Fashola Advocates Continuous Training For Legal Practitioners

Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola, SAN, has stressed the need for judges and legal practitioners to seek continuous legal training and scholarship to promote the cause of justice in the country. Speaking as a special guest at the public presentation of a book entitled, ‘Civil Litigation- A Quick Reference Guide to Substantive Law and Procedure’, written by a Lagos high court judge, Justice Oludotun Adefowope-Okojie, Fashola said often times he wondered about different decisions emanating from the appellate courts in the country, especially on issues of objections filed by lawyers in courts. He also expressed surprise on the attitude of lawyers who profited on technicalities to delay cases in court, saying to him such attitude is basic lack of the knowledge of law. “Filing unnecessary objections or relying on technicalities does not advance the cause of justice. We should consider the objections we file in courts. “That is why we must continue to emphasise the necessity for continuous training and legal scholarship. I think continuing legal education will help us to see what they are doing in other jurisdiction,” Fashola noted. Speaking on the efforts of the sitting judge to write the 530-page book, Fashola said he never doubted the integrity and legal astuteness of Justice Adefowope-Okojie, while encouraging others to emulate the author. He added that the government was considering the establishment of a legal institute to compete with the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, NIALS. The governor advised judges and legal practitioners to update themselves with the workings of the profession in order to effectively and efficiently discharge their responsibilities. He also reiterated the administration’s commitment to continuing reform of its laws, adding that the revised edition of the Lagos State Laws would soon be published. [Vanguard]