…AS BOZIMO, EREBE EMERGE SPECIAL SPEAKERS
-By Onoriode Etatsemi:
The 63rd Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has ended with the immediate past Attorney General/ Commissioner for Justice, Sir Isaiah Bozimo and the Solicitor- General/Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice of Delta State, Mr Omamuzo Erebe distinguished as special Speakers.
The event, which held at Abuja, had the theme “Getting it right. Charting the course for Nigeria’s Nation Building,” was declared open by Nigeria’s President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The Conference saw several distinguished jurists, both within and outside the Country, invited to speak as Conference Speakers.
But in recognition of the stellar work carried out by the Delta State Government in the area of the Administration of Justice in the State, particularly in the drafting of two Executive Bills and their passage as the Administration of Criminal Justice Law 2022 and the Administration of Civil Justice Law 2022, the organisers of the Conference in an unprecedented move, invited the immediate past Delta State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Isaiah Bozimo and the Delta State Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Justice, Omamuzo Erebe, as Conference Speakers.
While the immediate past Attorney-General spoke on the Delta State Administration of Civil Justice Law 2022, the Solicitor-General spoke on the Administration of Criminal Justice Law 2022.
Both jurists commended the foresight of the Delta State House of Assembly which was then led by the Governor, Elder Sheriff Oborevwori, in the speedy passage of the two Executive Bills sent to it, which ensured that Delta State now has the most modern and technologically driven Administration of Criminal and Civil Justice Laws in the Country today.
They both stated that the two pieces of legislation were 21st-century Laws, which will radically change the face of the Justice System in the State.
The duo also stated that both Laws will ensure that access to Justice delivery in the State is enhanced.
In their presentations, the two jurists highlighted important innovations introduced in both laws and urged other States to copy from Delta State.
On hand to witness both presentations were members of the Nigerian Bar Association Branches in Delta State, both in the private and public bar, as well as two Judges of the State Judiciary, Hon. Justice Sunny Adolor and Hon. Justice Samuel Okeleke.
Speaking to newsmen after his paper presentation, the Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice, Mr. Omamuzo Erebe, stated that the invitation extended to him and the immediate past Attorney-General as Conference Speakers, was a validation of the work put in by the immediate past Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Isaiah Bozimo, all State Counsel in the Ministry of Justice, Private Legal Practitioners in the State and the State Judiciary to ensure the Executive Bills were of top quality.
He commended the leadership shown by Mr. Bozimo and urged all involved to gear up for the even harder work of implementation of both Laws in the State.
“This is even more critical as by December 23rd 2023, the transition period for the Case Management provisions of both Laws will come to an end”
He said though the time was short, a concerted effort by all stakeholders will ensure that Delta State retains the first position in the Country, in the Administration of Criminal Justice Law, as adjudged by the Centre for Socio-legal Studies Abuja in 2023.
-Middle is Former Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice Delta State Mr Isaiah Bozimo and on his immediate left is Mr Omamuzo Erebe Solicitor-General/ Permanent Secretary in a group photograph with staff of the Ministry of Justice at the MKO Abiola Stadium Abuja on the occasion of the NBA 63rd annual conference.
