Ondo State governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, on Tuesday charged lawyers to integrate Information Communication Technology (ICT) into the legal profession to promote proficiency in the discharge of their duties.

Akeredolu gave the charge at the 2019 Annual Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA,Section on Legal Practice, held at the International Culture and Events Center, the Dome, Akure, the Ondo State capital.

The theme of this year's conference is "Value Added to Legal Practice". The governor explained that the introduction of technology in the legal practice would save cost as well as improve practice and service delivery.

Akeredolu who noted that the step would also afford the bench, the bar ,proficiency and better leverage, however said that artificial intelligence could never replace the practitioners but rather assist them and add value.

He further described as archaic, a situation where lawyers take boxes of books and files to court for reference, instead of a digital library.

Governor Akeredolu said "Technology will certainly assist with the things that are repetitive. We cannot run away from technology, it is good," he said.

Earlier, the Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Hon. Justice Tanko Muhammed, encouraged legal practitioners to be fair to their clients by upholding the ethics of the legal profession.

Represented by Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, the CJN enjoined lawyers to always strive to add value to the profession through critical examination and analysis of the quality of services being rendered to their clients for the development of the society.

According to him, the theme 'Value Added to Legal Practice' all encompassing but not limited to probate practice, labour law, identifying strength, weaknesses, and the opportunity and threat to valued added legal practice, which would further give opportunity to legal practitioners to analyse and improve the quality of their services and their revenue.

The event was attended by the Oyo State Governor-elect, Mr Seyi Makinde; some Justices of the Supreme, Appeal, Federal and State High Courts, Chairman of NBA, several Senior Advocates of Nigeria and some Royal Fathers including the Osemawe of Ondo, Oba, Dr. Victor Kiladejo.

� Nguher Gabrielle Zaki