ASABA/Nigeria: The Delta State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Peter Mrakpor, has promised to sponsor all legal officers in the State Ministry of Justice to the 2019 annual Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) holding in Lagos later this month.
Mr Mrakpor made the promise during a courtesy visit in his office in Asaba by the Delta State Chapter of Law Officers Association of Nigeria, (LOAN) executive members, led by its Chairman, Mr Thomas Anigara.
The promise elicited jubilation as the attorney-general, known for his doggedness and astuteness, noted that the annual conference of the NBA was a veritable platform for lawyers to learn and interact with older and more experienced members of the profession.
He added that the various sessions of the conference where erudite lectures were delivered helped in promoting efficiency and fostering legal practice in the country.
The justice commissioner assured legal officers who had already registered for the conference with their personal funds of reimbursement and encouraged all lawyers in the ministry to attend the Lagos conference.
He stated that as part of government commitment in promoting the rule of law and efficient legal practice by its lawyers, the ministry had paid the annual practicing fees of all state counsel.
Mr Mrakpor urged state legal officers to reciprocate government’s gesture by showing more commitment to their duties and uphold integrity as their watch word and eschew any act inimical to their career advancement and that of the civil service.
He also assured the law officers of the ministry’s preparedness to lend its support towards the successful hosting of the National Executive Council NEC) meeting of LOAN proposed to be hosted by Delta State in November 2019.
The attorney-general, however, expressed sadness over the inability of lawyers to access the funds budgeted for car loans for lawyers in the 2018 and 2019 budgets and advised LOAN’s Executive members to liaise with the Director of Planning Research and Statistics in the ministry to fashion how to access the said loan.
Earlier, the State Chairman of the Law Officers Association of Nigeria, Mr Thomas Anigara while welcoming the attorney-general back to the ministry, praised the AG for his sterling leadership qualities and excellent performance during the first tenure of the Senator Dr Ifeanyi Okowa’s administration, saying that he had made them proud as the number one member of the association.
Mr Anigara who reeled out his achievement as the LOAN’s Chairman, appealed to the justice commissioner for an upward review of the outfit allowance for lawyers in the ministry even as he decried the inability of legal officers to access the car loan provided for them in the state budget.
The LOAN Chairman who pledged the association’s support and loyalty for the Okowa’s administration also pleaded with the AG to ensure that qualified persons were appointment as judges from the ministry, pointing out that such appointments would create room for the advancement of others to become directors.
