By JAPHET ALAKAM

Notable Nigerians, including the Lagos State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Ade Ipaye, two time minister, Mr Dein Ajumogobia, and other legal practitioners and law teachers of University of Lagos, Akoka among others has commended Prof. Joseph Abugu for his giant strides in the field of law in Nigeria.

The commendation were made last week at The Agip Recital Hall, Muson Centre, Onikan, Lagos during the public presentation of two new academic and practice textbooks , Principles of Corporate Law in Nigeria and Company Securities: Law and Practice second edition written by Prof. Joseph E.O Abugu, who is head of department of Commercial and Industrial Law, Faculty of Law, University of Lagos.

The event was attended by notable Nigerians, among them Goddy Uwazuruike, President Aka Ikenga, Mr Val Uche Obi, Dr A.A Olawoyin, SAN, Akin Osibanjo, Ladi Taiwo, Mideno Bayagbon, Editor Vanguard Newspapers, Prof. Jide Alor, law teachers and students from UNILAG and others.

•L-R, Lagos Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice,Ade Ipaye, Prof Joseph Abugu, Author, Prof Jide Alor, DVC Academic and Research, UNILAG, Val Uche Obi and Chinwe Offor during the book presentation in Lagos.

Speaking at the event, Governor Fashola of Lagos state who was represented by the Lagos State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Ade Ipaye who presented the books, commended the efforts of the erudite author for presenting two books on critical areas of company law and Nigerian economy. According to him,”I have the opportunity to have followed the professional journey of Prof. Abugu,we studied together as students and lectured as teachers. The giant strides Abugu has taken which has brought us together has not been a flop. What we are seeing today is a cumulation of many years of dedication, hard work, study and critical thinking. I commend the author and also congratulate the teachers and supervisors of commercial law for what they are doing and finally, I congratulate UNILAG for their teaching and research.”

In his remarks, the chairman of the occasion, former foreign Affairs minister, Mr Odein Ajumogobia, commended the author for the phenomenal works which he described as very important and timely addition to collection of books on corporate law in the country. He stated that Nigeria is a very developing stage where private sectors play a key role, and that the interpretation of law and how to apply it is very important. Commending the author for the work, he said “I don’t know how he combines it with his teaching.”He added.

On his part, the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Management Services, Prof. Duro Oni who represented the chief host, the vice chancellor of UNILAG, described the author as a product of the University of first choice UNILAG. He commended Prof. Abugu for finding time as part of his hobby to teach and bring out such books, adding, “we are proud of him and his contributions to the University of Lagos.”

The book reviewers, Dr A.A. Olawoyin, SAN, Partner, Olwoyin and Olawoyin, Legal Practitioners and Val Uche Obi, Chairman, Capital Market Solicitors Association and Managing Partner, Alliance Law Firm, Lagos who reviewed the two books did justice to their work as they took time to educate the audience about the importance of the books, which they termed to be scholarly.

Speaking about the books, Prof. Joseph E.O Abugu, who is also the Principal Consulting Counsel in the firm of Abugu & Co. Solicitors said that, The Principles of Corporate Law in Nigeria is designed to provide in-depth theoretical and practical insight of the subject to the law researcher either as a student or practitioner. While the second book, Company Securities: Law and Practice, second edition is designed to further deepen available literature on securities law and strengthen the case for its inclusion in the course curricula of Nigerian universities.

Speaking further, he said that the move was a response to the over reliance by Nigerian law students on English law textbooks for their studies and practice.National Troupe goes back to the cradle, pays homage to Hubert Ogunde