THE STREET LAWYER NG BLOG

Beyond the Wig: A Call to Excellence and Leadership from Akinboro SAN.  In a time of shifting legal landscapes and evolving societal demands, Aare Olumuyiwa Akinboro, SAN, delivered a powerful charge to young lawyers: “ Everything is doable, when you commit to being truly excellent.” Speaking passionately about the future of the profession, Akinboro urged the next generation of lawyers to rise beyond ceremony and embrace substance. Beyond the wig lies the real work—mastery of skill, strength of character, and the courage to lead. He challenged young lawyers to become solution-driven, ethically grounded, and unafraid to challenge outdated systems. Excellence, he emphasized, isn’t optional, it’s the foundation for relevance, influence, and impact. This was more than a speech. It was a call to action: shape the future, don’t just inherit it. The legal profession needs an outstanding set of practitioners with the right work ethic and the zeal to push...

GOODWILL MESSAGE FROM AARE OLUMUYIWA AKINBORO, SAN To the Nigerian Bar Association, Dutse Branch, on the Occasion of its 2025 Law Week and the Launch of its Maiden Bar Journal I extend my warmest congratulations to the Chairman, Executives, and distinguished members of the Nigerian Bar Association, Dutse Branch, as you mark your 2025 Law Week with the timely theme: “Upholding Justice Through Ethical Advocacy.” This theme strikes at the heart of our noble profession, a call to return to the foundations of integrity, courage, and duty. In a time when society demands more from the legal profession, it is through ethical advocacy that we can rebuild trust, strengthen justice, and ensure that the courts remain the temple of fairness and truth. The launch of your maiden Bar Journal is a laudable milestone, one that not only celebrates scholarship but also amplifies the voices and intellect of lawyers in Dutse. It reflects your commitment to thought leadership and the advancement ...

GOODWILL MESSAGE FROM AARE OLUMUYIWA AKINBORO, SAN TO THE NIGERIAN BAR ASSOCIATION, EPE BRANCH ON THE OCCASION OF THEIR 2025 LAW WEEK.  I warmly congratulate the Chairman, Executive Committee, and members of the Nigerian Bar Association, Epe Branch, on the occasion of your 2025 Law Week themed: “Justice in a Changing World: Human Rights, Land Management & the Rule of Law.” In a world where the sands of justice are constantly shifting under the weight of modern challenges including  mass immigration, rapid urbanisation, displacement, and evolving notions of human rights this theme captures the pressing need to reaffirm our legal values while adapting to new realities. Your decision to spotlight land management and human rights within the framework of the rule of law is both courageous and commendable. It calls on lawyers to remain sentinels of justice, ensuring that development does not come at the expense of rights, and that the law remains a beacon of fairness...

GOODWILL MESSAGE FROM AARE OLUMUYIWA AKINBORO, SAN To the NBA North-Central Security Summit 2025.  I extend my warmest felicitations to the President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, the Vice President Zainab Aminu Garba, the Planning Committee, and the entire North-Central Bar for convening the 2025 NBA North-Central Security Summit in partnership with the Government of Benue State. The theme, “Strengthening Security, Rule of Law and Justice Delivery in North-Central Nigeria,” could not be more timely or relevant. At a time when our region and nation are grappling with complex security challenges, this summit is a clarion call for collaborative solutions rooted in justice, equity, and the supremacy of the rule of law. I commend the Chief Host, His Excellency, Dr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia, for his support and leadership in hosting this significant dialogue. The choice of Makurdi as the venue is a powerful reminder that the quest for peace ...

GOODWILL MESSAGE FROM AARE OLUMUYIWA AKINBORO, SAN To the Nigerian Bar Association, Garki Branch, on the Occasion of the 2025 Law Week.  I extend my warmest felicitations to the Chairman, Executive Committee, and esteemed members of the Nigerian Bar Association, Garki Branch, on the occasion of your 2025 Law Week. The chosen theme, "Law, Technology, and Society," is not only timely but also deeply reflective of the dynamic intersection shaping the future of our legal profession and the wider society. As technology continues to redefine the way we live, work, and interact, the legal profession must remain adaptive, ethical, and forward-thinking. This Law Week offers a valuable opportunity for critical discourse—on how we as legal professionals can harness innovation to strengthen access to justice, deepen the rule of law, and responsibly navigate the evolving societal landscape. The Garki Branch has once again demonstrated thought leadership by curating such a rele...

A CONGRATULATORY MESSAGE FROM AARE OLUMUYIWA AKINBORO, SAN To Uchenna Ogunedo Akingbade Esq. – Chairman, NBA Lagos Branch I extend my warmest congratulations to Uchenna Ogunedo Akingbade Esq, on her historic emergence as the first female Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association, Lagos Branch. This is not just a moment of celebration, it is a moment of meaning. Her victory is a resounding testament to capacity built over time, service rendered with distinction, and a legacy of quiet, consistent leadership. It is a triumph rooted not in tokenism or gender sentiment, but in competence, credibility, and character. The Lagos Bar, discerning as ever, cast its vote not for symbolism but for substance. And in doing so, it affirmed what many already knew, that Uchenna Ogunedo Akingbade was prepared, tested, and worthy. Her journey speaks volumes to every woman within the legal profession: that excellence remains the greatest equalizer. That when you invest in knowledge, ...

END OF TENURE REPORT By Olaide Oluwayomi-Ajewole, Welfare Secretary, NBA Lagos Branch “It’s Never Goodbye, Just ‘Until We Meet Again’'.  Distinguished Chair, Learned Colleagues, and Esteemed Members of the NBA Lagos Branch, As I draw the curtains on my tenure as your Welfare Secretary, I do so with a heart full of gratitude, fulfillment, and unyielding commitment to our collective wellbeing. It has been an incredible journey — one anchored on compassion, consistency, creativity, and the belief that welfare is not an act of charity, but a recognition of dignity. In the spirit of brevity, true to my welfarist nature.  I present to you some key milestones and transformational initiatives undertaken under my stewardship: 🌿 KEY ACHIEVEMENTS AT A GLANCE 1. Active Health Insurance & Life Assurance Policies for registered members. 2. Mental Wellness Support System — including confidential counseling channels. 3. Hepatitis B Screening and Vaccination exercise for member...

🛡️ JUST IN: LPPC Elevates 57 Lawyers to Rank of SAN Swearing-In Ceremony Scheduled for September 29, 2025.  The Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee (LPPC) has released the full list of 57 successful applicants for the conferment of the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) in the 2025 exercise. The Swearing-In Ceremony will hold on Monday, September 29, 2025, in Abuja. This year’s list features a diverse crop of leading legal practitioners and academics, including: 📜 FULL LIST OF NEWLY SAN APPOINTEES, (2025): Theophilus Kolawole Esan, EsqF Fedude Zimughan, Esq Ernest Chikwendu Ikejle, Esq Victor Esiri Akpoguma, Esq Leslie Akujuobi Njemanze, Esq Akintunde Wilson Adewale, Esq Preye Agedah, Esq Omamuzo Erebe, Esq Hannibal Egbe Uwaifo, Esq Olumide Ekisola, Esq George Ejie Ukaegbu, Esq Oromena Justice Ajakpovi, Esq Tairu Adebayo, Esq Bawa Akhimie Osali Ibrahim, Esq Suleh Umar, Esq Emeka Akabogu, Esq Godwin Sunday Ogboji, Esq Godwin Aimuagbonrie Idiagbo...

When Life Pauses but the Law Must Not: Legal Reflections on the Death of Saudi Arabia’s Sleeping Prince.  The recent death of Saudi Arabia’s Prince Al-Waleed bin Khalid Al Saudi, famously known as the “Sleeping Prince” has reignited global conversation about the legal and ethical complexities of life, death, and everything in between.  After spending nearly two decades in a coma following a traumatic accident in 2005, his passing raises profound questions that stretch far beyond the borders of Saudi Arabia or royal privilege. For us in Nigeria, and across Africa, this case offers more than a human interest story, it presents a legal mirror reflecting the glaring gaps in our own systems. When a person remains alive but unconscious for years, what happens to their rights, their estate, their medical care, or their voice in decision-making? Who decides whether they should remain on life support, and for how long? And when that person is no longer capable o...

In a time when the legal profession in Nigeria is wrestling with economic pressures and internal questions of value, dignity, and sustainability, Aare Olumuyiwa Akinboro, SAN, delivered a keynote at the NBA Oron Branch Law Week that will long echo through the ranks of the Bar.  His message was clear, urgent, and unflinching: a profession that does not value its own services cannot expect society to do otherwise. The theme of the gathering was a timely one, the implementation of the Legal Practitioners Remuneration Order, 2023 and Akinboro took it head-on. Speaking to a hall of lawyers eager for direction in uncertain times, he challenged the prevailing culture of underpricing, silent suffering, and the romanticization of struggle in legal practice. “Is law practice a business?” he asked, pausing just long enough to make the room lean in. “It is both. It is a noble calling with commercial realities.” For decades, lawyers have operated ...

In the quiet corridors of justice, where the letter of the law meets the pulse of the people, the NBA Barnawa Branch (The Model Branch) once again raised the bar.  Their 2025 Law Week was not just another item on the calendar. It was a bold confrontation with one of the most paradoxical sections of our Constitution: Chapter 2, the Fundamental Objectives and Directive Principles of State Policy. That these lofty ideals remain largely non-justiciable in a country grappling with inequality, poverty, insecurity, and democratic fragility is a national wound we must no longer ignore. Aare Olumuyiwa Akinboro, SAN, a senior advocate and distinguished life Bencher known not just for his eloquence but his deep convictions, captured this tension in his heartfelt goodwill message to the Branch. He described the Law Week theme, “Democracy and the Nigerian Experience: The Mirage of Chapter 2 of the 1999 Constitution”, as timely and courageous, “a dialogue the legal profes...

Preserving the Flame or Watching It Die? Reflections from the  NBA Ikeja Law Week 2025 with Aare Olumuyiwa Akinboro, SAN.  At the just concluded NBA Ikeja Law Week 2025, held under the compelling theme “Preserving the Legal Profession for Tomorrow,” one moment stood out—not just for its eloquence, but for its raw truth. Aare Olumuyiwa Akinboro, SAN, took the stage and delivered more than a speech. He delivered a reckoning. Speaking on the topic “The Fall in the Standard of the Legal Profession: Who Do We Blame?”, Akinboro addressed the legal community not as an outsider but as a deeply involved stakeholder unafraid to look within. With the legacy of Chief Alao Aka-Bashorun looming large one of Nigeria’s most courageous and principled legal icons, Akinboro asked a searing question: Are we preserving or eroding the foundation laid by those who came before us? He reminded the audience that the decline in the legal profession is not a stand-alone phenomenon but a refle...

Saturday Reflection: When the Law Is Silent, Ethics Must Speak.  🧑🏽‍⚖️ “I trusted her to be neutral…” These were the emotional words of a woman in an Ondo courtroom who accused her divorce lawyer of secretly marrying her ex-husband after handling their separation. The courtroom drama ended with a dismissal—the judge found no evidence before the court to sustain the claim. But the headlines linger. And so does the question: What happens when an action isn’t illegal… but still feels wrong? ⚖️ Let’s Break It Down: 1. The Legal Angle: No law was broken, at least based on what was presented in court. The marriage—if it indeed happened—occurred after the divorce proceedings. No legal rule in Nigeria expressly bars such a relationship post-case. The court acted correctly by dismissing a suit unsupported by evidence. Law demands proof—not feelings. 2. The Ethical Dilemma: Rule 15(3)(d) of the Rules of Professional Conduct (RPC) requires lawyers to avoid conduct that brings th...

When Equality Meets Tradition: Uganda’s Gender-Neutral Polygamy Ruling and the Future of African Family Law.  By Jade Olise Esq Editor in Chief, The Street Lawyer NG On a continent where tradition and law often walk a tightrope, Uganda’s recent court ruling declaring polygamy as gender-neutral has sent legal and cultural ripples across Africa. The judgment, which essentially affirms that both men and women have the right to marry multiple partners under certain legal frameworks, marks a bold step in the ongoing evolution of African family law. But what does this mean for Uganda? For Africa? For Nigeria? And more importantly, does this ruling merely modernize marriage law, or does it challenge deeply rooted gender norms that have long defined African societies? Let’s unpack it. A Landmark Shift in Family Law Polygamy, in most of Africa, is not new. It is a well-established part of customary law and is legally recognized in many countries, including Nigeria. But tradition...

OGUN 2025: Where Law Meets Legacy — A Legal Getaway to Recharge, Reconnect, and Redefine the Future.  What if you could step away from the day-to-day hustle, immerse yourself in rich Yoruba heritage, and still sharpen your legal mind with some of the finest professionals in the field? This August, the serene city of Abeokuta becomes more than a historic destination, it becomes the heartbeat of legal and cultural transformation. The Egbe Amofin O’Odua National Conference 2025, themed “Regional Justice, Security, and Sustainable Development,” is more than just a professional gathering. It’s a full-bodied experience, part retreat, part think-tank, and entirely impactful. Hosted at the prestigious Mitros Residences, Ibara Housing Estate, Abeokuta, from August 5th–7th, 2025, this conference is the perfect blend of serious conversations and soulful escape. Why You Shouldn't Miss It: ✅ Timely Theme, Bold Conversations At a time when regional autonomy, justice reform, and susta...

GOODWILL MESSAGE FROM AARE OLUMUYIWA AKINBORO, SAN TO THE 2025 BUSINESS LAW Conference.  I am delighted to extend my warmest felicitations to the organizers and participants of the 2025 Business Law Conference themed “The Future Lawyer: Creative Problem Solver, Strong Work Ethics, Innovative and Tech Enthusiast,” holding on Tuesday, July 15, 2025. This theme captures the evolving identity of the 21st-century legal professional—one who must be more than a legal technician, but a visionary, solution-driven, and technologically astute thinker. The business and legal landscapes are rapidly transforming, and it is only those lawyers who embrace creativity, ethics, and innovation that will remain relevant and impactful. I commend the conference organizers for curating such a timely and strategic platform that speaks directly to the future of our profession, especially in the dynamic world of business law. As you engage in robust conversations and share insights, may this gath...

GOODWILL MESSAGE FROM AARE OLUMUYIWA AKINBORO SAN, TO THE 56TH NIGERIAN ASSOCIATION OF LAW TEACHERS CONFERENCE.  It is with great honour that I extend my heartfelt goodwill to the distinguished leadership and members of the Nigerian Association of Law Teachers (NALT) as you convene for your 56th Annual Conference themed “Raising Standards for Law Teachers.” This theme could not be more timely. In an era where legal education must evolve to meet global demands, law teachers remain the cornerstone of any credible legal system. The future of the legal profession is shaped in your classrooms, lecture halls, and research papers. Your role is not only to inform minds but to inspire values. I commend NALT for its unwavering commitment to excellence in legal scholarship and pedagogy. As this year’s conference explores strategies to raise academic and ethical standards, I encourage all participants to share boldly, engage critically, and emerge equipped to lead transformative ch...