At the 27th Annual Bar Week of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ijebu-Ode Branch, key voices from law, governance, and academia gathered to advocate for reforms that promote inclusion, accountability, and societal progress, in line with this year’s theme: “Law and Governance: The Nexus.”
Her Excellency, Engr. Noimot Salako-Oyedele, Deputy Governor of Ogun State, in her keynote address, urged legal practitioners to actively support the inclusion of women in governance and the broader fight for equity in public leadership. Describing the theme as timely and insightful, she reflected on the delicate balance between power and legal constraint, a challenge not unique to Nigeria but also evident in longstanding democracies.
Drawing from her experience in public service, she underscored that the law must serve not merely to organize society, but to place necessary checks on political authority. She cited recent political developments in the United States where judicial institutions played a decisive role in curbing anti-democratic actions, stating, “This is a vivid demonstration of how the law can hold power accountable — not to serve it, but to restrain it.”
Turning to Nigeria, she lamented recurring issues such as disregard for court orders, overreach by regulatory agencies, and ambiguous constitutional boundaries between federal and state governments. These, she said, highlight the urgent need for a principled and independent judiciary. She reminded the audience that lawyers are more than legal technicians—they are advocates for justice, defenders of rights, and critical partners in the nation-building process.
She also expressed strong support for the proposed Special Seats for Women Bill, which seeks to reserve 74 seats in the National Assembly and 108 in state legislatures for women over the next four electoral cycles. According to her, this measure represents a bold and necessary correction to the chronic underrepresentation of women in politics, and could spur real gains in GDP, socio-economic development, and overall quality of life. With a touch of humor, she ended her remarks saying, “With the number of times I’ve been around Bar communities lately, don’t be surprised if you see me in a wig someday.”
In a thought-provoking presentation titled “Transparency and Accountability in Relation to the Rule of Law,” renowned Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr. Lateef Omoyemi Akangbe, emphasized the vital link between democratic governance and the rule of law. He stated that democracy functions only when elected leaders are transparently held accountable to the people. He defined the rule of law as a system grounded in legal supremacy, equality before the law, and access to justice, referencing Section 1.1 of the Nigerian Constitution as its foundation.
Otunba Olusegun Otayemi, Principal Partner at Otayemi Law Office, spoke candidly about the challenges confronting legal practice in Ogun State, particularly the slow pace of justice delivery. He attributed this to the continued manual processing of court proceedings, describing the situation as “almost wicked.” He called for the urgent automation of court systems and urged the NBA to take an active role in educating the public about their legal rights. Otayemi proposed creating media platforms—such as call-in TV or radio programs in local dialects—where citizens could receive legal guidance in real time.
From the academic front, Professor Obatunde Bright Adetola, a scholar of Development Sociology at Olabisi Onabanjo University, focused his contribution on the role of societal values in shaping both law and governance. He argued that the fundamental challenge to national progress is a widespread lack of character across all levels of society—from the family unit to key institutions. “Character is everything,” he said, asserting that no legal or political system can function properly without shared moral foundations. He further criticized what he perceived as the NBA’s overly narrow focus on professionalism, suggesting that the theme should have extended to include the role of society: “Law, Government, and Society.” He concluded that until legal institutions align with strong societal ideals, meaningful development will remain elusive.
Speaking to reporters, the Chairman of the NBA Ijebu-Ode Branch, Chief (Prof.) Fassy Adetokunbo Yussuf, PhD, elaborated on the rationale behind the event’s theme. He noted that law and governance are inseparable—each dependent on the other—and emphasized their joint role in shaping a functional society. He posed reflective questions about the legal and political structures guiding Nigeria: who created them, how they function, and whether they truly serve the people. He encouraged members to remember that whether one is governed or governing, there is a divine purpose to their existence—and a higher accountability that must not be forgotten.
The Bar Week concluded with a formal dinner held at the Bar Centre. The guest speaker, retired Hon. Justice Taiwo O. Taiwo, offered closing reflections in a presentation titled “Spanners in the Wheel of Justice.” Using the idiomatic expression, he explained how certain individuals and practices obstruct the smooth delivery of justice by introducing unnecessary delays and complications. In a detailed sixteen-page note, he urged stakeholders not to become those “spanners” but rather to be facilitators of justice and fairness.
The event ended on a celebratory note with the presentation of awards to distinguished members of the association and the wider community. Special recognition was given to Chief Ade Adedeji (SAN), the Bamofin of Ijebu, whose generous donation of the ultra-modern Bar Centre made the 2025 Bar Week possible.
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