Lawyers of Isoko extraction in Delta State, under the auspices of Isoko Lawyers Forum, at their inaugural forum on Saturday, called on members to encourage their children to read the law, noting that if the Isoko people had concentrated on producing lawyers the way they had produced teachers, Isoko people would have occupied more sensitive positions at the Bar and the Bench.
The Forum harped on the imperative of synergy, unity of purpose and collaboration to fight injustice and marginalisation of Isoko lawyers in the area of appointment of judges in the judiciary.
In attendance at the gathering held a the Secretariat of Isoko Development Union, Oleh, Headquarters of Isoko South Local Government Area, were legal practitioners from all walks of life, including the Secretary to Delta State Board of Internal Revenue Service, Chief Mike Edegware; past chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association, Warri Branch, Michael Asugo; the Vice President of Isoko Development Union, Prince Desmond Ogbaudu; past and present leaders of the Bar in the state and retired members of the Bench of Isoko extraction, among others.
In his inaugural address, the chairman of the Forum, Michael Asugo, disclosed that “the Forum aims at bringing lawyers of Isoko nationality at home and in the diaspora together to cross-fertilise ideas in order to improve the lot of Isoko lawyers and the Isoko nation in general.”
According to him, the actualisation of the idea of a forum like this which was conceptualised in 2017 by the founders was a right step to assist members to take their rightful place in the legal profession and advance the cause of justice.”
Mr. Asugo expressed satisfaction that the inauguration of the Forum came at an auspicious time, thanking members for their financial and moral sacrifices that made the event a successful one.
The stakeholders in their contributions also called upon members to unite and forge a formidable vanguard that will make an impart in the legal profession and advance the cause of Isoko nation.
In a goodwill message, the President of Isoko Development Union, Worldwide, Professor Christopher Akpotu, represented by the Social Secretary, Sir Patrick Omaduvie, commended the organisers for appreciating the need to form such an important Forum, stressing that the forum should give voice to lawyers and use it to canvass for appointment of young lawyers as judges who have the prospects of rising to the Supreme Court.
The high point of the occasion was the inauguration of a nine-member Interim Executive Committee headed by Michael Asugo, to pilot the affairs of the Forum for one year until elections would be held to fill various offices in the forum.
