba. While Professor Akin Oyebode was the Chairman of the occasion. The immediate past President of the Nigerian Bar Association Mr Olumide Akpata was also in attendance alongside several Senior Advocates and leaders of the Bar and Civil Societies.
The theme for this year was: Free, Fair and Credible Election as Indispensable Tool for National Development. And the keynote address was delivered by Charlotte Kesson-Smith Osei, UN International Elections Commissioner. The address centred on the imperativeness of a free, fair election as a precursor to national development and it impacts on democratic administration. The speaker examined the different challenges currently ravaging the country, particularly the security situation and the economic downturn. She highlighted the various limitations in our electoral system and also urged the NBA and her leadership to take firm stance on issues affecting our legal jurisprudence and polity. Mr Mike Igini, Former Resident Electoral Commissioner, Akwa Ibom State and Commodore Kunle Olawumi, Public Affairs Analyst, were the discussants.
The NBA President in his speech extolled the virtues of the late Chief Gani Fawehinmi. He referred to many of his exemplary interventions through legal activism and advocacy as part of what shaped our political landscape.
The event which held at Lahl Bevent Centre, Lagos Airport Hotel, Obafemi Awolowo Way Ikeja also had the foremost human rights activist,Mr Femi Falana, SAN in attendance. Also present were Mr Dele Adesina, SAN; Roland Otaru, SAN; Dr Kunle Ojo, SAN; former chairmen of the NBA Ikeja Branch and some national officers of the Nigerian Bar Association including the General Secretary, Mr Adesina Adegbite; the 3rd Vice President, Mrs. Mandy Asagba; the National Welfare Secretary, Chinyere Obasi; the National Publicity Secretary, Habeeb Lawal Akorede; the National Assistant Publicity Secretary, Charles Ajiboye as well as the representative of the Lagos State Commissioner of Police.
