Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Funke Adekoya, has come under heavy attack by some lawyers for criticizing Olimide Akpata for sponsoring young lawyers to the Burnaboy/Wizkid party at Transcorp Hilton Abuja.

Funke Adekoya had criticized the action in a tweet, noting that, lawyers should be calling out politicians for stunts like this, and not copying them. The learned silk also asked whether this was done because of the NBA elections, whilst adding Babatunde Ajibade’s offering of free accommodation to new wigs to attend their Call to Bar Ceremony and Dele Adesina’s co-sponsoring of Christmas party for young lawyers in Lagos.

Responding, lawyers noted that there is nothing wrong in lawyers getting involved in entertainment as lawyers are also humans. According to one Foza Billions, Entertainment Law is an emerging practice in Nigeria and as much as possible, we need lawyers out there attending these events to experience the realities of their potential clients and socialize. Some added that Mr. Akpata has been known for taking lawyers out for such events even before now, therefore, the free tickets for the event isn’t a new thing.

Another tweeter user also drew the learned silk’s attention to the fact that her firm has entertainment amongst its practice areas. According to him, “your law firm has entertainment amongst its practice areas. See. aelex.com/entertainment/. I have gone for many entertainment events and met lawyers from your firm familiarizing with the industry. As Glanville Wilanville Wiiend any party this xnmoves to draw the awareness of young lawyers to unexploed areas such as entertainment law. it Gliams said, “we cannot learn the law by learning the law”, stressing that, understanding the industry and embracing its many sides is key to making the best of it. “Entertainment is Nigeria’s biggest export after crude oil, and you’re saying young lawyers should not see where they can tap into it even just to enjoy the sector because they must be reading?”, he asked.

Some of the tweets read as follows:

“The Scenarios are essentially the same, except of course for the fact that the others are SANs and @OluChud isn’t. These successful commercial solicitors should be given an opportunity to administer and lead the NBA. Just look at the amazing work done at the @nbabloffical. – Akinyemi Akinoluwa

“I am truly struggling to see how this “turns the profession” into anything. Entertainment law is an emerging practice in Nigeria and as much as possible we need lawyers out there attending these events to experience the realities that their potential clients and socialize…….Besides, seeing that Nigerians, including lawyers, are always looking for free tickets, we should appreciate those who make such tickets available to us at any time. Lawyers are humans too and we need to relax also. I need more involved lawyers in the entertainment space. — Foza Billions

“ @OluChub has always identified with young lawyers, creative, and the creative industry, and he is sure to always provide the right atmosphere for lawyers to socialize. When he was the President of the @nbasbl events, he was always the life of every party. — Akinyemi Akinoluwa

“Olumide Akpata particularly has sponsored lawyers to such events in the past. If it was not for political reasons then, why should it be addressed as politically motivated now? I agree with Foza that such events give lawyers a platform to engage with entertainment industry. — Adedunmade

“He volunteers tickets to an entertainment show during the festive season and its stunt? He has historically sponsored lawyers to different legal events, so why should this one on entertainment be a problem? We should not be like politicians and skew things by politicizing them. — Osahon.

“Well Foza has said it all. This thinking that the legal profession starts and ends in the courts should be bagged in the dustbin of history. —- Onile lawyer

“@FadekoyaSAN, your law firm has entertainment amongst its practice areas. See. aelex.com/entertainment/. I have gone for many entertainment events and met lawyers from your firm familiarizing with the industry. As Glanville Wilanville Wiiend any party this xnmoves to draw the awareness of young lawyers to unexploed areas such as entertainment law. it Gliams said, “we cannot learn the law by learning the law”. Understanding the industry and embracing its many sides is key to making the best of it. Entertainment is Nigeria’s biggest export after crude oil, and you’re saying young lawyers should not see where they can tap into it even just to enjoy the sector because they must be reading? – Voice of God.

“Ma, you are an NBA Politician. Will you swear that you did not attend any party this X-mas? During your campaign, didn’t you arrange parties and hangouts? Ma, we should not engage in taking cheap political shots. We should not stoop so low. We should not copy partisan politicians. – DutseJunction.

“Learned Silk, I agree with you to an extent ma’am. However, it is of common knowledge that this isn’t the first time Mr. OA has made moves to draw the awareness of young lawyers to unexplored areas such as entertainment law.  — Seyi Baba SCN

TheNigerialwyer (TNL) recalls that Olumide Akpata had earlier offered to give free ticket to lawyer (s) to attend two musical concerts to be held at Transcorp Hilton Abuja, on the 14th and 15th of December, 2019. —- Onile lawyers thinking that the legal profession starts and ends in the courts should be bagged in the dustbin

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