In a bid to expand the intellectual landscape, Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies has inaugurated three new professorial chairs at the institute.
The event was a part of activities lined up for its 35th year anniversary celebration in Abuja.
The chairs include: The T.O Elias Professorial Chair of Law, occupied by Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye, The Chief Idigbe Professorial Chair, occupied by Prof. Lanre Fagbohun, and The Ademola Edu Professorial Chair, occupied by Prof. Adebambo Adewopo.
The occasion brought to the fore some contemporary issues in legal developments, with discussants proffering solutions to them.
One of the issues that featured prominent was the attitude of Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN). While discussants acknowledged the tremendous roles they had played in the legal development of the country, discussants however expressed disappointment with some SANs and judges who have employed technicalities to truncate the course of justice.
According to Prof. Ignatius Ayua, former Director General of NIALS, “The SANs have contributed meaningfully to robust discourse in our national life, but they have also failed in the effective justice administration in Nigeria. They have created the impression that once a criminal can hire the services of a SAN, they can get away with their offences”.
“The bench has not helped matters either. For instance, in the case of Chief Bode George Vs the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Supreme Court held that contract splitting is not known to the constitution, and therefore acquitted the defendant” Prof. Ayua lamented.
Prof. Bolaji Owasanonye observed that foreign aid promotes corruption. “Foreign aids affect accountability in government as public officials spend such funds without adequate monitoring by donor agencies, especially the Chinese”.
On the issue of corporate criminal liability, Prof. Lanre Fagbohun said: “companies in the country continue to violate environmental laws with impunity. Government must stand up to its billings of protecting the interest of the mass against wicked capitalists who are bent on exploiting the people for their selfish interests”.
