My Faith And Belief In Oneness Of Nigeria Has Never Been Shaken — Ngige SAN

*Says Not every Igbo believes in IPOB’s self-determination agitation.
*Applauds Rivers Government For Offering Brand New Campus For The Nigerian Law School
*Says NLS Receives Over 10, 000 Applications For Bar Part II Annually

The Chairman, Council of Legal Education, Mr. Emeka Ngige, SAN, has said that despite the insecurity, economic and ethnic challenges facing the country, he still believes in the Oneness of Nigeria and such belief has never been Shaken for a second.

Ngige said this during a chat with This Day Newspaper as he marked turned 60 on Sunday 11th July, 2021.

According to him, the challenges above constitute a passing phase in the country’s journey to nationhood.

He said, “Specifically as to your question on whether I still have faith in this country given the insecurity, economic and ethnic challenges facing us, my answer is a straight ‘Yes.’ My faith and belief in the oneness of this country, has never been shaken for a second. All the challenges you mentioned, constitute a passing phase in our journey to nationhood. Insecurity is a global challenge. There is hardly any part of the world, that does not have its own share of security challenges. Even in America – the homestead of democracy – we read reports of violent shootings every now and then. The epidemic of gun violence in that country, has not made Americans question the oneness of their nation.

The menace has even become accepted as a way of life, leaving the hapless citizens to the mercy of God. You just pray not to be at the wrong place at the wrong time. In the West African sub-region, the insecurity challenges we face are not restricted to Nigeria; they are also prevalent in Ghana, Niger, Bur-kina Faso, Chad, Sierra Leone, and some parts of Cameroun. Just Google ‘insecurity in Africa’, and you will discover that the challenge is not restricted to Nigeria. The other day, there were public demonstrations against rising insecurity in Ghana. Same also took place in Burkina Faso. So, there is no basis for anyone to question the oneness of the nation simply because we have security challenges.

“Similarly, the economic challenge we face is al-so global. No country in the world – in the aftermath of the coronavirus pandemic – is free from economic crisis. It is also a passing phase.

“On ethnicity and its challenges, it has been with us since independence, but we shall surely overcome it. The young generation of Nigerians we are breeding today, are more urbane and cosmopolitan than our own generation. With inter-tribal marriages that have risen significantly in the country, the challenge of ethnicity will pale into insignificance with time.”

The distinguished silk refused to comment on the rearrest of Nnamdi Kanu but call for due process in his trial.

Furthermore, he explained that not every Igbo believes in IPOB’s self-determination agitation.

“Because everything concerning the arrest, re-arrest and re-arraignment of Nnamdi Kanu is now before a court of law, I believe it is more honorable for me to refrain from commenting on it. The only thing I wish to state is that, in line with the provisions of our Constitution, he’s presumed innocent and is entitled to fair trial. I will urge the prosecuting authorities to ensure that he gets a fair trial, in line with international best practice. Not every Igbo believes in IPOB’s self-determination agitation.

“However, I believe that nearly every Igbo is interested in the equitable distribution of resources, appointments and projects in the country. It will serve us better living in a united and progressive Nigeria, anchored on equity and fairness.” Ngige said

On improvement of the quality of Lawyers being admitted into the Nigerian Bar, Ngige said the Council of Legal Education is in touch with the National Universities Commission, which is currently reviewing the curriculum of subjects being taught at the universities in Nigeria. He said the Council is also sourcing for government and private sector intervention in the infrastructural development of the Nigerian Law School.

“Like I stated earlier, no human endeavour is perfect. It is usually a work in progress. The call for the improvement in the quality of Lawyers being called to the Nigerian Bar, did not start today. It has always been there with us since 1962, when the Nigerian Law School was established. It is a work in progress. The Council of Legal Education has from time to time, been reviewing the curriculum of the Nigeria Law School. The last time the curriculum was reviewed was in 2019, shortly before I came on board. There had earlier been a comprehensive overhaul of the curriculum during the tenure of late Hon. Justice M. O. Onalaja (JCA) as Chairman, and Dr. Tahir Mamman as Director-General.

That was in 2008. I must also say that the task of training a law student to become a good Lawyer, is the responsibility of all stakeholders in the administration of justice regime. Right from secondary school, the foundation has to be properly laid. If there is a faulty foundation, no matter what you teach at the University and Law School levels, the product will not be good. The Council is in touch with the National Universities Commission, which is currently reviewing the curriculum of subjects being taught at the universities in Nigeria. Hopefully, in the near future, some adjustments will be made in the curriculum. In addition, we are also sourcing for government and private sector intervention in the infrastructural development of the Nigerian Law School. The infrastructural decay in the school, is very troubling. The environment in which the students are being taught, is nothing to be happy about.” he said

The Senior Advocate of Nigeria also applauded the Rivers State Government for offering to build a new Campus of the Nigerian Law School in Port Harcourt. According to him, the number of aspiring lawyers increases every year as over 10,000 applications are received annually for Bar Part II and the capacity of the current Campuses is 6000

He said, “Let me say that only one campus was approved in principle, about three weeks ago. You will agree with me that as Nigeria’s population continues to grow, the number of those aspiring to become Lawyers will also increase proportionally. Currently, the Nigerian Law School cannot admit all the applicants seeking to be admitted for Bar Part 2. Annually, the Law School receives applications from nearly 10,000 students, whereas, the sitting capacity in the six campuses combined is roughly about 6,000. Therefore, the need to build more structures in the existing campuses, in order to accommodate the excess 4000 need not be over-emphasised.

The offer by the Rivers State Government to build a brand new, state-of-the-art campus for Nigerian Law School was unanimously accepted by the Council of Legal Education with the concurrence of the Hon. Attorney-General of the Federation, in order to help in expanding the capacity of the institution to admit law graduates. I think the gesture by Rivers State Government should be applauded. Just recently, the National Universities Commission issued licenses to about 22 private universities, and each of them was authorised to open Faculties of Law, subject to Council of Legal Education’s accreditation. We must therefore, be proactive in planning ahead for the consequential increase in the number of applicants seeking to be admitted to the Nigerian Law School.”