2024 Bar and Bench Golf Tournament: CJN Ariwoola Tasks Judges, Lawyers on Synergy
The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Hon. Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, GCON, has tasked Judges and Lawyers to work in harmony in the delivery of an effective justice system. The CJN gave the charge recently, while declaring open the 2024 Bar and Bench Golf Tournament in Abuja.
The Tournament, organised by the Court of Appeal, was the 5th, and also included the 1st edition of Table Tennis.
Represented at the occasion by the President of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN), Justice Benedict Kanyip, the CJN who commended the organisers of the Tournament, remarked that Sports is a perfect avenue for members of the Bar and Bench to relax and exercise at the same time, considering the long hours they sit in the course of their jobs.
He said, “That we come together to do Sports, does not mean we do not know our respective roles. The whole idea is to show that, we shouldn’t take things too seriously.
“I feel happy, we sit a lot in our work; so, anything that puts us on our feet, particularly allows us to do some exercise, is a welcome development. So, I am happy I could do this today”.
Earlier, President of the Court of Appeal (PCA), Hon. Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, observed that Sports is a good way to promote oneness, as well as breach the gap between members of the Bar and Bench. She stated that the legal profession can be tedious with so much of time spent sitting inside the courtroom, hence, the need for the Tournament which provides an avenue for relaxation and friendship.
“Nigeria, for instance, is a great example of how Sports unites us. When we are playing football, you know how Nigeria becomes one, we sit together glued to our TV set. We are one, so I think Sports is a great avenue for us to build our oneness and to strengthen our unity”, the PCA stated.
She observed that the Tournament also helps to discover other talents of members besides adjudication, adding that with time, other Sports will be included in the yearly tournament.
“So, we set up a Golf Tournament, because we know that some of us are also good players in Table Tennis, so, we decided to extend the Golf Tournament to Table Tennis.
“Hopefully we will extend it to Lawn Tennis and other games, because we are a mixed breed of talent in the Judiciary and the legal profession, and the essence of this is to take us out of the enclosed environment in which we work, to relax our mind, take us away from the books to enable us enjoy nature, to enable us to meet on a less informal platform”, she said.
Similarly, the Chief Registrar of the Court of Appeal, Mr Umar Bangari, who observed that all year round, members of the Bar and Bench are in serious business, stated that the Tournament provides a form of relaxation, as well as reducing tension.
“The essence of today’s event is to create a forum such as this, for interaction between members of the Bar and Bench.
“You know, in this our profession, we are in a very serious business, all the time 365 days a year; members of the Bar and Bench are in very serious business; so, we create opportunities like this, for them to come and interact like we just had”, he said.
_THISDAY_
