Tag: NBA

Last week, thousands of lawyers gathered in Lagos for the Annual General Conference (AGC) of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA). It ended with the swearing-in of Mazi Afam Osigwe (SAN) as the 32nd president, eight years after he served as General Secretary. ADEBISI ONANUGA and ANNE AGBI provide the highlights.

The 64th edition of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Annual General Conference lived up to its billing.

The sessions were impactful as eminent personalities and legal luminaries engaged in vital discussions on topics around the theme: “Pressing Forward: A National Posture for Rebuilding Nigeria.”

It began with an opening ceremony, with the Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, as the keynote speaker.

She stressed the need for consistency in economic policies.

Okonjo-Iweala noted that Nigeria is not where it should be and “has not progressed as it should have.

“That is why, more than 60 years after independence, we are still discussing nation-building.”

On the way forward, she said: “All major actors in the governance of our country should agree on some basic parameters for security, macroeconomic and social stability, and the enabling environment for future dynamism and growth of our country.

“Once agreed, these parameters and policies should be institutionalised or enshrined in law or even be made part of our Constitution, not to be tampered with, except perhaps through a national referendum involving the entire country and society.

“Maintaining good economic and social policies, that is, maintaining policy consistency, and adding more reforms on top of that will lead us along the path of good progress that we all desire.”

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to upholding the rule of law, adhering to the principles of separation of powers, and tolerating dissent within the bounds of the law.

Speaking through Vice President Kashim Shettima, the President emphasised his administration’s dedication to these fundamental principles.

“Let me reassure you all that this administration will continue to promote the rule of law, adherence to the principles of separation of powers and tolerance of dissent within the bounds of the law,” he declared.

The breakout sessions

One of the breakout sessions featured governors of Ondo, Rivers, Oyo and Jigawa states, who restated their commitment to state police.

They agreed that the centralised policing structure has proven inadequate in the face of the complex and evolving security challenges

The governors said the fear of abuse should not stop state police establishment as they believe safeguards can be put in place to address such concerns.

Day Two of the conference started with the opening plenary.

The keynote speaker, John Dramani Mahama, former president of Ghana, spoke on “the future of Africa amidst rising security, economic and political challenges.”

He gave a brief history of how Ghana attained its independence in 1957.

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He stated that statistics have shown that most Ghanaians believe that the country would be better off under a military regime than a civilian.

He said these statistics and sentiments might be similar to Nigeria, partly because they believe democratic governance has not served them well.

He described the Ghana military rule in the 1960s as “The lost decades”, noting that in 1990, African countries began to go back to democracy.

Mahama was of the view that no economy would grow through high import-dependence.

He also believes Nigeria’s focus on the oil sector has harmed others such as agriculture.

He implored lawyers to not just be a voice but be a channel driving change.

He suggested that Pan-African Law firms should be established to function across African countries, thereby creating a safe legal ecosystem across Africa.

Mahama said the task of rebuilding Africa requires the courage of an Owl, the carriage of a lion and the vision of an eagle.

Tackling conflicting decisions

One of the session themes was “Intersection of rule of law and human rights in Nigeria: unlocking opportunities for a democratic future.”

President of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, Justice Benedict Kanyip, emphasised the importance of the equitable maxim that where there is a wrong, there must be a remedy, and discussed the role of precedent in ensuring stability in law while allowing for necessary flexibility.

He was of the view that conflicting decisions undermine the judiciary and the rule of law.

A.U. Mustapha (SAN) argued that the judicial system is the cornerstone of justice in a nation, and conflicting decisions erode public confidence and threaten legal certainty.

He cited examples of Supreme Court cases with contradictory outcomes and stressed that the court’s role is to interpret, not make law.

Mustapha identified causes of conflicting decisions, including political interference, inadequate training, and lack of a centralised database.

He recommended sanctions for those responsible for legal abuses and called for reforms like an automated case filing system and improved judicial training.

D.C. Enwelum (SAN) noted that conflicting decisions have been an issue since the military era in Nigeria.

He called for a rethink of the judicial system, emphasising that judgments should be fair and people-centred.

Building a modern law firm

“What will successful law firms look like in the future?” was the theme of one of the sessions featuring Richard Atkinson, Vice President of the Law Society of England and Wales, Peter Maynard and Adedayo Adedeji (SAN).

Atkinson highlighted the critical role AI plays in the success of modern law firms, noting that firms that effectively integrate AI into their practice can significantly enhance the services they provide to clients.

He acknowledged that while AI offers tremendous benefits, it also presents challenges, particularly in safeguarding client privacy and ensuring compliance with regulatory standards.

He stressed that the ability to use AI effectively varies between small and large firms, and it is essential to consider safety, security, fairness, and accountability when adopting these technologies.

Maynard reinforced the importance of AI and data analytics in the legal field, emphasising that tools like ChatGPT can improve the management of both billable and non-billable hours, ultimately boosting a law firm’s reputation.

He also pointed out that successful law firms often focus on community well-being by offering pro bono services, which can be supported by leveraging technology.

Drawing from his book, “Poverty, Justice and Rule of Law,” Maynard provided examples of how technology can contribute to a law firm’s growth.

Adedeji underscored the significance of the lawyer-client relationship, emphasising that clients seek solutions to their problems.

He identified key challenges facing law firms today, including changing client expectations, increased competition, and the rapid pace of technological advancement.

Adedeji stressed that overcoming these challenges requires socialisation, collaboration among law firms, and, most importantly, the adoption of technology.

He believes that without embracing technological tools, lawyers risk becoming obsolete in the evolving legal landscape.

Ope Olugasa, CEO/MD of LawPavilion Business Solutions, led a practical session where he showcased the NBA digital stamp and seal powered by blockchain and integrated into Microsoft Word.

He demonstrated the efficiency of AI with LawPavilion PrimsolGPT, an AI specifically trained on the nuances of Nigerian law to provide reliable legal answers.

Conferees posed legal questions to be answered by the AI and to the amazement of all in attendance, the LawPavilion PrimsolGPT gave a highly detailed answer to the question asked with its generative AI complete with comprehensive relevant authorities and references.

Olugasa stressed that AI is not here to replace lawyers but to make their work easier and more seamless.

He pointed out that there is a need for due diligence by lawyers even while making use of AI.

Globalisation and the legal profession

Koyinsola Ajayi (SAN) said globalisation has enabled the integration of economic activities across borders.

He noted that technological and intellectual innovation has been the driving force behind globalisation.

He added that globalisation has reduced the cost of transportation and communication, thereby propelling profitable economic activity over large distances.

According to him, the process of globalisation has impacted every sphere of life in modern society and legal services are no exception.

“Globalisation carries with it some challenges. Many lawyers on the continent view it as a threat to their futures and try to ignore it or battle against it.

“This is largely a result of the entrance of global firms into local legal spaces.”

He cited Nigeria as an example, saying that the very idea of allowing global firms access to the Nigerian legal market has unsettled many practitioners, especially when most local firms do not have access to the global legal market. 

Ajayi said the current reality is that economic globalisation is shaping the present and possibly the future of legal practice globally.

Rise of AI

One of the breakout sessions focused on the rise of artificial intelligence in the practice of law.

Among the panellists were Justice Kashim Zannah (Chief Judge of Borno State) and Akintunde Agunbiade.

Justice Zannah explained how they have used the Nigeria Case Management System (NCMS) to get data which they feed the A.I to train it to be able to draft accurate judgments for judges.

He emphasised that AI is as good as the data it is trained on and opined that human oversight is needed for AI at this level.

He called on all legal practitioners to embrace AI and be willing to feed the system with data as a lot of data is still needed.

He encouraged states that have not started NCMS to start and asked the lawyers in such states to mount pressure on their Chief Judge if need be.

How career women can thrive

One of the sessions featured Nigeria’s leading female bank Managing Directors Yetunde Oni (Union Bank), Kafilat Araoye (Lotus Bank), and Bokola Smith (FSDHA Merchant Bank).

It was moderated by Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya. The topic was: “The glass is shattered: insights from Nigeria’s female banking leaders on achieving career success and staying relevant.”

The panellists said women who find themselves in top positions and thriving in their careers need the help of mentors and sponsors. 

A sponsor, it was noted, is described as someone who speaks for you when you are not there.

They also spoke on the importance of family, friendship, feedback and faith.

The panel members suggested an extra one-month hybrid option after the three months of maternity leave.

They also suggested the provision of crèche at the office by various organisations.

The session ended by advising women to speak up more at work, be confident, and ensure they continue learning and improving.

Making Nigeria an arbitration seat

Among the speakers for the arbitration session was Folashade Alli (SAN).

The panellists spoke on the need to promote arbitration in Nigeria.

They advised that citizens should be more receptive to adopting Nigeria as the seat for the settlement of arbitral disputes as opposed to foreign jurisdictions.

The benefits of adopting this include economic progression and development of the Nigerian legal system.

Speakers identified various challenges facing arbitration in Nigeria and the possible reforms as well as key improvements.

These include lack of support, structure and courts entertaining frivolous actions; lack of education, training and capacity building and lack of facilities/ inadequate facilities.

On possible reforms, they recommended creating an arbitration database, building competence and ethics of the legal profession, adopting online documentation, filing and continuous professional development.

They also recommended key improvements by the Arbitration and Mediation Act of 2023, such as the adoption of international best practices; immunity for arbitrators, consolidation of parties/cases and independence from court interference via stay of proceedings.

My agenda, by Osigwe

The week ended with the swearing-in of the new president Mazi Afam Osigwe (SAN), who succeeded Yakubu Maikyau (SAN).

Along with his exco, he promised to lead a proactive bar that “diligently identifies and addresses potential challenges.”

He promised that under his stewardship, the Bar would uphold vigilance, responsiveness, responsibility, constructive engagement and be forward-thinking.

He said: “Legal practitioners occupy a unique position in society, one that enables us to effect positive changes in society and to uphold the principles of justice, equity, and fairness.”

Osigwe said he would ensure that the law serves all Nigerians, irrespective of their background, status or affiliation.

He said the NBA would ensure that the rule of law is complied with and that it serves all irrespective of status.

Osigwe decried the loss of confidence in the judiciary and announced a plan to review appellate court judgments towards upholding the rule of law.

The new president said his focus areas include improving legal education, enforcing rules of the profession, protecting legal businesses, a monthly inspection of police stations and other detention facilities, establishing an NBA national litigation committee, monitoring local governments, continuing professional development, justice sector reform, quarterly review of appellate court decisions, NBA constitution amendment and addressing stamp and seal hiccups.

Osigwe said: “We must ensure that the law serves all Nigerians, irrespective of their background, status or affiliation.”

He promised to ensure that policies and programmes meet the yearnings and aspirations of Nigerians on good governance, transparency in financial expenditure, reduction in the cost of governance and ensuring that the “welfare of our people is given topmost priority.”

Osigwe announced the composition of several committees to deliver his agenda, one of which will review appellate court decisions quarterly.

He said the committee will present “well-researched commentaries on such cases that nudge the courts towards a more coherent and consistent adjudication that promotes the rule of law and democratic freedoms”.

According to him, the quality of judicial decisions, especially from the appellate courts, was a major reason for the high level of public mistrust of the judiciary.

“The Adjudicature Review Committee (ARC) will publish quarterly reports that will review one or more high-impact decisions of the Supreme Court or the Court of Appeal and propose strategic insights that will guide further developments or refinements of the major themes of economic, social and political development.

“The committee will produce quarterly a judicial reform report that would outline various interventions by the leadership of the Bar, to drive the reform of the legal profession in order to position it as the champion of democracy and good governance in Nigeria.

“The reports will be a review of the legal profession for the preceding six months or past years and a proposal of actions to strengthen the practice of the profession in order to advance the rule of law and democracy,” Osigwe said.

On local government monitoring, the NBA President said the association would ensure that the Supreme Court judgment is complied with.

“As the watchdog of the society and in living up to the motto of our noble association, to wit: the defence and promotion of the rule of law, the NBA under my leadership, shall set up a local government monitoring committee, to monitor and ensure strict compliance with the judgment of the Supreme Court by the relevant tiers of government, with the ultimate goals of enhancing good governance, deepening constitutional democracy and above all, to promote the rule of law in our country

“The NBA with branches spread across the 36 states of the federation and the FCT is best positioned to monitor the 774 local government councils in Nigeria, with respect to not only their full compliance with the judgment of the Supreme Court but also their delivery of dividends of democracy to our people at the grassroots level all over the country,” he said.

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has commended the Nigerian Judiciary and the entire legal profession, on the coming into effect of the Judicial Office Holders (Salaries and Allowances, Etc) Act, 2024, by the assent of President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu  which gave effect to the new salary structure on August 9.

The commendation was contained in a statement  issued yesterday by NBA President, Yakubu  Maikyau (SAN) titled “Statement  on the Signing Into Law of Judicial Office Holders (Salaries and Allowances etc.) Act 2024.

“This is a historic and truly remarkable achievement, seeing as previous successive administrations have repeatedly neglected the Judiciary”, he said.

Maikyau recalled that the last time the salaries and allowances of Judicial officers were reviewed was in the year 2007.

He described the new development as a landmark achievement for the tenure of Honourable Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, GCON, as Chief Justice of Nigeria, who shall exit office on 22 August 2024.

 To the Glory of God Almighty, I, too, have the privilege of sharing in this, as I exit office as the 31st President of the Nigerian Bar Association, seven days later, on 29 August 2024,”  

“He recalled that on assumption of office as President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), he specifically committed to, amongst other things, uphold the rule of law, defend and protect the integrity and independence of the Judiciary.

He said the commitment was made knowing that the survival of our nation rested and still rests squarely on the shoulders of the Judiciary.

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He said “the need for high public confidence and respect for the judiciary remains a sine qua non for our peaceful co-existence; it is necessary to engender economic growth, development and the prosperity for our people. This very important element of our stability cannot be overemphasized.”

He further recalled that in his  unaugural Address on August 26, 2022, he made a commitment, inter alia, that:

“My administration will not only continue with the actions which seek essentially to protect the dignity of the judiciary for proper discharge of its constitutional functions and duties, we will seek engagement with government and other stakeholders in ensuring that immediate measures are taken to guarantee proper remuneration for Judges and Justices in service and for their comfort upon retirement.”

“By the grace of God Almighty, and without any intention of sounding immodest, we successfully undertook this task which culminated into the enactment of the Judicial Office Holders (Salaries and Allowances, Etc) Act, 2024, which was a product of constructive engagement with all the arms of Government.”, he said.

The NBA President appreciated the leadership of the 10th National Assembly for their cooperation in expediting action on the Bill.

He also appreciated the support and contribution by the Attorney General of the Federation, Prince Lateef O. Fagbemi, SAN, in getting the Bill passed into Law is invaluable.

“The Legal Profession is blessed to have an HAGF in Prince Fagbemi, SAN, who has demonstrated genuine passion for the reform of the justice sector and the improvement of the independence and welfare of judicial office holders, for the good of the people.

“This passion found alignment with the willingness of President Tinubu, GCFR, leading to his assent to the Bill passed by the National Assembly.

“The NBA Advocacy for the review of salaries and allowances of Judicial Officers and other Justice sector reform initiatives of the NBA, was driven by Mr Olawale Fapohunda, SAN, former Attorney General Ekiti State and Chairman, NBA Law Reform Committee. He literally had everyone (including myself), who had anything to do with this subject on their toes – from the Senate, House of Representatives, the National Judicial Council, particularly, the Executive Secretary, Mr Gambo Saleh, who we “harassed” on this matter.

“My Personal Executive Secretary, Chinaecherem Nwaubani, almost took a leave of absence, due to Mr Fapohunda’s call for work on this review.”

He appreciate their commitment and selfless service to the Bar. Honourable Justice Bode Rhodes Vivour, CFR, JSC (Rtd); Hon. Justice Monica Dongbam-Mensem, President of the Court of Appeal; Hon. Justice A. D. Yahaya JCA (Rtd); Hon Justice B. B. Kanyip, PhD, President of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria; and Hon Justice Kashim Zannah, Chief Judge of Borno State, have been of tremendous guidance and support in the course of this exercise. They provided perspectives from the judiciary which helped in our overall understanding of the history/antecedents of judicial remuneration, and that greatly helped in developing the strategy for our advocacy. We acknowledge and appreciate their immense support for our advocacy.

 “We must equally place on record the cooperation we received from Mallam Mohammed Bello, the Executive Chairman of Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission, (RMAFC), who during our meeting at his office, exhibited great understanding of the working condition of Judicial Officers and expressed sympathy for their plight, given the meagre salary and allowance they have been subjected to for decades.

“We appreciate the support from RMAFC – the Commissioners and staff, for the work they did in this regard. I will be remiss if I do not mention and appreciate our young and hard-working Consultant, Mr Adebayo Julius Adeolu, a Chartered Accountant who spent several hours with us to put together what eventually, to a large extent, translated into the Schedule to the Act.”

Maikyau also applauded the Legislature and the Executive in enacting the Legislation.

He called on the National and State Houses of Assembly, to seriously consider the inclusion of Magistrates within the definition of Judicial Officers in the Constitution, in the process of the ongoing Constitutional review.

“The Magistrates across the Country are responsible for the handling of most criminal matters at the lower level of the society, and the institution of the magistracy across the states need to be strengthened and better funded, to help improve grassroot justice delivery and curb the menace of criminal activities in our society.

“Also, other Judiciary staff; Registrars, Legal Assistants and other court workers, must similarly be catered for, if the improvement of the welfare of Justices and Judges is to make any meaningful impact on the overall justice delivery process in the courts.

“So, the advocacy continues, but for now, we appreciate the achievements thus far as we brace up to do more work so as to attain a holistic improvement of the welfare of all court workers”, he said.

He said in their  continuous advocacy for the reform of the Justice Sector, for the first time in the history of the NBA, they  witnessed the holding of a Justice Sector Summit in April 2024, co-hosted by the office of the Attorney General of the Federation, the National Judicial Council and the Nigerian Bar Association.

The summit had in attendance all the stakeholders in the Justice Sector, who fully participated in the discussions and deliberations at the summit.

At the end, recommendations were made for the reform of the Justice Sector, as contained in the communique issued and co-signed by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Honourable Attorney General of the Federation (HAGF) and my humble self as President of the NBA.

He said: “The review of judicial remuneration is by no means the end of our advocacy for judicial reform. I dare say that this is only the beginning. 

“Going forward, the focus of the NBA will be on identifying and responding to issues that are fundamental to the continued strengthening of the judiciary.

“These include matters of appointment, discipline and elevation of judicial officers. The need to strengthen judicial oversight bodies is no less important.

“I am confident that these are issues my successor in office will prioritize. All these are a major part of the recommendations from the Justice Sector Reform Summit, and I call on stakeholders to put all hands on deck to ensure the implementation of the said recommendations.

He urged the Judiciary to justify the improvement in their new remuneration.

“There must be a deliberate and conscious effort to work back into the hearts of Nigerians and revive public confidence in the Judiciary”, he said.

He expressed confidence that with the assumption of office by Justice Kudirat Motonmori Olatokunbo Kekere-Ekun, as the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), “the task ahead is no doubt daunting, but I believe that God Almighty brought My Lord to steer the affairs of the Judiciary, for a time as this.

“I have no doubt in the ability of My Lord, Hon. Justice Kekere-Ekun, the incoming Chief Justice of Nigeria to deliver on the Constitutional, moral, ethical and professional demands of the office, and my prayer is for God Almighty to equip His Lordship, with the grace, strength and courage to succeed on this assignment”, he said.

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has commended the Nigerian Judiciary and the entire legal profession, on the coming into effect of the Judicial Office Holders (Salaries and Allowances, Etc) Act, 2024, by the assent of President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu  which gave effect to the new salary structure on August 9.

The commendation was contained in a statement  issued yesterday by NBA President, Yakubu  Maikyau (SAN) titled “Statement  on the Signing Into Law of Judicial Office Holders (Salaries and Allowances etc.) Act 2024.

“This is a historic and truly remarkable achievement, seeing as previous successive administrations have repeatedly neglected the Judiciary”, he said.

Maikyau recalled that the last time the salaries and allowances of Judicial officers were reviewed was in the year 2007.

He described the new development as a landmark achievement for the tenure of Honourable Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, GCON, as Chief Justice of Nigeria, who shall exit office on 22 August 2024.

 To the Glory of God Almighty, I, too, have the privilege of sharing in this, as I exit office as the 31st President of the Nigerian Bar Association, seven days later, on 29 August 2024,”  

“He recalled that on assumption of office as President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), he specifically committed to, amongst other things, uphold the rule of law, defend and protect the integrity and independence of the Judiciary.

He said the commitment was made knowing that the survival of our nation rested and still rests squarely on the shoulders of the Judiciary.

He said “the need for high public confidence and respect for the judiciary remains a sine qua non for our peaceful co-existence; it is necessary to engender economic growth, development and the prosperity for our people. This very important element of our stability cannot be overemphasized.”

He further recalled that in his  unaugural Address on August 26, 2022, he made a commitment, inter alia, that:

“My administration will not only continue with the actions which seek essentially to protect the dignity of the judiciary for proper discharge of its constitutional functions and duties, we will seek engagement with government and other stakeholders in ensuring that immediate measures are taken to guarantee proper remuneration for Judges and Justices in service and for their comfort upon retirement.”

“By the grace of God Almighty, and without any intention of sounding immodest, we successfully undertook this task which culminated into the enactment of the Judicial Office Holders (Salaries and Allowances, Etc) Act, 2024, which was a product of constructive engagement with all the arms of Government.”, he said.

The NBA President appreciated the leadership of the 10th National Assembly for their cooperation in expediting action on the Bill.

He also appreciated the support and contribution by the Attorney General of the Federation, Prince Lateef O. Fagbemi, SAN, in getting the Bill passed into Law is invaluable.

“The Legal Profession is blessed to have an HAGF in Prince Fagbemi, SAN, who has demonstrated genuine passion for the reform of the justice sector and the improvement of the independence and welfare of judicial office holders, for the good of the people.

“This passion found alignment with the willingness of President Tinubu, GCFR, leading to his assent to the Bill passed by the National Assembly.

“The NBA Advocacy for the review of salaries and allowances of Judicial Officers and other Justice sector reform initiatives of the NBA, was driven by Mr Olawale Fapohunda, SAN, former Attorney General Ekiti State and Chairman, NBA Law Reform Committee. He literally had everyone (including myself), who had anything to do with this subject on their toes – from the Senate, House of Representatives, the National Judicial Council, particularly, the Executive Secretary, Mr Gambo Saleh, who we “harassed” on this matter.

“My Personal Executive Secretary, Chinaecherem Nwaubani, almost took a leave of absence, due to Mr Fapohunda’s call for work on this review.”

He appreciate their commitment and selfless service to the Bar. Honourable Justice Bode Rhodes Vivour, CFR, JSC (Rtd); Hon. Justice Monica Dongbam-Mensem, President of the Court of Appeal; Hon. Justice A. D. Yahaya JCA (Rtd); Hon Justice B. B. Kanyip, PhD, President of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria; and Hon Justice Kashim Zannah, Chief Judge of Borno State, have been of tremendous guidance and support in the course of this exercise. They provided perspectives from the judiciary which helped in our overall understanding of the history/antecedents of judicial remuneration, and that greatly helped in developing the strategy for our advocacy. We acknowledge and appreciate their immense support for our advocacy.

 “We must equally place on record the cooperation we received from Mallam Mohammed Bello, the Executive Chairman of Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission, (RMAFC), who during our meeting at his office, exhibited great understanding of the working condition of Judicial Officers and expressed sympathy for their plight, given the meagre salary and allowance they have been subjected to for decades.

“We appreciate the support from RMAFC – the Commissioners and staff, for the work they did in this regard. I will be remiss if I do not mention and appreciate our young and hard-working Consultant, Mr Adebayo Julius Adeolu, a Chartered Accountant who spent several hours with us to put together what eventually, to a large extent, translated into the Schedule to the Act.”

Maikyau also applauded the Legislature and the Executive in enacting the Legislation.

He called on the National and State Houses of Assembly, to seriously consider the inclusion of Magistrates within the definition of Judicial Officers in the Constitution, in the process of the ongoing Constitutional review.

“The Magistrates across the Country are responsible for the handling of most criminal matters at the lower level of the society, and the institution of the magistracy across the states need to be strengthened and better funded, to help improve grassroot justice delivery and curb the menace of criminal activities in our society.

“Also, other Judiciary staff; Registrars, Legal Assistants and other court workers, must similarly be catered for, if the improvement of the welfare of Justices and Judges is to make any meaningful impact on the overall justice delivery process in the courts.

“So, the advocacy continues, but for now, we appreciate the achievements thus far as we brace up to do more work so as to attain a holistic improvement of the welfare of all court workers”, he said.

He said in their  continuous advocacy for the reform of the Justice Sector, for the first time in the history of the NBA, they  witnessed the holding of a Justice Sector Summit in April 2024, co-hosted by the office of the Attorney General of the Federation, the National Judicial Council and the Nigerian Bar Association.

The summit had in attendance all the stakeholders in the Justice Sector, who fully participated in the discussions and deliberations at the summit.

At the end, recommendations were made for the reform of the Justice Sector, as contained in the communique issued and co-signed by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Honourable Attorney General of the Federation (HAGF) and my humble self as President of the NBA.

He said: “The review of judicial remuneration is by no means the end of our advocacy for judicial reform. I dare say that this is only the beginning. 

“Going forward, the focus of the NBA will be on identifying and responding to issues that are fundamental to the continued strengthening of the judiciary.

“These include matters of appointment, discipline and elevation of judicial officers. The need to strengthen judicial oversight bodies is no less important.

“I am confident that these are issues my successor in office will prioritize. All these are a major part of the recommendations from the Justice Sector Reform Summit, and I call on stakeholders to put all hands on deck to ensure the implementation of the said recommendations.

He urged the Judiciary to justify the improvement in their new remuneration.

“There must be a deliberate and conscious effort to work back into the hearts of Nigerians and revive public confidence in the Judiciary”, he said.

He expressed confidence that with the assumption of office by Justice Kudirat Motonmori Olatokunbo Kekere-Ekun, as the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), “the task ahead is no doubt daunting, but I believe that God Almighty brought My Lord to steer the affairs of the Judiciary, for a time as this.

“I have no doubt in the ability of My Lord, Hon. Justice Kekere-Ekun, the incoming Chief Justice of Nigeria to deliver on the Constitutional, moral, ethical and professional demands of the office, and my prayer is for God Almighty to equip His Lordship, with the grace, strength and courage to succeed on this assignment”, he said.

The new chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA),  Ijebu-Ode Branch, Dr Fassy Yusuf, has promised that his administration would galvanise the branch and make it primus interpares.

Dr Yusuf promised that his team would not fail nor falter while piloting the affairs of the branch over the next two years.

While  noting that the past executive led by Mrs Stella Ogbonna had achieved a lot, he said his team would take it from where they stopped and achieve more and also ensure justice, equity, fairness, democracy and others within its operating environment.

“Consequently, we shall strive with all our might to perform believing that only the best is good enough for us as an entity. We are committed to making a huge difference that you all would be proud of.

 “We shall strive to make a difference consolidating on what our predecessors have achieved, by breaking new grounds and additional milestone for us to know that our branch can always achieve more”, he assured.

He released a 20-point agenda through which he and other members of the new executive committee planned to galvanise the branch and turn it into a primus enterprise.

To achieve their vision and mission, the executive committee members on July 9, had a retreat on their core goals for the development of the branch.

 While thanking the branch’s benefactor for his generosity and commitment, Dr Yusuf said his administration would ensure and deliver on the completion, including furnishing and occupation of the branch’s secretariat and making it one of the best in the country.

He promised to create  a visible identity for the Ijebu Ode branch of the NBA, stressing that the branch must be known for certain pragmatic features, in truth and deeds.

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 Dr Yusuf said the branch would be known for defending  the defenceless and the voiceless and hold regular consultations with the judiciary, magistracy, Ministry of Justice, Governor’s Office, among others, for the good of all. 

He said his administration would establish regular consultative and mutually beneficial fora/forums with the police, army, State Security Services (SSS), the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), National Drug Law and Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC) and other similar agencies or bodies.

He said his team would work on improving the image of the branch through strategic, deliberate and sustainable activities, defend the integrity of the Bar by adhering to the rules of the profession and use technology to drive the branch’s operations.

He said they would also make the legal profession more attractive to the younger ones from high school through mentoring and coaching.

 He promised  to ensure the unity and sanctity of the profession by eliminating rancour, disorderliness, lack of focus, lack of credibility and disunity through constant dialogues with the generality of the branch, in addition to placing emphasis on decency and gentlemanly conduct of members in every material sense.

His other agenda included ‘‘designing of an effective welfare strategy, including Cooperative Society with inputs from all of us, attracting verifiable positive development including funds to the branch for the good of all, creation of a data bank for the branch to capture every member- the elders, seniors and juniors for a more relevant and responsive service delivery’’.

The new chairman bar said he would be committed to capacity building and intellectual pursuits with regular and occasional publications by the branch.

To attain all these, he promised the establishment of very effective and responsive secretariat for the branch. ‘‘We have today employed an Administrative Officer in this regard and to rejig all committees for effective and rapid service delivery,’’he said.

 Provision of  branch mobile telephone lines, e-mail address, website and social media handles for seamless communication and interaction were part of what he promised.

Dr Yusuf said they would empower the remuneration committee to perform optimally for the good of the profession and give the cloakroom urgent face-lift before the final movement to their permanent secretariat.

“We are aware that service or governance is not a tea party. It is gargantuan. It is laborious. It demands commitment. It calls for the development of a strategy and the devising of modus operandi for implementation. 

“We need to establish our Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and tract performance. Our constituency is watching.

 “We shall dare to make a difference, consolidating on what our predecessors have achieved and covering new grounds or additional milestones, for all to know that our branch can always achieve more”, he assured.