…Thumbs Up Gov Wike For Vat Challenge
legal practitioner, Godspower Godfrey Esq., has warned against what he saw as incessant proliferation of law schools across the 36 states and Abuja, the federal capital territory.
The lawyer who gave the warning recently in a chat with newsmen in Port Harcourt, said the proliferation of law schools in Nigeria is an aberration and has weakened the legal system.
Mr. Godfrey, the principal partner of Powers and Partners (Ajuru Chambers), Port Harcourt, said that having a law school in important cities like Lagos, Port Harcourt and Abuja is okay.
His words, “When you talk about legal practice in Nigeria, it is about Lagos State, Rivers State and FCT Abuja. Therefore, having law schools in these areas is okay”
On the Value Added Tax (VAT) imbroglio, Mr. Godfrey said state Governments that are viable should commend Governor Ezenwo Nyesom Wike for taking the matter to court and for the truth to come to light.
The legal VAT practitioner, who is the current Chairman of Eleme Lawyer’s Forum, said Governor Wike’s move to approach the court is an eye opener.
Reminding members of the recently inaugurated Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) in Rivers State of their role which is mostly fact finding, he said the advantage is that by the time they have gone through protocols, it will be difficult to turn it down.
“Member of ADR can be both lawyers and laymen. Besides, most of drafting these days they put ADR Clause. I use to put it in my briefs”, he emphasized.
On the independence of the judiciary and non-interference of the executive arm, Mr. Godfrey said if they had absolute independence there will be chaos, adding that the three arms of government are interdependent.
Expressing regret that legal practitioners in the country were also being affected by the harsh economic reality, the lawyer said briefs were no longer coming as it used to, adding that those who buy lands and whose lawyers render services are no longer paying the lawyers.
It will be recalled that recently the Senate Committee on the Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters were in Rivers State for their oversight function where they inspected the on-going Dr. Nabo Graham- Douglas Law School and also commended Governor Ezenwo Nyesom for the on-going Law School Project in Rivers State.
