The two days call-to-bar ceremonies of the Nigerian Law School, Abuja, came to a glorious end yesterday in Abuja, with the children of Minister of Works, Housing and Power, Mr Babatunde Fashola, SAN, and Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, among the 3,277 successful new wigs.

Guest-of-honour, Vice-President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, was represented by his wife, Dolapo, while Fashola and his wife, Dame Abimbola; Amosun and his wife were in attendance, at the solemn ceremony held inside the International Conference Centre (ICC), Abuja.

While presenting the new wigs to the Body of Benchers led by its Chairman and Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mahmud Muhammed (GCON), Director-General of the Nigerian Law School, Mr Olanrewaju Onadeko, explained the reasons why the school insisted on “on good character for eligibility admission.” This, he said, was “to shield those with propensity to act at variance with the interest of their clients, the profession itself and the justice system. Indeed, the process of thorough vetting commences with admission to the Nigerian Law School, where scrutiny is undertaken, and admission may be refused on ground of character, including suspension from practice or outright disbarment in another jurisdiction.”

Justice Muhammed urged the new wigs “to register with any branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) which is closer to your town or city of practice; and (that) will serve as your local branch. However, there is no point being a member if you do not avail yourself of its (NBA’s) framework for skill acquisition.”

The star prize for first-class students, donated by the director-general, was won by Okwor Dominic, Edun Halimat Temitope, Uche Tracy, Okezie Ndubuisi, Amoo Oluwatobi Ayobode, Bandawa Antayi Anfani and Are Adejoke Kafayat. The newly introduced Best Overall Male and Female Students Prizes donated by NBA were won by Okwor Dominic and Edun Halimat Temitope, respectively.

Apart from Mrs Osinbajo, the Fasholas and Amosuns, other dignitaries present were former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice S M A Belgore (GCON); president, NBA, Augustine Alegeh (SAN); Edo State Commissioner for Works, Osarodion Ogie; Oba Rilwanu of Lagos, Justice Olubunmi Oyewole of Court of Appeal whose daughter, Feyisayo, was also a new wig, and NBA’s Publicity Secretary Gbolahan Gbadamosi.

•Photo shows CJN Mahmud Muhammed.

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