Press Releases

Lawyers Celebrate Fashola In Buenos Aires

Oct 15, 2008 - Lagos State Governor, Mr Babatunde Fashola (SAN) was the toast of eminent lawyers, judges, legal scholars and other personalities who gathered for the Nigerian Night at the 2008 International Bar Association Conference on Wednesday in Buenos Aires.

The arrival of Governor Fashola, a senior member of the Bar, and his entourage at the Mariot Plaza Hotel venue of the Night was greeted with rousing applause and cheers.

Apparently proud of the widely acclaimed achievements in office as Governor of Lagos of one of their own, the gathering became charged with excitement as Fashola moved around to exchange pleasantries with his colleagues at the Bar most of whom took the opportunity to take photographs with him.

In his brief welcome remark, President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mr Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN) thanked the Governor for making out time to meet with his colleagues at the informal gathering.

Akeredolu noted that no discernible mind would fail to notice the transformation going on in Lagos State under the leadership of Governor Fashola adding that the NBA was proud of him.

The NBA President then invited the Governor to speak to the audience adding that something would be amiss if he failed to do so.

In his remarks Governor Fashola expressed his pleasure for being among his colleagues and thanked them for the warm reception. He used the opportunity to congratulate a prominent member of the Bar, Mr Femi Falana who had been given an Award in recognition of his contributions to legal practice and human rights activism. The Governor said the Award was more than deserved noting that the works of Mr Falana towards entrenching justice and respect for human rights in the Nigerian society and the West African sub-region spoke eloquently for him.

Responding, Mr Falana thanked the Governor for his kind words and commende him for his sterling leadership in Lagos. He however revealed that the Governor played a major role , though silently during the struggle against military dictatorship in Nigeria. According to him, Governor Fashola was instrumental to the then very risky effort to get his predecessor in office, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu out of Nigeria through the now famous “NADECO route” when as one of the attorneys to Senator Tinubu , Fashola realized that his client and mentor’s life was clearly in danger.

Also speaking on the occasion, the Ambassador of Nigeria to Argentina , Mr Empire Nduka Kanu , who had been at some official engagements with him earlier in the day, praised the Governor for his youthful energy and commitment to the cause of Nigeria despite being in Argentina as the Governor of his State.

He told the gathering that earlier in the day, Governor Fashola had made a strong case to the Chief of Government of Buenos Aires on why it was necessary to establish direct flights from Buenos Aires to Lagos and Abuja so that travelling for citizens of both nations would be less time consuming and stressful.

According to the Ambassador the presence of the Governor and the large turn out of eminent lawyers and judicial personalities in Argentina has made the work of the Embassy easier in terms of marketing Nigeria having just resumed a few months back.

He added that the gathering of Nigerian lawyers in Buenos Aires for the IBA was a most auspicious precursor to the scheduled visit of President Umar Yar’Adua to a South American country very soon.

Present at the colourful event among others were former NBA President , Mr Olisa Agbakoba , Mr Okocha (SAN) , Justice Tunde Oshodi, Justice Ojikutu- Oshode ,Hon. Mrs Funmi Tejuosho and Hon Babatunde Ogala Deputy Speaker and member of the Lagos State House of Assembly respectively, Justice Oke , Chief Funlola Okunowo , Honourable Commissioner for Environment in Lagos ,Dr Muiz Banire and Special Adviser on Taxation, Mr Ade Ipaye.

Also present were Chief Fassy Yussuf, the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Justice, Mr Lawal Pedro, the Executive Secretary , Bureau of Lands , Mr Hakeem Muri-Okunola and Mrs Funke Aboyade of This Day Newspaper.