The new Chairman of the Young Lawyers Forum of the Eti-Osa Bar Forum, Joan Ohwaguono Esq has called for national palliatives for young lawyers by the Mr. Paul Usoro SAN -led national Leadership of the Nigerian Bar Association.
This was made known in a statement with which she welcomed members of the Young Lawyers ‘ Forum to the reinvigorated Platform.
She highlighted that the Young Lawyers’ Forum of the Eti-Osa Bar Forum is open to lawyers within 1-7 years, who are young lawyers practising or residing within Eti-Osa Local Government and Ibeju-Lekki Local Government Areas of Lagos State, which form the jurisdiction of the Eti-Osa Bar Forum.
The statement added that “Eti-Osa Bar Forum is pushing for the inauguration of Eti-Osa Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association, based on the provision of the Constitution of the Nigerian Bar Association (2019 as amended) that there shall be a Branch of the Association where a Division of the High Court of a State exists. There is currently an High Court Building, lying and situate at Addo Road, Ajah, Lagos State. We have obtained the assurances of the Chief Judge of Lagos State , Honourable Justice Kazeem Alogba that the Eti-Osa Division will be put in place before the end of the 2019/2020 Legal Year in July, 2020.”
She submitted that as the Young Lawyers’ Forum of the Eti-Osa Bar Forum, we are aware that the COVID-19 pandemic has been telling a lot on young lawyers. While some branches of the Nigerian Bar Association have intervened/are intervening with palliatives, it is important to put appropriate pressure on the national leadership of the Nigerian Bar Association to act to meet the need of young lawyers.”
She specifically called out the Mr. Paul Usoro SAN -led national leadership of the Nigerian Bar Association to stand up to the occasion and set up National Relief Fund for young lawyers , who are passing through strenous financial conditions under the lockdown.
She affirmed that on the part of the Young Lawyers’ Forum of the Eti-Osa Bar Forum, it will initiate talks with stakeholders towards attracting palliatives for young lawyers in our jurisdiction. Legal trainings will also be rolled out during the period with Knowledge Sharing Webinars on various issues of legal practice.
She also urged young lawyers to join the Special Taskforce set up by the Eti-Osa Bar Forum against Corona Virus. The assignment of the Task Force will commence on 16th April, 2010. Interested lawyers are expected to converge at the Eti-Osa Bar Forum Secretariat at Suite 17, Amabec Plaza, Beside Eti-Osa High Court Building by 11am.
The assignment of the Special Task Force includes but not limited to Security Support, Health Support, Prison Decongestion Advocacy, Criminal Justice Assistance, Legal Aid and Human Rights Defense.