JUSTICE Bode Rhodes- Vivour stood tall and distinguished at the weekend, when 15 Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) honoured him with a dinner as a new entrant of the apex court, the Supreme Court of Nigeria. Among those who witnessed the well-attended ceremony held at the Lagos Sheraton Hotels and Towers, were the Attorney General of Lagos State, Mr. Olasupo Shasore (SAN), the former Minister of Health, Prince Julius Adelusi - Adeluyi, a pharmacist and a lawyer, a retired activist Justice of the Supreme Court, George Oguntade, former first vice president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mrs. Funke Adekoya (SAN) and a Lagos-based commercial litigator, Dr Joseph Nwobike (SAN). The Senior Advocates, who out of concern and respect for Justice Rhodes-Vivour, organized the event include: Rickey Tarfa, Dr. Wale Babalakin, Tayo Oyetibo, Yemi Candide Johnson, Layi Babatunde and Kemi Pinheiro. Others are Chief Bolaji Ayorinde, Roland Otaru, Delana Obafemi, Wale Akoni, Dele Adesina, Alegeh Austin, Ajibade Babatunde, Osaro Eghobamien and Chief Mike Ozekhome.In his remarks, one of the Coordinators, Mr. Adesina, said Nigerians should cultivate the habit of identifying role models and celebrating them. According to him, it is in this spirit that the 15 Senior Advocates organized the ceremony to celebrate the astute Justice of the Supreme Court, Rhodes- Vivour. In his own remarks, Justice Oguntade advised Rhodes-Vivour to remain a man of sagacity, courage and God-fearing so as to earn the favour of the Almighty Father. According to him, these are difficult times for the law profession, adding that all lawyers need to work assiduously well to overcome the difficult times. Speaking further, he urged legal practitioners to encourage magistrates so as not to allow them to wither away. He called for special salary package for magistrates in order to encourage them to maintain the lowest court, adding that when possible, they should be elevated to the High Court Bench. He condemned a situation where lawyers lobby to be made judges or magistrates. He also condemned the process of appointing judges to the appellate courts, saying that some of the judges appointed at the appellate courts are ignorant of some branches of law. To him, any judge to be appointed to the appellate court must first attend National Judicial Institute (NJI) to imbibe all the aspects of the law before he can be allowed to sit on the appellate Bench. Further, Justice Oguntade said, if Judiciary must maintain federal character in the appointment of judges of the Court of Appeal, the judges must be made to serve in all the various states of the federation. In concluding, he showered praises on Rhodes-Vivour as a well-rounded judge. He also commended the senior advocates, who organised the occasion saying: whosoever honours a gentleman, God will honour him. In his own speech, Prince Adeluyi said that the Bar must assist the Bench to make a difference in the delivery of justice in Nigeria, adding that Rhodes-Vivour must make that difference while sitting on the apex court bench. To him, only a man of character is respected and honoured, that is the reason, the 15 Senior Advocates organised the event to pay him tributes. In his own remarks, Lagos State governor, Babatunde Fashola (SAN), represented by Shasore said as lawyers, they should continue to fortify the due process of law, adding that there are serious issues that confront lawyers in todays political environments. According to him, there was need to make public contribution on the Bench that will affect the life of the people for the better. The issue of courts jurisdiction, he said, has caused so many pains to litigants, who have to search for appropriate courts to seek redress because lawyers apply to stop such courts for want of jurisdiction. In his response, the honouree, Rhodes-Vivour thanked the organisers of the event and pledged to do his best while on the apex court Bench. He also thanked Justice Oguntade and Prince Adeluyi for their kind advice and promised not to let them down.
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