By Innocent Anaba

Deacon Dele Adesina, SAN, is a former General Secretary of Nigerian Bar Association, NBA. He is the current chairman of NBA Rule of Law Action Group and chairman, Constitution and Administrative Law Committee of the NBA Section on Legal Practice, SLP.

In this interview, he speaks on the release of Chief Mike Ozekhome by his abductors, law and security in the country and others. Excerpt:

Next week, a new set of Senior Advocates of Nigeria will be inaugurated by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, what is your advice for the new Silks?

Let me use this opportunity to congratulate each one of them for being counted worthy for the exalted title and promotion to this leadership status. The conferment of the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria signifies a transition into leadership position in the profession and leadership is responsibility. They have to now join the others to shoulder that responsibility in a demonstrable manner through all of their professional engagements.

What are these responsibilities?

They have to show good examples worthy of emulation by the junior members of the profession, who are determined to identify worthy mentors to follow both in and outside the courtroom, indeed in all  their dealings within and outside the profession, they must now begin  with greater consciousness to demonstrate high degree  of nobility, honour and integrity.

*Deacon Dele Adesina, SAN

I hope that they will not join the league of those whose conduct were responsible for the call by those who want to have the status abolished. I wish to let them know that the level of ethical standard expected of them will be higher than before. Of course, they must also begin to search for what they can do to add more value not only to the rank,  but also to the profession.

As the chairman of NBA Rule of Law Action Group, what are the achievements of that committee and what is your agenda for the coming year?

As you will recall, the Rule of Law Action Group had an outstandingly successful two day workshop in Lagos during the first term of President, Mr. Okey Wali, SAN, with the theme the rule of law as the bedrock for sustainable democracy and development in Nigeria. We intend to have a similar workshop in the coming year to further highlight the nexus between democracy and development and to make the point that strict adherence to all tenets of rule of law and due process are inevitable for a successful and sustainable constitutional democracy.

What are your plans for next year?

More importantly, next year, the Rule of Law Action Group of the NBA, which I have the privilege to chair will focus more attention on effective maintenance of law and order in Nigeria. The body is going to campaign in a sustained manner for good training for the law enforcement agents and adequate provision of necessary logistics and equipment to facilitate effective maintenance of law and order.

Emphasis will also be made to encourage the law enforcement officers to grow up in the area of detection of crime, the gathering of evidence and the essence of doing a thorough crime investigation. We will also focus on the need for the branches of NBA to constitute their own version of the Rule of Law Action Committee in all branches. Once this is done, the Rule of Law Action Group in collaboration with the branch committees can organise periodical visits to the prisons, police stations among other to ensure minimum infraction of due process, rule of law and fundamental rights.

Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, was just released by his abductors, what is your reaction to this?

Let me start by thanking God for the release of Chief Ozekhome to reunite with members of his family and his profession. It will be recalled that he was kidnapped about Friday, August 23,  2013. He spent about three weeks in captivity. Well, the important thing is that he has regained his freedom in good health.

How do we overcome the challenges posed by kidnapping and sundry vices in country?

The challenge posed by kidnapping in particular and the general state of insecurity to lives and property in Nigeria today is worrisome. It is a situation that I believe, has called for concerted efforts  and a holistic approach by the authorities at the local government, state and federal levels. It has gotten to a point where no one is sure of what will become of him or her in the next minute. I was made to understand that a good number of the people involved in these activities are well read and perhaps would have used their knowledge and skill for something more productive,  not only to them but also to the society if the opportunity had been provided.

So what do think is responsible for this?

I want to believe that the deplorable state of unemployment in this country today has added to the state of lawlessness that we are currently witnessing. The adage that devil will find work for an idle hand appears to be a major factor in the gradual reduction of this nation into a state where might is right and the life man is short, nasty  and brutish. Government has to wake up and live up to the demands of their social and security responsibilities. This current state of helplessness of the citizens must not continue unchecked.

The NBA just concluded its annual general conference in Calabar, Cross River State. What we say were the gains of that conference?

The conference as you know focused and quite rightly so in my estimation on leadership and challenges of Nationhood in the 21st Century Nigeria. I believe there is a consensus opinion that the issue of leadership constitutes the greatest challenge in Nigeria today. Talking about leadership, I mean leadership at all levels of authority. Somebody said that the character of the leader determines the character of the organisation he leads. For me this says it all.

Keynote speaker

The keynote speaker did justice to this theme most admirably. Like the President of NBA, Mr Okey Wali, SAN, said it is the belief of the Bar that once we get the leadership right in Nigeria’s every other component of good governance will follow suit. I believe that the greatest lesson for all from the conference is the need to resolve to turn a new leaf and begin to do things right.

Round pegs must be put in round holes in order to get proper symbiotic relationship. The Rule of Law Action Group did not organise a specific programme during the conference because I had to focus attention on the Constitutional Law and Administrative Law Committee of the Section of Legal Practice which I also chair.