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Tag: NBA

  • NBA chief condemns looting in oil, gas sector

    NBA chief condemns looting in oil, gas sector

    THE Chairman, Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Ikorodu Branch, Adetunji Adedotun, has condemned the looting in the oil and gas sector by the country’s past leaders.

    Adedotun, who spoke on the revelation that about one million barrels a day were stolen by former oil ministers, told The Nation yesterday that the perpetrators of the theft should not be spared.

    He said even if ex-President Goodluck Jonathan is found culpable in tainted deals, the law should be allowed to take its course.

    He, however, conceded that the matter was up to President Muhammadu Buhari to decide.

    He said: “Sparing them from prosecution will set a grave and bad precedent. This administration is known to be corrupt-free, as far as its leadership is concerned. It should not be seen to be condoning corruption. If the former president is found to be corrupt, he should face the music. There’s no issue of heating up the polity.”

    On the question of whether a political solution could be found to spare ex-leaders, if they are indicted for corruption, Adedotun said: “If former leaders are found to be involved in some deals and are accosted with it and they come up to say, ‘okay, I’m sorry, I think I’m involved. This is the position of things. This is what I have with me and I’m ready to return it.’

    “Well, in that case, no further charges should be pressed. That could be likened to plea bargaining, even though the matter would not have reached the courts.

    “There would be no need to make it seem as if it has a political undertone. But if they say they are not involved, then they should be presumed innocent until proven otherwise. How can they be proved otherwise? By prosecution. However, it is a decision that lies with President Buhari.”

  • SAN to NBA: Save law from exploiters

    SAN to NBA: Save law from exploiters

    The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has been urged to devise policies that would aid the welfare of young lawyers a better position the legal profession for the future.

    Speaking at the NBA Lagos Branch Law Week held at the MUSON Centre, Lagos, Dr. Fabian Ajogwu (SAN) said the profession’s future would depend on how well lawyers equip themselves.

    He decried the profession’s exploitation, noting that juicy briefs were being given to foreign firms especially in the petroleum industry due to non-compliance with the Local Content Act by many International Oil Companies (IOCs). He urged the NBA to intervene so as to make more work available to lawyers.

    Ajogwu, who spoke on The future of the legal profession: Protection from exploitation, urged senior lawyers and law firms to shore up their remuneration packages for their employees especially junior lawyers.

    He said it was in the interest of such firms, otherwise they would become mere “training ground” and targets for others who appreciate the younger lawyers’ value.

    Ajogwu urged young lawyers to invest in their future by acquiring requisite skills, adding that the reward system in the industry is both instantaneous and deferred.

    The presiding justice of the Court of Appeal, Lagos Division, Justice Amina Augie urged lawyers to always abide by the ethics of the profession.

    In an impassioned speech which earned her a standing ovation, Justice Augie who traced her career trajectory, warned lawyers to avoid cutting corners as this would ultimately detract from their individual standing and the nobility of the profession. She also stressed the need for wayward lawyers to retrace their steps by embracing honesty and integrity, adding that the profession would be the better for it.

    Former NBA President, Chief Wole Olanipekun decried the abandonment of the profession and the Bar by some lawyers. His words: “They are only known or remembered as lawyers through the prefix of ‘Barrister’ or ‘Lawyer’, without making any contribution whatsoever to the growth of the profession, whether contextually or tangentially.”+

    Speaking on “Virtue of service to the Bar” at the Elders’ Night/Awards held at Ikoyi, Lagos as part of the Law Week programme, Olanipekun warned that ‘contribution’ to the Bar must not be construed as merely financial donations “but also incorporates mentoring of young lawyers and shouldering leadership responsibilities. It also dovetails into knowledge sharing, including participation and attendance at a forum like this. Senior members of the Bar should inspire the juniors to make it in the profession and also climb to its Mount Everest.”

    The programme was rounded off with a high-profile Dinner and Award Night at City Hall, Lagos to celebrate the former Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola  (SAN). The Law Week Committee Chairman, Mrs. Tolani Edu-Adeola said the choice of Fashola for this year’s award was “unanimous,” adding that he was “head and shoulders above other potential honorees” for changing the face of governance in Nigeria.

    This sentiment was echoed by the outgoing NBA Lagos Branch Chairman, Mr. Alex Muoka in his speech. Mr. Geroge Etomi, a National Productivity Order of Merit laureate, gave the Dinner Speech titled “The legal profession in an emerging economy” while Mr. Ebun Sofunde (SAN) was chairman in an occasion witnessed by the cream of Nigeria’s legal profession.

    The break-out sessions dealt with several practice areas including Labour Law, Medical Law, Media/Sport Law, Insolvency Law, Capital Market Law, Tax Law and Alternative Dispute Resolution simulation. It also included the traditionally frank and heated Bar Bench Forum.

    Speakers included former Lagos State Attorney General, Mr. Ade Ipaye; Dr. Olisa Agbakoba, SAN; Chief Anthony Idigbe, SAN; Prof. Chioma Agomo, former Dean of Law, University of Lagos; Mr. Osaro Eghobamien, SAN; Mrs. Titi Akinlawon, SAN; Dr. B. A. M. Ajibade, SAN; Prof. Bankole Sodipo, Dean of Law, Babcock University; Dr.  Onuobia also of Babcock University; medical practice expert, Mr. Laolu Osanyin; former NBA Lagos Branch Chairman, Mr. Chijioke Okoli; Mr. Seyi Akinwunmi, NFF Vice-President; Mr. V. Uche Obi, President of Capital Market Solicitors Association; Dr. Dapo Olanipekun; Chief Samuel Alabi, Company Secretary/Legal Adviser, Eko Hotels, and Barrister (Mrs.) Vera Chinwuba of NTA Lagos, among others.

  • NBA to honour Fashola, others

    The Lagos Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) will honour former Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN) as part of activities to mark its law week.

    The branch chairman, Mr Alex Muoka, said Fashola will be honoured at a dinner in recognition of his contributions to the legal profession while serving as governor, and “for changing the face of governance in Nigeria.”

    This year’s event, with the theme: The future of the Legal Profession: Protection from Exploitation, will hold from June 24-26 at the Agip Recital Hall of the MUSON Centre, while the dinner will hold on June 25 at the City Hall, Lagos Island.

    Muoka said over 30 confirmed speakers, panelists and discussants will proffer solutions to the falling standards of the profession, indiscipline, poor remuneration, incursion of non-lawyers into legal practice, engagement of foreign law firms for local transactions, and what steps can be taken to protect the profession.

    Chair of the Law Week Committee, Mrs Tolani Edu-Adeola, said there will be a visit to the Ikoyi Prisons, a novel match between the Lagos and Ikeja Branches of the NBA, and a variety night/cocktail to end the week.

     

  • NBA launches visa affinity cards

    NBA launches visa affinity cards

    President of the  Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Mr. Augustin Alegeh (SAN)  last week in Sokoto, during  the quarterly National Executive Committee meeting of the NBA in  Sokoto  unveiled   lawyers Visa  affinity Cards  for  the  members.  The cards were produced  by the association’s official  banker Access Bank.

    Alegeh said: “The benefits of this Visa  Card cannot be overemphasised. The NBA Visa  Card will serve the dual role of an Identification Card as well as a payment card that serves all online payment portals; ATMs and POS terminals.

    “The NBA Visa affinity card will also afford lawyers the opportunity to access the various discounted welfare packages of several service providers negotiated on their behalf by the NBA.

    “Most importantly the NBA Visa Card when used for payment on the NBA online platform for NBA Conferences, programmes and seminars will attract a certain level of discount”.

  • NBA suspends Rivers Attorney-General

    NBA suspends Rivers Attorney-General

    Members of Port Harcourt branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) yesterday passed a vote of no confidence in the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Worgu Boms, for his alleged role in the closure of courts.

    Rivers courts were closed on June 10, last year, following an indefinite strike by members of State Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) over the Chief Judge (CJ) crisis.

    Efforts by five branches of the state NBA to get the courts reopened failed.

    The State NBA recently filed a suit against Governor Rotimi Amaechi, the State Judiciary, Boms, among others, at the Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt.

    It is seeking the court’s order granting its members access to their property in their secretariat and N500 million damages for the hardship the closure has cause its members (lawyers) and their families.

    At the last sitting early this month, Justice Lambo Akanbi granted the Boms’ request for out-of-court settlement.

  • NBA urges lawyers on pro bono services 

    NBA urges lawyers on pro bono services 

    To get more lawyers involved in giving free legal service for the public good, a roundtable has been held on NBA’s pro-bono scheme. PRECIOUS IGBONWELUNDU reports. 

    Lawyers and civil society groups gathered in Abuja, last week, to develop strategies for the implementation of Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) pro-bono scheme.

    The roundtable was part of the “Support to the Justice Sector in Nigeria” project funded by the European Union (EU) and implemented by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).

    It was supported by the Justice for All (J4A) programme.  Participants included Vice-Chairmen of selected NBA branches, the Office of the Public Defender (OPD) of selected states and some non-governmental organisations (NGOs) that provide pro-bono legal services.

    NBA’s bye-laws provide for branch vice-chairmen to head the human rights committees at the branch level, but not many have been functioning optimally.

    Vice-Chairman of Enugu Branch, Mr C. Wagbara said he was not aware that he was the statutory head of the committee in his branch.

    “I’ve never been told that I’m in charge of human rights in my branch. NBA should orientate lawyers, including senior ones, on the need to do pro-bono services. It’s part of what we swore to do,” he said.

    First Vice-Chairman, Lagos Branch, Mr Nelson Ogbuanya, said some branch chairmen may have been reluctant to carry their deputies along for fear of being overshadowed.

    He said funding is also a constraint, adding: “Most of the pro bono work I’ve done were all personally funded.” He suggested a coordinating committee of the NBA to oversee pro-bono cases at branch levels.

    Osogbo Branch chairman Mr S. B. Ajibade said judges should assist lawyers handling pro-bono case by granting urgent ex-parte applications on human rights issues.

    He said some of the judges feel reluctant to grant such applications because of National Judicial Council (NJC) restrictions on injunctions.

    Vice-chairman Owerri Branch Mr Ihediohanma Fidelis said there were challenges of lack of continuity of pro-bono projects and few lawyers being involved to drive the programmes.

    Other challenges identified by speakers include victims developing cold feet, lack of empathy by lawyers, experienced lawyers not being involved in pro-bono work, insecurity and lack of cooperation from the police.

    Director, Legal Defence and Assistance Project (LEDAP) Mr Chino Obiagwu urged lawyers not to focus their pro-bono services on prison decongestion.

    “Go to slums. Go there and fight for social justice,” he said.

    Another area lawyers can litigate on, he said, is the issue of estimated electricity bills and non-issuance of pre-paid meters.

    “It is the role of lawyers to go to court and challenge this. Un-metered houses are not supposed to be billed. Lawyers should fight these big corporations. What about dropped calls by telecoms companies?

    “Why should consumers pay for service not rendered? The money belongs to us. If every lawyer does one pro-bono case per year, the country will be better,” he said.

    Urging NBA to do more litigation for the public’s good, Obiagwu said: ”People say that NBA is a sleeping elephant, so it should wake up, especially now that we have a reform-minded Vice-President-elect (Prof Yemi Osinbajo (SAN) whose reform legacies in the judiciary we can all see.”

    It was suggested that provision of pro-bono services should not be mandatory for new lawyers, but voluntary.

    Lawyers were urged to make donation towards pro-bono services, while each NBA branch should appoint a desk officer to record cases handled.

    Other recommendations are that a monitoring team from secretariat should ensure compliance, and it should be made compulsory for those applying for silk to make mandatory donations towards pro-bono services.

     

  • There is hope for Nigeria, says NBA

    There is hope for Nigeria, says NBA

    The Nigerian Bar Association Section on Business Law (NBA-SBL) has expressed optimism that Nigeria’s economy would improve under the incoming administration of  Gen. Muhammadu Buhari.

    Its chairman, Asue Ighodalo, said with the successful conduct of the general elections, the country is poised for new beginnings, adding that President Goodluck Jonathan’s concession of defeat would further boost the nation’s democratic credentials and reputation.

    He spoke during a press conference in Lagos on NBA-SBL’s Ninth Annual Business Law Conference to be held from June 7-9 at the Eko Hotel & Suites, with the theme: Regulators as Catalysts for Economic Growth.

    Ighodalo said the conference is coming at a time when citizens have higher expectations of the government, adding that the gathering would set an economic agenda for the incoming administration.

    He disclosed that the format of the conference has been altered; the opening ceremony would be held on Sunday evening rather than Monday morning.

    He said nine plenary sessions will be held, providing a forum for regulators, lawyers and business executives to dialogue on policies and regulations that shape economic growth.

    Ghana’s Minister of Trade and Industry, Dr Ekwow Spio-Garbrah will give the keynote address.

    A premium plenary session will hold on June 9, featuring the Chief Economist of PricewaterhouseCoopers John Hawsworth, who will speak on “Long Term Global Economic Trends and Implications for Nigeria.” The session is based on PwC’s World 2015 Report.

    Ighalo said the conference aims to attract at least 1,000 delegates, including practicing lawyers, in-house counsel in the private and public sector, corporate Nigeria and the government.

    Among the events planned are an opening dinner, a boat cruise, and a closing party and excursion for young lawyers to three top law firms for mentoring sessions.

    Some of the sessions’ themes are: Improving Nigeria’s ease of doing business; Is there Nigerian Content for Lawyers?; What’s trending with financing Nigerian projects?; Counsel-to-Counsel roundtable; Value based pricing for legal services; Young Lawyers roundtable with senior lawyers; and Nigeria’s power privatisation process: Learning curves and Next steps.

     

  • Lagos Attorney-Gen. to support NBA

    Lagos Attorney-Gen. to support NBA

    As Lagos Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) starts preparation for its yearly law week, Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Ade Ipaye has pledged government’s support  for the group.

    He made the pledge when members of the 2015 Law Week Committee visited his office.

    While noting that the government had always supported the association,  Ipaye said  the cordial relationship between lawyers and the government has deepened justice sector reforms.

    He stressed the need for continuing legal education to enable lawyers sharpen their  skills and remain relevant.

    Earlier, branch Chairman, Alex Muoka, who led the delegation, informed the Attorney-General of his aelection to chair the tax session during the Law Week in June.

    Muoka said there will be high-profile Law Week Dinner in honour of Gov. Babatunde Fashola (SAN) who would have left office as well as Governor-lelect, Akinwumi Ambode.

     

    In her contribution, Chairperson of the Law Week Committee, Mrs. Tolani Edu-Adeola  noted that the week is designed as the “best ever in the history of the Premier Bar, given the array of resource persons, topical industry-related discourse and fun-filled activities lined up.”

    Other members of the Law Week Committee present at the occasion were Ms. Geraldine Wey, Mr. Emeka Nwadioke and Mrs. Tara Aisida

     

  • Ikeja NBA holds seminar

    The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Ikeja Branch will  hold a seminar on May 5 and 6.

    Organised by the Continuous Legal Education Committee, the event, which  has as theme: Sustaining the tempo of cutting edge professionalism, will hold at the  Adetiloye Hall of Archbishop Vining Memorial Cathederal  Church, Ikeja.

    Chairman of the committee, Mr. Victor Okpara, said no fewer than 30 justices of the Federal Court of Appeal, Federal and Lagos High Courts and senior members of the bar are expected to attend.

  • NBA chairman murdered in Ughelli

    NBA chairman murdered in Ughelli

    The chairman of the Ughelli branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Austin Icheghe, was Thursday night killed by an unknown gunman.

    Icheghe, it was gathered, was shot to death at about 9pm Thursday night, at his residence on 14, Ekredjebor Street, Ughelli town in Ughelli North council area of Delta state by a lone gunman.

    Meanwhile, the Warri branch of the NBA has alleged that the killing of their colleague was a pure case of assassination and charged security agencies to successfully pursue the case so as to nip the rising spate of fatal attacks on lawyers in Delta state.

    It was gathered that the killer attacked Icheghe in the presence of his immediate family, shooting him in the face.

    Narrating the incident, a niece of the Icheghe, Egunor Uviesa, said he was killed just as he was alighting from his car on his way back home from work.

    “As soon as he came down from his vehicle, they accosted him, and shot him on the head with the bullet damaging part of his face. He was immediately rushed to a private clinic here in Ughelli where he was confirmed dead,” Uviesa said.

    However, the chairman of the Warri branch of the NBA, John Aikpokpo-Martins, has condemned the brutal murder of his Ughelli counterpart, describing it as one murder too many.

    Aikpokpo-Martins also noted that the fact that he was attacked by a lone gunman further confirmed that the killing was not armed robbery, but that of assassination, charging security agencies to step up their game and arrest the rising risk to lawyers in the state.

    “We condemn it in very strong terms and call on the police and other security agencies to unravel the perpetrators of the crime and bring them to Justice. This brings to the fore what we said the other time that the killing of lawyers without proper investigation will embolden other people to attack lawyers, this is why there’s need that this particular act must be investigated and in fact the last one we complained about; the Dafiaghor case, must also be investigated so that this new attitude could be nipped in the bud.

    “One thing is evident in his death, he was killed by a lone gunman so it is an assassination, not a robbery and lawyers we don’t do any other thing except to talk and defend other people’s rights, but some people don’t like that,” he said.

    Also confirming the incident on phone, the Police Public Relations Officer of the Delta state police command, Celestina Kalu (DSP), told the Nation that the matter had been taken up by the police and was being investigated.

    “He was murdered by unknown gunmen last night. No clue, no details yet, it’s still under investigation, we are trying to unravel it,” Kalu said.