BY BARTHOLOMEW MADUKWE
Governor Babatune Fashola, SAN, of Lagos State  has received an award for  best Leadership and Governance in Africa, at the 2014 ESQ Nigerian Legal Awards.

Meanwhile, the Law Firm of the Year Award went to Aluko & Oyebode, and the former Vice-President of Nigerian39 Bar Association, NBA, Mrs. Funke Adekoya, SAN, emerged winner in Outstanding Female Icon of the Year category.

According to the organisers, Fashola was honoured for his efforts in redefining governance and his development strides in Lagos State.

Other winners at the event were Alliance Law Firm (Corporate Restructuring Team of the Year); Aluko & Oyebode (Dispute Resolution Team of the Year; Sexton Cross (Energy/Oil Gas Team of the Year) and Aluko & Oyebode (Intellectual Property Team of the Year).

Special awards were also given to some   individuals, among them Chief  Afe Babalola, SAN in the Lifetime Achievement Award category; Mr. Wale Tinubu in the Business Icon of the Year category and Chief JK Gadzama, SAN, the Outstanding Achievers Award category.

The NBA Section on Business Law received an award for “Outstanding Achievement,” while Templars Barristers & Solicitors emerged the “Banking and Finance Team of the Year,” the law firm of Kola Awodein was voted the “Capital Market Team of the Year.” Odujinrin & Adefulu emerged winners in the Mergers and Acquisition Deal category; Banwo & Ighodalo won in the Project Finance Deal category and Paul Usoro won in the Telecommunication Deal category.

Speaking at the event, the Chief Executive Officer of Legal Blitz Limited (Publisher of ESQ Legal Practice Magazine) Mr. Lere Fashola, said the awards were to recognise the excellent job lawyers and law firms were doing to project and develop the nation’s legal profession.