Character, best virtue for lawyers, say Osinbajo

The Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo (SAN) has said character is the best virtue any aspiring or practicing lawyer must acquire, if he must succeed as a legal practisioner.

Osinbajo stated this in a short remarks he delivered to the SimmonsCooper Advocacy Development (SCAD) 2016 finalists Awards Dinner held at the Oriental Hotel, in Lagos.

SCAD initiative is the brainchild of the Vice President, which he designed while he was a Senior Partner at the firm with the goal to nurture and develop the writing skills of law school students and undergraduates.

His words: “The most critical thing in legal practice is character and it is not always about how smart you are. As a lawyer, being smart matters but what keeps you going and respected at the top of the pack as a lawyer is character”.

Also speaking, Mr. Babatunde Irukera, said it is important that aspiring lawyers embrace their roles as advocates for the vulnerable in the society and be their voice where injustice abides. The event also featured a moot court session.

The panel of judges present at the event include Justice Candide-Johnson, Mr Arthur-Worrey, Prof. Oyelowo Oyewo, Prof. Ayodele Asenuwa, Mrs Omotola Rotimi and Mr Bode Olanipekun.

At the end of the selection exercises, Elizabeth Omolola Whesu from Obafemi Awolowo University OAU came first, Jayeoba Daniel from University of Lagos came second and Emeka Ezekwesiri from University of Ibadan third position.

SimmonCooper Partners is currently under the management of Irukera, Dapo Akinosun and Victoria Alonge.