By EMMANUEL UNA

With a membership   that spans through governors; Senate President David Mark; Secretary to Federal Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim; a former Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Chibudum Nwuchi; Chief Judges;jurists and renown  businessmen, the Nigerian   Law School Class of ’88 may not just be braggadocios   as it claims to be   the most   outstanding of all the classes that have graduated from the 50-year-old apex law  training institution..

It was in keeping with this acclaimed status that members of the class turned out in their numbers in Calabar  for its   silver jubilee  anniversary   celebration     and fund raising ceremony. The roll call includes   two of its three   serving governors. Senator Liyel Imoke of Cross River State and Obong Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom States. Governor  Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State sent a representative. Ayim; Senator Joy Emordi; ;Nwuche;  Justice Elvis Ngele, Chief Judge of Ebonyi State; Boma Ozobia, eminent jurist and Chike Ekeluba, billionaire businessman, were all there.

In an atmosphere  devoid  of protocol, but rekindling  their Law School days, the titles of  ‘His Excellency”, “Justice’, “Honourable”,   “Senator” and the likes were kept aside  as  everyone called one another by their first names  as “Liyel”,   “Godswill”, “Anyim” and  “Joy”  were freely   used without anyone raising eyebrows.   The Class Prefect, Nwuche, could be seen  exchange banters with a less prominent  classmate as to who was brighter or performed better in class without  insults  imputed in the exchange.

The events started with a football match in the U J   Esuene Stadium where the Jubilee Group defeated the Legacy Group by two goals to nothing and the Legacy Group being forced to pay  N3 million  for losing. In the evening, the events moved to the Tinapa Lake   Side Hotel  for the dinner and   N150 million  fund raising for the development of Information and   Communications  Centre (ICT) at the Nigerian Law School, Lagos.

The fund raising, which started at about 10pm, held up the dinner until it turned to “breakfast” as   a member of the class put it. Moderated by the trio of Akpabio, Imoke and Anyim, the fund raising was  marked  by  fun and exchange of banters among the class members as to who should donate which amount.
Ayim briefed the class on the need to raise the amount and hand it over in order to maintain the ego of the class as the most successful and most outstanding of all the Law School classes since the inception of the school.

According to him,  the class pledged the N150 million   last year during the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the  Nigerian Law School and   fund raising ceremony to develop infrastructure in the school. . “We are committed to the cause   of our alma mater. As 1988 graduates   to fund the development of the  ICT  ccente at the Nigerian Law School, Lagos,  therefore, we must ensure we do everything to raise the money”.

He said he got the mandate of the class to attend the Law School 50th anniversary event and made a pledge, which was   the highest,  in keeping with  the reputation of the class   as the most successful of the classes that have passed out of the school. “The Class of ’86 attempted to compete with us, but we kept raising the bar and, when we got to N150 million, they succumbed; so we must raise that sum fast to enable work to begin on the ICT Centre project immediately”, the SGF said.

Akpabio, the Akwa Ibom governor,  said though it was possible for one member of the class   to raise the entire sum and hand it over, every member of the class has a stake in the institution and should   be given the opportunity to participate in the building of the ICT  Centre   to express his love and commitment to the institution that moulded him.

“Today the class has produced three serving governors, the Senate President, the Secretary to the Federal Government, Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Chief Judges, judges and I dare say some members of our class are billionaire businessmen;  so we have to give everyone the opportunity to express his love for his alma mater”, Anyim told his colleagues.

The host of the event, Imoke,   said the event,taking place  25   years after the set passed out of Law School, is   a jubilee celebration, which should   make everyone reflect on the past and the  future of their lives   vis-a-vis that of the   country as it prepares to celebrates its centenary this year too.

The Cross Rivers governor  said the class, which has members from all over the country, reflects how  Nigeria is today. “The Nigerian Law School Class of ’88 has achieved so much success and,  as we celebrate our 25 years of post Law School experience, we celebrate not just the class but what Nigeria is today; a collection of different ethnic groups and nationalities in one great land”, he stated.

According to him, the celebration is the bonding together of a people that would remain as one no matter the vagaries and challenges strewn across their path. “We today celebrate the bonding together that will remain with us; the hope of our greatness reflects the image of our great country”, Imoke added.. The event also featured the award of honours to deserving classmates including one of their teachers, Oba Victor David Olateru Olagbegi, the Olowo of Owo. Awards were given to members who have distinguished themselves in  politics, business, legal practice and  academics.

At  the close of t he fund raising  at about 2am, N145.7 million  was raised leaving the sum of N 4.3 million as  balance,  a clear testament to the status of the class and its readiness to remain  the top class of the apex law training  institution.