Honoured Away From Home

It was one of the finest moments for Nigeria and Nigerians in Buenos Aires, the Argentine capital, where eminent jurists and lawyers across the globe gathered for the 2008 International Bar Association, IBA, Conference. For the second time in the history of the organisation, a Nigerian, Femi Falana, one of the country’s foremost lawyers bagged the prestigious Bernard Simons Memorial Award for the advancement of human rights. The award, according to the board, is in recognition of his suicidal sacrifices in the fight against human rights violations, particularly during his confrontation with Nigeria’s successive military governments. Falana’s glory came a decade after the indefatigable Gani Fawehinmi received the honour.

At the award ceremony, the IBA President, Fernando Pombo, praised Falana for his enduring commitment to the cause of human rights and the enthronement of an enduring good governance in the country. According to him, Nigerian human rights activists and especially Falana won the hearts of the award committee for their ‘acknowledged commitment to the promotion of human rights and democratic rule across Nigeria and West Africa, the toast of the year at the year’s conference’.

Present at the award ceremony are eminent international lawyers and jurists. Stenford Moyo, SADC; Sam Okudseto, former president of Ghana Bar Association; Raj Daya, Law Society of South Africa; Dr. Fernando Pelaez-Pier, Vice President, IBA; Juan Pablo Olmendo, Chile; Edwin Maynard, USA; Lucia Cordero Ledergerber, Ecuador; Carlos Ayala Corad, Venezuela, and Edward W. Fashole-Luke, Botswana were also on hand to celebrate with Mr. Falana and his fellow Nigerians, the toast of the world at this year’s conference. 
The award ceremony also witnessed the presence of prominent Nigerians. They include the Attorneys-General of Ekiti, Osun, Kwara, Kaduna and Lagos states. Olisa Agbakoba, the immediate past president of the Nigerian Bar Association and Rotimi Akeredolu, the current president; O.C.J Okocha, Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye, Bolaji Ayorinde, Joe Gadzama, Dr. Muiz Banire, Commissioner for Environment, Lagos State, J. B. Dawodu; Ibrahim Mark, General Secretary, NBA; Justices Oluwayemi, Oke and Oshodi of Lagos State judiciary, Lawal Rabana, former NBA General Secretary; Lawal Pedro, DPP, Lagos State and Olawale Fapohunda, coordinator, West African Human Rights Forum.