By Kenneth Jukpor
As part of efforts to develop the nation’s ailing economy, a former Chief-Judge of the Federal High Court of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Ibrahim Auta has called on the Federal Government to channel more resources towards the development of the nation’s maritime sector.
Justice Auta who was speaking during the launch of the Volume 3 of ‘Essays in Admiralty’which covers the “Key Issues in Shipping from a Global Perspective” in Lagos yesterday, stressed that the benefits of a well-harnessed maritime sector not only exceeds the gains of the oil sector but also augments the growth and sustainability of the oil sector.
He noted that many nations have started exploring the prospects in the blue economy, admonishing Nigeria to do same, even as he opined that the global characteristics of shipping makes the information in the book a veritable tool for everyone who is keen on learning the global best practices in shipping around the world.
While Justice Auta commended the author, Barr. Jean-Chiazor Anishere for keeping the nation abreast with developments in shipping on the international scene, he described the book launch as a significant tool to aid the growth and development of the maritime sector.
“I urge the lawyers in the maritime sector to write more books. Let’s keep on writing because it makes the new lawyers coming in have sufficient literature to read unlike our period where we had to do research”.
Earlier, Justice Auta expressed joy that the author had decided to dedicate the book to him.
“I feel humbled that this book is dedicated to me. I have been encouraging Jean to continue writing for a long time but I never knew that one of these books would be dedicated to me. I have seen some of the chapters and I can conclude that it is a must-read for everyone interested in maritime” he said.
Meanwhile, the President of Nigerian Maritime Law Association (NMLA) Mr. Chidi Ilogu said the book was an effort in the right direction because of the dire need of literature in maritime jurisprudence in the country.
He stressed that literary works in admiralty law should be applauded since it is an area that needs a lot of exposition and a lot of encouragement.
“Maritime law is international and you cannot over localize it because it has international configuration in many respects. So, the more we know about the international best practices in the industry the better for the operations of maritime law in Nigeria. It would lend support to the nature of the international business and help the industry to grow”, Ilogu said.
Recognizing the contributions of Hon. Justice Auta (OFR) to the development of the maritime industry, Ilogu said the perfect description of Hon. Justice Auta was “a man with a large heart”
“He is as simple as he is serious. He is dedicated and committed to the growth of the maritime sector, contributing to the jurisprudence in such a way that it has been a source of encouragement to his colleagues”, Ilogu said.
“We appreciate you for your sagacity in many respects, especially your contributions in the maritime seminar for judges. In over 25years you have been in the maritime sector and rendered valuable service. Now that you’re retired you have no excuse not to take part in all our programmes and I’m glad you have offered to continue to work with us and we shall continue to reach out to you on several programmes in future” he added.
On his part, the Chairman of the occasion, a former Minister of Interior and Chairman of Integrated Oil and Gas Ltd, Capt. Emmanuel Iheanacho, referred to the book as a must read even as he commended the decision to celebrate Hon. Justice Auta who referred to as “one of the finest indefatigable jurists of the Federal High Court of Nigeria”
Capt. Ihenacho also had words of praise for the author, Barr. Jean-Chiazor, as he reechoed the apt comments by Hon. Justice Bode Rhodes-Vivour (CFR), Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria in the forward of the book, which read, “…I daresay that the author’s doggedness to sharing her love for the maritime industry through the instrumentality of these great books, is indicative of her astuteness and bravery”
However, the author and Principal Counsel, Jean Chiazor & Co. (Ofianyi Chambers), Barr. Jean-Chiazor Anishere told the press that the Volume 3 of ‘Essays In Admiralty’ which covers “Key Issues in Shipping from a Global Perspective”was voluminous because it looked at shipping practices in Asia, America, Europe as well as Africa.
“Of course we have brought Nigeria’s perspective to bear and some other African countries. Why we have done that is to compare and contrast how shipping is done in those developed countries and how we are doing it in the developing countries. The intendment is for us to appreciate and to aim at the best practices” she said.
She also expressed confidence that the nation’s maritime sector was set for continuous developments even as maritime law continues to enjoy significant improvement in speedy and fine judgments, as a result of the enlightenment of judges under the leadership of Hon Justice Auta.
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