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Bayelsa State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Biriyai Dambo; Chief Judge, Justice Kate Abiri, Governor Douye Diri, newly conferred Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Kemasuode Wodu; former governor of the state and representative of Bayelsa West Senatorial District, Seriake Dickson and another indigene of the state, at a reception in honour of Wodu in Abuja.
BAYELSA State Governor, Douye Diri, has declared that the state has what it takes to compete with other states of the federation in the legal profession.
He stated this yesterday while reacting to the conferment of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) on an indigene of the state, Kemasuode Wodu, describing him as a ‘homegrown’ SAN.
Wodu, a former Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in the state are among 72 legal practitioners in the country conferred with SAN in Abuja on Wednesday.
Speaking at a reception in his honour in Abuja, Diri said he had always referred to Wodu as a SAN in waiting, noting that, unlike other SANs the state had produced, Wodu largely practised in Bayelsa and Rivers states and showed that he also had the qualities for the rank.
“I thank God that this day eventually came. I also thank God for all those who started the journey with Wodu, including my predecessor in office, Senator Seriake Dickson, Chief Judge of the state, Justice Kate Abiri and all those who believe in the development and prosperity of our state,” he said.
Speaking, former Governor Seriake Dickson, who described Wodu as a focused Ijaw intellectual and activist, recalled how as friends and legal practitioners in Port Harcourt, the journey towards becoming SAN began for Wodu and expressed delight that it eventually came.
He said he appointed Wodu into government due to his forthrightness and the qualities he saw in him, adding that the former Commissioner for Justice has made outstanding contributions to the development of law and implementation of legal policies.
Responding, Wodu appreciated all those that worked and supported him on the project towards becoming a SAN and commended Dickson for the visionary steps he took in making it a reality.
“It was like Dickson wanted it more for me than I did. At all points in time, he kept pushing me,” he said.
He disclosed that he rejected offers in public service twice but that as a friend, when the former governor approached him to join his government, he accepted and served first as Special Adviser on Legal Matters before becoming Commissioner for Justice.
Wodu recalled that because of the importance he attached to the SAN rank, he resigned after six months as Special Adviser on Legal Matters. He said the former governor, however, later appointed him as commissioner in his second term and that the platform paved a way for him to attain the new title.
He also commended Abiri for her role and retired Supreme Court jurist, Justice Francis Tabai, who is now king of the Tuomo Kingdom in Delta State, for writing his first recommendation letter that enabled him to practise at a law firm.
