Ben Ezechime, Enugu
An Enugu State High Court Judge, Justice Cyprian Ajah, has tasked Godfrey Okoye University (GOUNI) law students on integrity, competency and honesty, to preserve the profession.
Ajah gave task during the unveiling of GOUNI Law Students Association (LAWSA) Chambers on Thursday in Enugu.
The LAWSA Chamber was named after legal icons for their outstanding contributions to the practice of law in Nigeria.
They icons include late Supreme Court Justices, Justice Chima Nweze, Justice Anthony Anigolu, Dr Anthony Mgboh and Justina Offiah.
Others are Gov. Peter Mbah, Anthony Ani (SAN), Prof. Edwin Nwogugu, Prof. Boniface Okere, retired Chief Judge of Enugu State, justice Ngozi Emehelu.
Delivering a paper on “Qualities of a good lawyer in the light of rules of professional conduct for legal practitioners in Nigeria,” Ajah said it was unethical for a lawyer to advertise himself, stressing only competency would advertise a lawyer.
“It is only your competency, dexterity and industriousness that will advertise you. The public expects high ethical standard from you and you need to conduct yourselves in the manner that reflects your noble profession.
“Therefore, be honest, hard-working as lawyers are not known for money but providing services to the society, maintaining equilibrium between the rich and the poor,” he advised.
The Vice Chancellor of the university, Rev. Fr. Christian Anieke, said during the unveiling, that LAWSA Chamber was to be named after distinguished legal luminaries in the country.
He stated that he was deeply convinced that what made university formidable was not only its academic strength and stakes but also the internship preparation of students to entrepreneurial and professional lives after graduation.
The VC recalled that in the history of Nigeria, late Justice Nweze and Ani (SAN) in their days at University of Nigeria Nsukka, made their university and country proud by distinguishing themselves in an international competition in Washington DC.
“The two brilliant students were mentored by our own Pro Chancellor and Chairman of Governing Council, Prof. Christian Okeke, when he was the mooting coordinator of faculty of law, University of Nigeria Nsukka.
“Today’s Mooting competition is in the spirit of that competition where Nweze and Anthony excelled,” he said.
The GOUNI LAWSA President, Miss Beneitta Onyekachi, said the LAWSA Chamber was significant as it would prepare the students for the task ahead and create a permanent link between the honourees, the law students and the university.
“We hope it will help us realise our big dreams, create more equipped moot courts and increase the number of law students and number of LAWSA Chambers being unveiled today.
“It is our intention to channel all students related cases to this chambers which will approach the moot court for the hearing and determination of those cases.
“We are hopeful that with the association and more chambers named after our honourees, they will greatly inspire our students to work harder by emulating the legal icons in which chambers they belong,” Onyekachi said.
