Law School Admits 3,897 Into Nigerian Bar

A total of
3,897 candidates were on Tuesday called to the Nigerian Bar, after meeting
requirements of the Nigerian Law School.

The Director General of the Nigerian
Law School, Dr Tahir Mamman, made this known in Abuja at the presentation of
successful candidates of the 2011/2012 session for call to the bar.

He said a total of nine candidates
made First Class Honours, 195 made Second Class (Upper Division), 900 made
Second Class (Lower Division), while 2,793 Candidates graduated with Pass.

He expressed optimism that the
qualification obtained in the Bar programme would enable them to build their
career.

“It is our hope that the education and
qualification obtained in the programme have provided you with the requisite
foundation to a more fulfilling life in all the sectors of the nation’s
economy.

“The design and delivery of your current
training under the new curriculum is meant to equip you with the toolkit that
will enable you create a job for yourself and others.

“It is meant to make you look out for
a wider horizon rather than limit you to the narrow confines of a traditional legal
practitioner,’’ he said.

He restated the commitment of the
school to uphold and enforce the values of honesty, integrity and good conduct.

The Chairman, Body of Benchers, Chief
Idowu Sofola, called on the new wigs to join the struggle for the eradication
of corruption from the judiciary and the society at large.

He enjoined them to act fairly and
with good conscience, adding that “ this is a noble profession and only the
nobles should be called to the Nigerian Bar.’’

He further enjoined them to make ‘Rules
of Professional Conduct their daily guide, so as to excel in their chosen
career.

“Make the Rules of Professional
Conduct your daily guide.

“Doing this will make you not to fall
into what will or may diminish the honour and dignity of the noble profession.

“Remember a good name is better than
gold or frankincense.

“Be on top of your case and clients
will appreciate you for good performance, colleagues will respect you and the
judges will credit you,’’ he said.

One of the new wigs, Folakemi Omotosho
expressed happiness for being called to bar in spite of the numerous challenges
she faced in school.

She called on the Nigerian Law School
to pay more attention to the practical aspects of the training as well.

Omotosho said with practical
experience, they would be better equipped for the challenges in the labour
market.

Mr Clifford Dalong, a parent of one of
the new wigs, Hannah Dalong, said he was fulfilled to witness the call to bar
of his daughter.

Dalong, a Chief Nurse Anaesthetist
with the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Kano, called on parents to desist from
compelling their children to study courses they do not wish to.

He stressed that forcing children into
professions, other than that which they desired, could affect their future and
hamper their contribution to the development of the country.

He also called on lawyers to be
diligent in the discharge of their responsibilities.

“Let there be fear of God and
appropriate dispensation of justice for the downtrodden.’’

Some of the new wigs were those who wrote re-sit examinations while
others were unable to make it to the bar at previous calls.