Ex-ICPC boss canvasses Nigerians’ access to law reports

Retired Justice Emmanuel Ayoola, a former chairman,  Independent and Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC), said in Lagos on Thursday that access to law reports would help to promote the rule of law in Nigeria.

He said the publication of law reports should be sustained and made available to ordinary Nigerians.

Ayoola spoke at a lecture commemorating the 25^th anniversary of the Nigerian Weekly Law Reports founded by the late human rights activist and legal icon, Chief Gani Fawehinmi.

``The lecture was entitled: ``Law reporting in Nigeria: Challenges of sustainability and availability’’

Ayoola said: `` Law will be easily accessible to the public if law reports are prompt and well edited.

``I also plead with judges to craft their judgments in style and language not too tedious to read and cumbersome to understand.

``We must begin to realise that we now have a larger audience when judgments are written. Not for the professors, not for the lawyers, not for the judges, but for the public-- including the ordinary man in the street”.

Ayoola, a one-time Supreme Court justice, noted that qualitative law reporting had become a permanent feature of the country’s legal system.

Also speaking, a former Chief Justice of the Federation, Justice Muhammadu Uwais, extolled the virtues and initiative of Fawehinmi for blazing the trail of weekly law reports in the country.

``His industry, tenacity and tremendous courage towards the protection of human rights during his life time are commendable,’’ he said.

Uwais also lauded the Fawehinmi family and the editorial board of the 25-year-old publication for sustaining the vision of its founder.

Among dignitaries who also paid tribute to Fawehinmi on the occasion were the State’s Attorney-General, Mr Ade Ipaye, who represented Gov. Babatunde Fashola; Pastor Tunde Bakare, founder of Latter Rain Assembly.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Nigerian Weekly Law Reports was first published on Oct. 1, 1985 and it contains edited judgments of the Supreme Court and the Courts of Appeal.(NAN)