ADDRESS OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE NIGERIAN BAR ASSOCIATION, MRYAKUBU CHONOKO MAIKYAU, OON, SAN, DELIVERED AT THE VALEDICTORY COURT SESSION HELD IN HONOUR OF LATE PROFESSORBENJAMIN O. NWABUEZE, CON, SAN, NNOM, ON 22 FEBRUARY 2024 AT THE HIGH COURT OF LAGOS STATE, IKEJA

Distinguished Colleagues,

On the 22nd day of February 2024, the President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr Yakubu Chonoko Maikyau, OON, SAN, delivered an address at the valedictory court session held in honour of the late Professor Benjamin O. Nwabueze, CON, SAN, NNOM at the High Court of Lagos State, Ikeja.

The NBA President chronicled the pace-setting achievements of Professor Nwabueze, who he recalled “was the first person to be awarded the exalted rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria, on account of his massive accomplishment as a legal scholar in 1978.” He continued: “It will be recalled that in the year Prof Nwabueze was conferred with the rank of SAN, he also earned his Doctor of Laws from the University of London.

This stupendous and gargantuan intellectual achievement was predicated on critically reviewing only three of his outstanding books. He thus became the second Nigerian, after the illustrious Taslim Olawale Elias, to be awarded a higher doctorate in Law (LL. D) based strictly on his published works.

This should not be surprising because Prof Nwabueze, SAN, has always been an authoritative legal voice and an undisputed authority on Nigerian law both at home and abroad. It will be recalled that Prof. Nwabueze was one of the two foremost experts whose opinions were considered by the British Court in Alamieyeseigha’s case in determining whether or not a governor in Nigeria was entitled to immunity in criminal proceedings in a foreign court.”

Mr. Maikyau described Professor Nwabueze, a former Minister of Education, as a patriot who contributed in no small measure to founding civil liberty movements in Nigeria. His words: “In my humble view, the singular thread that runs through the entire gamut of his works and thoughts is his unconditional patriotism.

Professor Ben Nwabueze was a true patriot in every sense of the word. I want to believe that this was why he co-founded the Patriots with his intellectual soul mate, Chief FRA Williams SAN, as the foremost platform of patriots who wanted the best for the country.

He also co-founded the Constitutional Rights Project (CRP), a nongovernmental organisation dedicated to promoting civil liberties, human rights, and the rule of law in Nigeria. He was also the behind-the-scenes voice in founding the Civil Liberties Organisation”.

The NBA President concluded his address by extending the condolence of the National Executive Committee and members of the NBA to the family of Professor Nwabueze and the people of Atani (Prof. Nwabueze’s hometown) in Anambra State. He prayed that “God Almighty will comfort the hearts of all members of his family, colleagues, and friends.”

Please find attached for your reference the full address of the NBA President.

Thank you

Akorede Habeeb Lawal

National Publicity Secretary

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