By Gladys Ezeagu
National President of Nigerian Bar Association,  NBA, Mr Abubakar Mahmoud, SAN,  has said that the Port Harcourt NBA Law Centre, Rivers State, has immense national significance because it symbolises the success of the legal profession.

This is as Rivers State governor, Mr Nyesom Wike, said  that the best way that the NBA can support his administration was to offer free legal services to indigent members  of the community, so that they can have access to justice.

The NBA President said: “This is the most pleasant  event that I will  be participating in. This edifice is a national edifice for the legal profession.

“I have heard so many testimonies about the giant strides of Governor Wike,  and this one is close to the legal profession.  On behalf  of  all our colleagues  across the country, we commend Governor Wike and the people of Rivers State.

In his address before he handed over the Port Harcourt NBA Law Centre,  built  by the Rivers State Government to the NBA,  Governor Wike  charged them to work for the less privileged  people.

He said: “One way you can support us to achieve this goal is for the NBA to extend your professional services to the indigent in our communities, who cannot afford the spiraling cost of litigation and are therefore, denied justice on that singular account. We implore you therefore, to strengthen and expand pro-bono legal services to cover even civil cases to protect the poor from being oppressed and repressed by the rich who can afford to pay their ways to justice. “

The governor  appealed to the NBA to take steps to safeguard  democracy  and ensure that the rule of law is entrenched in the country.