The Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, at the annual general conference of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) said that the hike in Customs duty on imported items only end up creating jobs for Benin Republic.
The Vice President, who delivered a keynote speech at a showcase session made the comment while responding to questions from the audience.
He also discussed the issues of crime, access to justice, corruption, judicial reform and fundamental human rights.
Osinbajo said the policy trust of the government will also focus on combating capital flight through incessant importation of all manner of products into Nigeria.
According to him, increment in tariff as a way to halt importation only end up creating job for Benin Republic where most of the smuggling come from.
He said that smuggling is usually done by organised cabals and syndicates that are usually very influential and promised that the Federal Government would work to tackle the menace.
In his contribution, the former President of the NBA, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN) called for the unbundling of the judicial system in the country.
He said that time has come for state’s courts of Appeal to be created as well as Zonal or Regional Supreme Courts so as to make justice accessible to all.
The priest, Our Lady Queen of Nigeria Catholic Cathedral, Rev. Father George Ehusani electrified the audience in his speech, where he called on the lawyers to use law as an instrument of national development and not as a money-making profession.
He noted that the primary purpose of law is for the maintenance of just society, adding that many lawyers had fall short of the expectation of the profession.
The session was chaired by the former President of the association, Olisa Agbakoba (SAN).
Other participants in the session include an ex-president of NBA, Joseph Daudu (SAN), President, Pan African Lawyers Union, Elijah Banda, President, Ghana Bar Association, Nene Amegatcher and Women’s Rights Advancement and Protection Alternative, Saudatu Mahdi.
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