Vice President of Nigeria, Yemi Osinbajo has said that the administration of justice system is the foundation of democracy, law and order and commerce.
Osinbajo said when the system of administration of justice fails, these pillars of governance and orderly society also collapse. He spoke recently on the theme “Administration of Justice: The Ideal Standard, The Nigerian Reality and our Potential” at the 20th Memorial Anniversary Symposium of Bankole Olumide Aluko (SAN) who died on 18th February, 2002.
He went on to bemoan the delay in the delivery of justice as one of the cankerworms eating up the judicial system invariably blocking investors from entering into the sector.
‘’Investor hesitancy or reluctance is also a reflection of the inefficiency and lack of confidence in the integrity of the commercial dispute resolution process, delay is disastrous’’ he said in a statement.
During the plenary session, the panellists discussed the possibility of Nigeria’s system of justice rising to become one of Africa’s international litigation powerhouses. One of the panellists, A.B. Mahmoud (SAN), strongly emphasized the need to establish a strong regulatory framework that would elicit the appropriate values and culture among lawyers in the judicial system.
Yemi Osinbajo, showered encomiums on the late Bankole. He enthused ’’Every once in a while, a truly iconic figure comes by this way, usually one who excels in the accumulation of unique talent who we would describe as an icon. But not often is it the case that the icon is multi-talented and gifted in several ways. We had one of such icons 20 years ago; Bankole Olumide Aluko (SAN).”
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Other delegates of the Nigerian Bar Association, business leaders and other legal luminaries who assembled at Harbour Point, Victoria Island in Lagos for the 20th Memorial Anniversary Symposium of Bankole Olumide Aluko (SAN) also showered praises on the late Aluko.
The memorial was organized by Aluko & Oyebode, a top law firm of which the late Bankole Olumide Aluko (SAN) was a co-founder.
In his opening remarks, Gbenga Oyebode co-founder of Aluko and Oyebode, expressed his profound gratitude to the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo for honoring the memory of the late Bankole Olumide Aluko by gracing the occasion with his presence.
Oyebode described Bankole as one who had respect for ethical standards and a particular love for his profession. ‘’Bankole is a man of many parts but the sum total of all these parts was that he was a devoted husband, father and family man; he was a great advocate and litigator who reached the pinnacle of the profession in 1997 by getting admitted to the inner bar; he was a great footballer, a lover of the game and also, a true and loyal friend to those he considered friends and he stood by them all the time.’’
