The 2024 Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association had an exciting atmosphere following several addresses marking the flagging open of the 64th AGC.

The confab held at the Eko Hotel and Suites had top notch dignitaries in attendance

In his welcome remarks the host governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, highlighted his administration’s emphasis on security of life and property.

Sanwo-Olu stressed that his state had the highest number of female judicial officers in the country.

Urging the judiciary to strengthen the country’s electoral process, he assured that Lagos was ready to take on the social contract, even as he said for five years, he had not taken a kobo from the local government treasury.

The governor said, “And we have demonstrated that even in the legal profession that all of you are part of us. We have more women in our judiciary consistently than any other part of the country and we kept faith in that.”

Sanwo-Olu also maintained that the security of life and property was a cardinal part of the social contract.

Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, said he would continue to recognise and work with all partners to improve on the country’s justice delivery system.

Fagbemi recalled that at his inauguration last year, one of his key deliverables was a commitment to enable a framework for collaboration between the justice ministry, the judiciary, and NBA.

He stated, “I am pleased to report that we have made substantial progress in this area. For the first time in the history of Nigeria, a collaborative National Justice Summit was convened by the Federal Ministry of Justice, National Judicial Council, and the Nigerian Bar Association.

“What in my humble view is even more noteworthy is the statement of future activities presented in the format of a communique and signed by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, the President of the Nigerian Bar Association and myself.

“Going forward, these three institutions now have a framework and a joint agenda for cooperation, collaboration and commitment on Justice Sector Reform. I look forward to the continuous pursuit of this agenda by both the acting Chief Justice of Nigeria and the incoming President of the Nigerian Bar Association.”

Fagbemi disclosed that as part of efforts to reform the justice sector, the Tinubu administration had moved swiftly in approving befitting salary and allowances for judicial officers in Nigeria.

He, however, stated that improved remuneration was not the beginning and the end of the administration’s intervention in the judiciary. The minister added that the government was keen to work with stakeholders to ensure that other issues crucial to strengthening the capacity of the judiciary were dealt with expeditiously