by 
The Owerri Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) witnessed a memorable moment during its Annual Law Week as it welcomed distinguished legal practitioner, Mrs. Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya FCIArb (Mrs. B), to an enthusiastic ovation. A prominent voice in the legal and policy space, Mrs. Badejo-Okusanya graced the event as a panel discussant in a high-level session titled “The Role of the Judiciary in Promoting Economic Growth in Nigeria.”
The session, which brought together legal luminaries, judges, academics, and young lawyers, was energised by Mrs. Badejo-Okusanya’s warm and culturally sensitive introduction. To the delight of the audience, she began her remarks by greeting the crowd in fluent Igbo — a gesture that sparked loud cheers and applause, evoking a deep sense of connection with her hosts in Imo State.
In her remarks, Mrs. Badejo-Okusanya emphasized the judiciary’s pivotal role in shaping an enabling environment for economic development.
She highlighted that investor confidence depends on a legal system that is predictable, efficient, and consistent, urging the judiciary to boldly embrace its constitutional mandate as the protector and stabiliser of the rule of law.
Drawing inspiration from the legacy of one of Nigeria’s finest jurists, the late Justice Chukwudifu Oputa, a native of Imo State and former Supreme Court Justice, she called for a return to the depth, courage, and intellectual rigour that marked his judicial career. “Justice Oputa stood for truth and justice, even when it was inconvenient,” she noted. “His legacy is a reminder that a bold judiciary is not a luxury — it is a necessity for sustainable economic growth.”
Her stirring remarks left a lasting impression, setting a powerful tone for the rest of the Law Week and reinforcing the centrality of judicial integrity and boldness in national development.
