A special international panel of judges will sit to decide winners at the 4th edition of the Nigerian legal awards in Lagos.
The award which celebrates the important contribution of lawyers to the growth of businesses in Nigeria would be open with a conference of independent judges who evaluate the award process.
According one of the organisers, Lere Fashola, while addressing journalists in Lagos, the Nigerian Legal Awards is one of the few excellence-awarding events in Nigeria.
He said, “I am glad to be part of this reputable exercise. The composition of the judges is one process that require critical thinking and impartial thought-through, and I gladly praise the wisdom of the organizer in selecting the various personalities who constitute this panel. Interestingly, members of this panel are reputable professionals, honourable men and women who have tested and trusted integrity.”
Speaking further, Fashola explained that there is an inseparable link between the reputation of the panelists, the impartial procedure of selecting them, the objective criteria set and the transparent evaluation process that births the outcome at.
In his words, “This foundation, therefore, sets the background for the transparent process of evaluating, awarding scores and selecting overall winners of the award. There are set criteria which judges must follow and the decision of each judge is absolutely respected.”
This year’s Judges Roundtable will be hosted by Executive Director and Legal Adviser, AFC, Dr Adesegun Akin-Olugbade
Other members on the panel include: Mrs Nankunda Katangaza— Partner, Hook International; Mrs Oluwatoyin Sanni, MD/CEO of United Capital A Trustees and Chairperson of the Capital Market Operators; Mr Andrew Jones, Head, Africa Practice Group and Partner, Linklatters, London; Mr Mark Molyneux, Partner/Co-Head, Africa Business Group, Addleshaw Goddard LLP.
In addition are: Mrs Nina Bowyer, Global Co-Head, Africa Practice Group; Herbert Smith Freehills LLP, MrKamal Shah, Head of Africa & India Groups; Stephenson Harwood LLP; Prof (Mrs) Yinka Omoregbe, Former General Counsel NNPC, Mr Babatunde Akinyanju, Chairman, British Nigerian Law Forum, UK; Mr John Miles, Director of J miles & Co., Kenya; Mrs Abimbola Funke, Managing Counsel, UK and Ireland, Roche Products Ltd.
Also on the panel are: Mr Kem Ihenacho, Partner, Lathman and Watkins (London); Mr Adeyemi Johnson, CEO Open Spaces Compliance Consultants Ltd., UK; Ms Remi Aiyela, Publisher, NOG Intelligence; Mrs Ibiyemi Ifederu, Company Secretary, Orange UK, and Dr Konyinsola Ajayi SAN, Managing Partner Olaniwun Ajayi LP, Nigeria.
The decision of the winner of any category of the awards lies solely on the votes and decisions of the judges.
