Best-graduating Nigerian Law School graduate, Oluwabusayo Ifonlaja, has stated that Nigeria needs a new constitution to correct many defects in the polity and that the court can truly be the last hope of the common man if independence is guaranteed for the judiciary.
Ifonlaja stated this through an interview published on Saturday in the Saturday Tribune newspaper, where he spoke about his academic feat and issues affecting the Nigerian legal system.
Oluwabusayo Ifonlaja bagged a First Class from the Faculty of Law, Nile University of Nigeria, Abuja, in the 2023 session, with a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 5.0 on a scale of 5.0. He bagged another First Class from the Nigerian Law School, winning over 18 awards and prizes.
In the Saturday Tribune interview, the young lawyer stated that there are many defects with the Nigerian Constitution, with some sections ambiguous and others losing touch with current realities.
“Laudably, certain amendments have been made to the Constitution. Probably, what we need is a new constitution, though that may prove very daunting,” he said.
He admitted that the court and the law are the hope of the common man, but that the court can only remain the last hope of the common man if “we guarantee judicial independence through true financial autonomy, transparent appointments, accountability, and better welfare for judges.”
Ifonlaja revealed that he studied law because he wanted to make an impact, and that what is next for him is to engage in legal practice at the highest level, which he admitted is a learning process that he is ready for.
“I see myself becoming one of the leading legal practitioners in Nigeria and globally, positively impacting the lives of many through my legal practice,” he added.
Speaking about his academic journey and experience, the lawyer recalled that he was the best graduating student right from nursery to primary to junior and senior secondary school, representing his different secondary schools in numerous competitions and winning competitive scholarships.
For his reason for studying law, he said, “My interest in law has deep roots, stemming from my childhood reverence for the legal profession. Law is a noble profession, and I wanted to be a part of it. The selfless activism of esteemed legal figures further motivated me to pursue a career and succeed in the legal profession.”
As the overall best-graduating student of the Nile University of Nigeria, for the 2023 session, in his valedictorian speech, Ifonlaja emphasised that true success goes beyond personal achievement or status and lies in making a positive impact on society.
Still on his valedictorian speech, he added, “Ultimately, the experience reaffirmed my belief that success is not an end in itself but a call to inspire and serve others.”
