Various legal luminaries, tax law scholars, and other public officers are expected at the 70th anniversary of the Ibadan branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and the 2024 Law Week to discuss some of the policies of the Federal Government, including the tax reform bills.
Those expected to play various roles are the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN); a former Governor of Lagos State, Babatunde Fashola; the former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Olukayode Ariwoola; the first female Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Chief Folake Solanke; the Dean, Faculty of Law, University of Lagos, Abiola Sanni; Prof. Yusuf Alli and others.
Justice Ariwoola will declare open the activities marking the 70th anniversary of the Ibadan branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and the 2024 Law Week in the Oyo State capital on 13 December.
The Law Week and 70th Anniversary Planning Committee Chairman, Mutalubi Ojo Adebayo (SAN), disclosed this during a press conference in Ibadan, heralding the anniversary.
Adebayo was flanked by Dr. Festus Adedayo, Sola Adeyemo, Abdulfatai Oyedeji, and others.
Adebayo said the week-long anniversary celebration will feature a series of activities at the Afe Babalola Bar Centre, Iyaganku, Ibadan.
According to Adebayo, the events will include a Jumat Service at the Senator Ishaq Abiola Ajimobi Memorial Mosque, Oke Ado, on Friday, 13th December, and an interdenominational service at St. Anne’s Church, Molete, Ibadan, on 15th December.
Fashola (SAN), a former governor of Lagos State, is billed to deliver a keynote address on the opening day, while the Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Zacheaus Adedeji, will deliver a lecture titled “Tax and its Administration in Nigeria” on Monday, 16th December.
Discussants of the lecture at the first plenary session will include Abiola Sanni (SAN), the Dean, Faculty of Law, University of Lagos; the Chairman, Tax Appeal Tribunal, South Western Zone, Akinmade Ajibola; and the Chairman, Oyo State Board of Internal Revenue, Sola Awakan, with Dr. Wale Akinlabi FCIarb(UK), moderating.
The programme also includes a Health Walk on Saturday, 14th December.
The governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, and the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), will be the Guests of Honour at the opening ceremony. The Chief Judge of Oyo State, Justice I.S. Yerima, and Ibrahim Lawal, branch chairman, will host the guests.
The patron of the branch, Afe Babalola (SAN), the first female Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Folake Solanke (SAN), who is the matriarch of the Bar, and the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Oyo State, Abiodun Aikomo, are scheduled to give goodwill messages.
Other dignitaries expected at the opening ceremony include Afam Osigwe, President of the Nigerian Bar Association; the president of the Customary Court of Appeal in Oyo State; the Presiding Justice of the Court of Appeal in Ibadan; the Administrator Judge of the Federal High Court, Ibadan Division; the Administrator Judge of the National Industrial Court, Ibadan Division; other Patrons of NBA, Ibadan Branch; and elders and senior members of the Bar.
