…Seeks amendments of admiralty rules
A former Chief of the Federal High Court of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Ibrahim Auta, OFR has called on maritime lawyers in Nigeria to dedicate their time in writing more books on the maritime industry so as to enhance further understanding of the industry by the maritime law students, maritime lawyers and maritime Judges.
Justice Auta who made this appeal at the unveiling and launch of a book titled: Essay in Admiralty Volume 3; Key Issues in Shipping from a Global Perspective, written by Jean Chaizor Anishere in Lagos recently while appreciating the likes of Mbanefo, SAN and Chidi Ilogu, SAN for brazing the trail in writing maritime books, he encouraged them to write more.
He posited that Nigeria and Nigerians had a lot to benefit from the maritime industry more than others if the Nigerian government would invest in the industry adding that there were lots to gain from the blue economy which he said had gained prominence lately in the international maritime domain.
“People are talking about the blue economy, there are lots of things in it and maritime matters, safety and businesses are international and we must go according to what is happening in the world today.
“That’s why I congratulate Jean Chiazor for keeping us abreast on what is happening in the international market especially the maritime market. Ladies and gentlemen, just like I said, I have to rush to come here but with the crowd I saw here, I never expected the crowd to be so big but we will like more books to be written by maritime lawyers. One of the foremost authors in maritime, Mbanefo, SAN is here, he started it. Then, Chidi Ilogu has written so many books on maritime but please, let’s keep on writing and just like Justice Mustapha said, those who came newly have advantage of books to read but our own, we did our own research but now the maritime is expanding in Nigeria and we hope the government will give it the necessary support”, he said.
While recalling that some admiralty rules had been made in the Federal High Court during his time he however hoped that the incoming regime, with contributions from maritime lawyers, would commence the process of amending some certain sections of the rules he believed may need some amendments and improvements.
In his words, “There is no law that is permanent, things are changing and Olateregun is here in Lagos and I think she will take it to the Chief Judge so that he will make some amendments. I believe when I was there, some maritime lawyers had sent some recommendations to me but I didn’t have time to implement them because I can’t do everything. So, let’s sit down together and look at how we will improve the admiralty practice in Nigeria”.
While thanking the author for “for dedicating this book to me and not only to me, but to the Federal High Court”, he added,” I know I have been encouraging Jean for a long time to continue writing but I never knew that it was going to fall on me. I have seen some of the chapters and just like Justice Mustapha said, it’s a must read book for everybody”.
On his part, another former Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Mustapha recounted the difficulty they faced during their time in the late 80s at the Federal High Court because of their lack of knowledge about admiralty practice as it was not taught in any Nigerian University in the 70s.
He recalled that upon their swearing in as Federal High Court Judge in 1989, they were privileged with files containing admiralty proceedings conducted by the then existing Judges of Federal High Court as according to him, “the other way of learning was through lectures, during seminar for judges organized by the Shippers’ Council”.
He continued,”But now, admiralty practice is here. A book like this was not available. One must therefore thank Mrs. Chiazor Anishere for embarking on this noble venture of writing essays in admiralty. This book, I understand is the third in the series geared towards ensuring to ease the task of the newly appointed Judges to oversee Federal High Court. I congratulate her for producing these works”.
Justice Mustapha who doubled as the Special Guest of Honour at the launch noted that dedicating the book to Hon. Justice Auta was an honour not only to Justice but also to the Federal High Court which had original jurisdiction in dealing with matters relating to, connected with, arising or pertaining to admiralty.
“Justice Auta adjudicated on many admiralty matters while serving as a Judge of the Federal High Court in Calabar, Benin and Lagos and displayed great love for admiralty matters. As the Chief Judge of the Court, he set records and he broke records. It’s a great honour, the timing is perfect, he is no longer a serving judicial officer, I will continue to express my opposition to dedicating works like this to serving judicial officers. While honouring the living, we should by no means forget the dead. I hope that the author, in the new series will remember the dead Judges of the court.
“This book, I dare say, will be very useful not only to maritime law students, not only to maritime lawyers but indeed, to maritime judges and I am happy to observe that there’s so many Judges of Federal High Court here and I believe they are going to buy sets not only for themselves but for the entire Judges of the Court. It should be their companion as maritime lawyers, as maritime law students and as maritime Judges”, he concluded.
Also speaking, former Minister of Interior and Chairman of the occasion, Captain Emmannuel Iheanacho while recommending the book to the public as a must have and a must read described Justice Auta as the finest, indefatigable and amiable jurist of the Federal High Court of Nigeria adding that,” Hon. Justice Auta is definitely a great patriot, whose love for the development of Admiralty Law and Practice in Nigeria and the Federal high Court of Nigeria in particular remains indelible”.
Iheanacho further remarked that the author had done well both in the writing of the book and in her decision to dedicate its formal launching to a highly respected, highly deserving Justice Ibrahim Auta saying, “I am duly informed that our amiable and hardworking author, Jean Chiazor Anishere had over the years dedicated volumes 1 and 2 of her earlier treatise to the honour of two other eminent jurists both of whom were predecessors in office to Justice Auta, namely; Hon. Justice Babatunde Belgore, OFR (of the blessed memory, may his soul rest in peace) and my dear sister, Lady Hon. Justice Roselyn Ukeje, OFR respectively”.
Earlier in her welcome address, the author, Jean Chiazor Anishere disclosed that over the years, Hon. Mr. Justice Ibrahim Auta had made her realize that Judges are also human beings; a gesture she admitted had helped her in maritime law and jurisprudence.
She described Justice Auta as an erudite Judge who is rich in wisdom and who had influenced her positively throughout her legal career.
Photo: 2nd left, former Minister of Interior, Capt. Emmanuel Iheanacho, the author, Mrs. Jean Chiazor Anishere, Hon. Justice Ibrahim Auta, Hon. Justice Mustapha amongst others cutting of the celebrant’s cake at the launch of the book, “Essays in Admiralty, Volume 3 in Lagos recently.
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