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Tag: Nigerian Bar Association (NBA)

  • NBA election: E-voting will curb rigging – Alegeh

    NBA election: E-voting will curb rigging – Alegeh

    The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) president Augustine Alegeh (SAN) has said the body introduced electronic voting and universal suffrage to end rigging and inducement of voters.

    He said e-voting, to be used in NBA’s election next week, would check the practice of branch chairmen selecting lawyers and inducing them to vote for a particular candidate.

    With the new system, Alegeh said, all lawyers could conveniently vote over the internet from anywhere in the world rather than gathering at a single location.

    “It is instructive to note that other professional associations have been using e-voting for years. We are the last who want to take advantage of what is available to us technologically. We cannot tie ourselves in the past when we have technological developments,” he said.

    On complaints that some names could not be found on the voters’ register, Alegeh explained that some branches did not follow the association’s constitutional provisions on payment of dues and practicing fees which qualifies a lawyer to vote.

    “We asked the bank to give us the list of those who have paid practicing fees by March 31. The constitution says lawyers must pay bar practicing fees and branch dues before they can vote. Branch chairmen were asked to send list of those who have paid practicing fees along with statements of account, but some resisted it.

    “The constitution provides that all monies due to the branches must be paid into the branch account. A lot of branches do not have bank statements to back up the list they sent.

    “Some branches said sometimes lawyers paid during meetings, or that they used some of the money for entertainment. But we have said that this system must work,” Alegeh said.

    The NBA president, at a briefing in Lagos, urged lawyers to update their records on the website to be able to vote, adding that close to 15,000 people had updated their records, while close to 40,000 lawyers had paid their fees.

    Alegeh denied that he was working to impose a candidate as NBA president, saying although he was entitled to vote, he did not anoint one nor can he compel all lawyers to vote for a particular candidate.

    He said his role was only to set up an electoral committee and provide it with support services.

    Alegeh said the crisis in some branches, such as Ikeja, was caused by the refusal to comply with a constitutional provision that where a candidate has held two NBA offices in the past five years, they must wait for five years before contesting for another office at the branch level, or 10 years at the national level.

    The senior advocate vowed to ensure a credible poll, adding that NBA has invited the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the National Democratic Institute of America and Microsoft to verify the system and result.

    “Our hope is that when we finish this election, Nigeria will use this method for the next general elections. I have a pact with the association to deliver a good election. No threats will make us do what is wrong. The only time I am worried is when I am wrong, so I won’t be intimidated by threats that NBA will disintegrate,” he said.

    On lawsuits against NBA, Alegeh said dissatisfied candidates ought to appeal to the NBA Dispute Resolution Committee first, in line with Section 16 of the NBA Constitution before going to court.

  • SANs disagree on legality of Fayose’s frozen account

    SANs disagree on legality of Fayose’s frozen account

    Senior lawyers Tuesday disagreed on whether it was legal for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to freeze Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose’s account.

    They agreed that immunity does not stop a governor from being investigated, but there was no consensus on whether a governor’s account can be frozen.

    Those who spoke on the issue include former Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) presidents Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN) and Dr Olisa Agbakoba (SAN); Chief Emeka Ngige (SAN), George Oguntade (SAN), Jibrin Okutepa (SAN) and constitutional lawyer Ike Ofuokwu.

    Olanipekun and Agbakoba said only a court could decide whether the account of someone with immunity can be frozen.

    According to Olanipekun, the Supreme Court case of Fawehinmi v IGP (2002), which held that a sitting governor can be investigated while in office, might not be a direct authority to settle the question.

    He said: “A case is only authority for what it decides. The present position is dicey and fluid. To my mind, any sitting governor who’s shown to have attracted illicit funds to his personal account can and should be investigated. But the cardinal question is: can his account be frozen without him knowing why it has been frozen by any agent or agency of government?

    “I rather think otherwise, as freezing of account presupposes that an application has been made to and granted by the court to so do.In addition , an enrolled copy of the order should be served on him , giving and specifying reasons for the freezing , so as to enable him challenge the order if he so wishes. All these conditions precedent have to be complied with as we operate a constitutional democracy rooted in the rule of law.

    “On the flip side, it can also be argued that if a sitting governor can only be investigated for the time being as the constitution clothes him with immunity from any civil or criminal proceedings, is freezing of his account on the order of court not another way of subjecting him to criminal prosecution, contrary to the clear imperatives of the constitution?

    “This is because there can’t be a freezing action without a prior court order; and for any freezing application to be filed in court, the name of the sitting governor has to stated as the defendant/ accused.”

    He cautioned lawyers and commentators against “jumping into conclusion on any issue without weighing the implications of what we say or sell to the public.”

    For Agbakoba, while immunity does not stop criminal investigation against a sitting governor, he does not think EFCC was right to freeze Fayose’s account.

    “It is doubtful, however, if freezing account is within the scope of investigation. I think not. I think it is a case to be tested in the courts,” Agbakoba said.

    Ngige, however, believes EFCC did not err. “The EFCC has the power to freeze the account of any person suspected to be involved in the commission of a crime. This power is not restricted to accounts of any person enjoying immunity be him a Governor or President.

    “The immunity offered by section 308 of the Constitution is limited to arrest and prosecution. It does not cover investigation of crime. Interim freezing of a bank account involved in suspicious activity like money laundering is neither illegal nor unlawful.

    “Freezing of account is part of investigation and therefore no law has been violated more so when the huge sums of money found in the instant account is alleged to have come from the State treasury. EFCC should get to the root of the matter and charge those without immunity if there is a prima facie case disclosed,” Ngige said.

    Oguntade also backed EFCC, saying the commission was right to freeze the account. He said Section 34 (1) of the EFCC Act empowers the commission to freeze such an account “if satisfied that the money in the account of a person is made through the commission of an offence.”

    “On the issue of whether the bank account of a sitting governor can be frozen given the provisions of section 308 of the 1999 Constitution [as amended], the answer is clearly in the affirmative.

    “That a person protected under section 308 of the 1999 Constitution, going by its provisions, can be investigated by the police for an alleged crime or offence is, in my view, beyond dispute.

    “The Supreme Court further held that ‘criminal investigation’ is totally different from ‘criminal proceedings’ in respect of which a Governor enjoyed immunity under section 308 of the Constitution.

    “So, whilst a criminal charge cannot be preferred against a sitting governor, there is nothing that prevents the EFCC from investigating a sitting Governor and to freeze his account in the course of doing so upon obtaining the requisite court order,” Oguntade said.

    Okutepa said a governor can be investigated and his account frozen, adding that there is “nothing illegal and unconstitutional about it if the condition precedent is followed.”

    Ofuokwu said: “If it is in a bid to trace stolen funds, I am of the firm opinion that the EFCC can freeze the account where the stolen funds are traced to. The constitution did not confer immunity from investigation. Hence, I respectfully submit that immunity from prosecution does not confer on anybody whatsoever immunity from investigation.”

  • ‘How to curb corruption in oil sector’

    ‘How to curb corruption in oil sector’

    A renowned economist, Adekunle Disu has expressed optimism that Nigeria can be salvaged from the scourge of corruption, particularly in the oil and gas industry which has metamorphosed into a hydra-headed cankerworm. in recent times. Industry sources estimate that over $680billion is lost to corruption annually in the sector due to sharp practices in which the new petroleum industry bill (PIB) seeks to address.

    Disu, who is also the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of BOK Development Limited, while speaking on the topic; “Corruption in the oil industry” at the just concluded 2013 annual conference of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Lagos branch, is optimistic that this colossal loss could be effectively checkmated if government will key his recommendations.

    They include strong political will to deal with corruption, transparency in the activities of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) and amendment of some sections of the PIB, particularly as it concerns the powers of the minister of petroleum.

    “To reduce the rot in the oil industry, there must be a strong political will to deal with the issue of corruption in our society. The corruption in the oil sector will only be a thing of the past if the political classes sincerely confront it strongly with every sense of altruism”

    “There must be a truly transparent and competitive process in the bidding process for oil blocs and oil related contracts with strict adherence to rules that govern international best practices. There must be dichotomy between the regulatory authority (NNPC) and the prospective bidders”

    “There must be adequate cost control and accounting procedures. Periodic accounting and audit by the NNPC and external audit firm will guarantee transparency and quality accountability,” Disu recommends.

    On the power given to the minister of petroleum in the current draft of the PIB, he is recommending a total review so as to avoid misuse of power by the occupants of the position.

    The powers ascribed to the minister of petroleum in the current draft of the bill have been described as ’draconian and omnipotent’ in various quarters which in itself could lead to corruptive practices that the bill seeks to eliminate. Under the current draft, the minister can inter-alia, grant and revoke leases unconditionally, determine royalties, decide the price of gas flaring and recommend members to the board of all the new companies and agencies.

    Other powers that Disu is recommending for a review is the minister’s ability to override the decisions taken by regulatory agencies, and to do all such other things incidental and necessary to the performances of the functions of the minister under the act. More disheartening is that the new PIB does not provide any mechanism to check possible abuse of these powers.

    Disu charged civil society organizations not to relent in their efforts at tackling corruption but to be more conscious not only about issues related to the oil industry but to issues in governance generally.

    “I believe that Nigeria can be salvaged from the scourge of corruption. I believe that the future of our country is bright. But we need to muster the courage at the political level to begin the process of cleansing the Nigerian stable. Only then can our efforts at economic development and social stability begin to yield fruit”, Disu contended.

  • Ngige identifies sections of NBA Constitution for amendment

    Ngige identifies sections of NBA Constitution for amendment

    A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and bar leader, Chief Emeka Ngige has identified certain provisions of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Constitution that need amendment.

    He said it has become “urgent” to carry out the reviews to restore the glory of the lawyers’ body.

    In a memorandum to the Committee on NBA Constitution Review, Ngige noted that NBA elections “continue to generate concerns” among NBA members and the public.

    “These worries were further escalated during the last NBA elections, thus threatening the moral standing of the association in fostering the rule of law within the socio-political space,” said Ngige.

    He had narrowly lost the last NBA election to the incumbent NBA President Okey Wali (SAN), alleging electoral infractions. According to him, his proposals would check the disruptive tendencies of such hiccups.

    In the memorandum jointly submitted by Ngige and Mr Emeka Nwadioke, a lawyer, they noted that most of the controversies that trail NBA elections “are rooted in the independence of the Election Committee.”

    They warned that “the election committee must not only be independent, but must be seen to be so,” adding that members of the committee “should henceforth be nominated by the NBA Trustees and approved by the NBA National Executive Committee (NEC).”

    According to them, the committee must be entirely independent of NBA national officers both in form and substance.

    “Every effort must be made to insulate the election committee from the influence, authority, direction or control of the National Secretariat or the National Officers. Under no circumstance should the election committee take directives or instruction from a national officer or the National Secretariat,” they said.

    They also canvassed financial autonomy for the committee, adding that its funding should constitute a first-line charge on the association’s finances.

    Furthermore, the election committee must publish the list of eligible voters on the NBA website not later than 30 days to the election and ensure that branches receive copies of the list within the same period, they said.

    The list, they added, should also be issued to all candidates for the election not later than 30 days to the elections.

    To be eligible to vote at any NBA election, whether at national or branch level, each member must have paid their practicing fees and branch dues for the three years preceding the elections, except for those called to the Bar less than three years before the election, in which case receipt for one full year will be acceptable.

    Given the “unsatisfactory nature” of the current electoral grievance settlement regime, the memorandum noted that an Election Appeals Committee (EAC) “has become imperative.”

    The EAC, the lawyers said, should be mandated to handle pre- and post-election grievances as they relate to disqualification of aspirants and the conduct of the elections, they suggested, adding that “This will save the NBA needless public odium.”

    Members of the committee would be nominated by the NBA Trustees and approved by the NBA NEC, they suggested.

    They also argued for the adoption of universal suffrage in NBA elections, noting that all lawyers who have paid their practicing fees and branch dues for the three years preceding the elections should be eligible to vote, except for those called to the Bar less than three years before the election, in which case the receipts for one year would suffice.

    Noting that the efficacy of electronic voting has been eloquently demonstrated by the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) at its last general elections with the technical collaboration of NIGCOMSAT, Ngige and Nwadioke called for the adoption of e-voting in future NBA elections.

    This, they noted, would “engender transparency and widespread acceptance of the outcome of the elections and obviate needless controversies of the recent past, as such controversies tend to detract from the standing of the NBA as a leader in the fight against electoral malfeasance.”

    According to them, a major concern of many NBA members is the alleged increasing monetisation of NBA Elections, with the attendant danger of throwing up unpopular candidates whose sources of funding may be questionable, and the potential of compromising the NBA and its objects.

    They suggested that a “Code of Conduct for NBA Officers” should be fashioned out to promote professionalism and good behaviour among NBA national officers, adding that “infringement of certain provisions of the code shall constitute an impeachable offence.”

    The duo suggested that “under no circumstance should officers of the NBA at national and branch levels accept Federal or state government appointment whether honorary or otherwise and whether with or without remuneration, except committee appointments reserved for NBA.”

    To promote transparency and accountability, they suggested the establishment of an Internal Audit Unit and a Tenders Board/Procurement Unit, with the latter empowered to advertise all contracts above N1 million on the NBA website and communicate same to branches prior to the award of such contracts.

    Also, the National Treasurer must be a mandatory signatory to all cheques payable by the Association for capital expenditure, while the accounts of the Association should be posted to the NBA website on a quarterly basis, the lawyers said.

    On the controversial co-option of members into NEC, they suggested that the list of co-opted members should be posted on the NBA website and published in at least three national newspapers immediately after the list is approved by the NEC.

    In addition, they said NEC meetings should be held in the open and “should be accessible to any lawyer who desires to observe same, provided that the said lawyer should within two weeks before the meeting indicate in writing his desire to observe the meeting.”

    The memorandum also contains proposals on the duties of NBA national officers, increase in the number of standing committees, procedure for creation branches, powers of NBA trustees, establishment of liaison offices in the six geo-political zones, and the need to promote the rule of law and justice sector reforms, sanctioning lawyers who argue trite and unarguable points to delay cases to frustrate opposing counsel and litigants, among others.

  • NBA urges lawyers to take up public interest litigation

    NBA urges lawyers to take up public interest litigation

    The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA ) has called on lawyers to take up pro bono cases and engage in public interest litigation to fast-track the trial of human rights cases.

    NBA President Okey Wali (SAN) made this call at the weekend in Ibadan, Oyo State while speaking at the Human Rights Summit organised by the Human Rights Committee of the association with the theme: The protection of human right in Nigeria-A collective project.

    Declaring the event open, Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi, who was represented by the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Adebayo Ojo, said his administration would partner with the NBA to protect the rights of citizens.

    Chairman of the event, Chief Bandele Aiku (SAN) said the Constitution made adequate provisions for the protection of people’s rights and urged lawyers to ensure that the provisions of the constitution are respected.

    In an address, Chairman of the NBA Human Rights Committee and first vice president Mr Osas Justy Erhabor praised Ajimobi and Ojo for co-sponsoring the event.

    He promised that the Human Rights Committee under his leadership will not just be a mere talking committee. He stated further that at the end of the event, there would be a working session where human rights issues from the various branches would be tabled and a plan of action put in place.

    During the working session, one of the issues that came up was the case of a lawyer, who was brutalised by the Police at Agbowo Police Station, Ibadan. Mr Erhabor ordered a member of the Committee from Abeokuta Branch of the NBA, Mr Emmanuel Olu Alade to liaise with the Chairman of Ibadan Branch Human Rights Committee to get to the root of the matter.

    Wali said:

    “Paragraph 3 of the preamble to Fundamental Right (Enforcement) Rules 2009, signed on November 11, 2009 by the then Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Idris Legbo Kutugi (CJN), obliges and encourages the courts to welcome public interest litigation in the human right field and no human right case may be dismissed or struck out for want of locus standi. Thus the following persons can institute human rights cases:

    a. Anyone acting in his own interest-individual

    b. Anyone acting on behalf of other person(s);

    c. Anyone acting as a member of, or in the interest of a group or class of persons;

    d. Anyone acting in the public interest

    e. Association acting in the interest of its members or other individuals or group.

    f. Other persons include human right activist, advocates or group as well as non-governmental organisation who may institute human rights application on behalf of any potential applicant”.

    “The new Fundamental Right (Enforcement Procedure) Rules have made provisions that represent the widest possible latitude that may be given to potential applicants in human right cases”.

    The NBA president stated: “Public interest litigation leverages the power of judicial review which courts possess and invoke those powers to determine complaints by particular persons who act for themselves or for others in order to remedy infringement of the rights which the affected groups suffer. Therefore, it is incumbent upon our courts to entertain public interest litigation matters using the process of judicial review.”

    “The NBA uses this opportunity to call on our judges to expeditiously determine human right cases so as to join in the protection of the rights of Nigerians.

    “I want to use this opportunity to call on all lawyers, particularly members of the Human Right Committee of the various branches of the NBA to take up pro-bono cases and engage in public interest litigation by making use of other regional mechanism for public interest litigation matters like the African Human Right Court and Economic Community for West African States (ECOWAS) Court. By so doing lawyers would be protecting fundamental rights of Nigerians especially the less privileged”.

    “In the light of the forgoing, the NBA shall continue to encourage the Section on Public Interest and Development Law (SPIEDEL) and Human Right Committee of the 100 branches of the NBA to embark upon massive public interest litigation and pro-bono cases.

    “There have been reported cases of human rights abuses on both sides in the fight against insurgency, terrorism and crime, the NBA has repeatedly decried this and has even received support from the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Mr Mohammed Adoke, (SAN), in respect of the Boko Haram insurgence, the NBA thinks government should rethink its strategy very clearly. The use of force has not been successful”.

    “The protection of life and property remains the primary responsibility of government, so government must take all reasonable steps to ensure the safety of Nigerians and their property. Very prominent citizens including His Eminence, the Sultan of Sokoto has called for amnesty for Boko Haram Sect members, the NBA thinks government must listen to the calls for amnesty”

    It has been said that nothing ventured nothing gained. If the use of force has not achieved peace and safety of the Nigerian citizens and Nigerians are being killed on both sides, then government must listen to the calls for amnesty. It has been said and I quote Prof. Akin Osuntokun ‘‘that there are different Boko Haram, which are political, criminal and religious Boko Haram’’. If amnesty may very well differentiate which of the Boko Haram we are dealing with, then government will be better positioned or equipped to deal with the Boko Haram insurgence”

    He concluded that “The NBA will be proactive and assertive in the protection and defence of the rights of the Nigerian people as enshrined in Chapter four of the 1999 Constitution, the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights and the various International Covenants and Protocols. All the Human Rights Committees in the various branches will be energised and made more active through the NBA Human Right Institute and NBA National Human Right Committee. We will confront cases of human rights violations headlong and cooperate with the government when it makes efforts at protecting and defending the rights of the Nigerian people”.

    In a paper titled: The role of lawyers in the protection of human rights in Nigeria Dr Mike Ozekhome said: “Nigeria has an historic, but chequered track record for human rights. It has survived lawless and delinquent civilian regimes as well as despotic military misadventures (known for this legendary violations of human rights) since its independence in 1960. Violations of human rights including torture, suppression of freedoms of association and expression, detentions without trails, abuse of rule of law and due process, excessive executive and legislative lawlessness, extra-judicial executions, mindless expulsions from schools and insensate dismissals from work without fair hearing, joblessness, unpaid salaries, pensions and gratuities for years, monumental corruption, sustained violations of women’s rights, etc. abound in the country.”

    “Human rights and freedoms principally address two major classes of obligations: the first, the duty to abstain from infringing human rights; and the second, a duty to guarantee respect for these rules. The former is composed of a set of specific obligations relating directly to the duty of the state, institutions and individual or group of individuals to abstain from violating human rights, whether through actions or omissions, while, second refers to obligations incumbent on the state as guarantor of rights of the individual, which involves investigations and punishment of rights violations and reparation for damages caused thereby the latter role of the state puts it in the position of serving as guarantor of these rights, from which emerges essential obligations relating to protection and assurance of such rights?”

    Chief Mike Ozekhome, (SAN), said human rights are divided into five sub-headings namely: Civil Rights, Political Rights, Social Rights, Economic Rights and Cultural Rights. We shall however discuss this classification under two broad further categorisation. Ozekhome said: “In conclusion, we state that the role of each and every lawyer transcends just the tendency to “make money” of just pursue a carrier devoid of societal responsibilities. Each and every lawyer must as a matter of professional exigency and moral urgency, take upon himself to actively participate in the fostering and enforcement of fundamental rights of the citizenry.

    “Wherever such a lawyer may find himself-whether it is at the Bar, Bench or Ivory tower, it is incumbent on him to actively participate through our varied calling in the enthronement of the dignity of man and protection of our liberties as encased in the principles of Fundamental Rights. There is no place for ‘playing the Ostrich’ as complacency and nonchalance of the lawyers of today will have strong repercussionary effects on the societies of tomorrow.”

    The summit was highly attended by lawyers from the South west and beyond.

  • NBA organises professional development workshop for young lawyers

    NBA organises professional development workshop for young lawyers

    The Professional Development Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Section on Legal Practice (SLP) last week in Lagos, organised a Professional Development Workshop for young lawyers in the in the zone to improve their professional skills.

    The workshop with the theme “ Lawyering skills in a global economy” held at the Prof. Ayo Ajomo Auditorium of the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (NIALS) Akoka Unilag Campus under the chairmanship of Prof. Epiphany Azinge (SAN)

    In his opening session remarks, Azinge emphasised the importance of continued professional training in the modern lawyer. He encouraged the young lawyers to continue the process of skills acquisition and improvement because that the only way to compete in globalised world.

    Chairman of SLP, Mr. Donald C Denwigwe SAN drew the attention of the participants to a Lawyer who drafted a filling station purchasing agreement for his client but did not forsee to include the procurement of licence in the agreement and at the end of the day, the client bought the filling station but did not have the licence to operate it. Denwigwe noted that a good lawyer should forsee all the situations that would arise in a given transaction and try his best to cover it in drafting the agreement and necessary documents.

    President of Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Okey Wali (SAN) encouraged the participants to make good use of the training programme to beef up their professional skill because we are in a competitive global economy where everybody has to demonstrate international best practices.

    In a chat with The Nation, Wali said: “ We live in one global village because of communication. Nigerian lawyers are in competition with lawyers in New York, in London, in Accra and in Johannesburg so it becomes incumbent upon us to make sure that we are equipped for this competition and that is why we make sure that we always have this training workshop from time to time to update our members on the happenings around the world.

    The chairman, Section on Legal Practice (SLP) Mr. Donald C. Denwigwe SAN said: “ well, this one of the activities that the NBA SLP has organised to develop the practice of law in the country. To this effect, we have different committees, this committee is on professional development, we have a committee on civil litigation which will be having its programme in Benin, the Edo State Capital latter this month, we have the criminal litigation committee that will be having a programme in Abuja and so on.

    The essence of all these programmes and efforts is to make sure that the Nigerian lawyer is a composite lawyer and is not a lawyer just because he puts on a black suit. We want to make sure that what we render to the Nigerian public as legal services actually qualifies to the name that we call it.

    Fielding a question on the choice of drafting skills as one of the first courses discussed at the training workshop, Denwigwe said: “ Legal drafting does not stand alone, you have to become a better advocate, you draft in terms of preparation for documents in transactions and what have you.

    The chairman of the event and Director-General, Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (NIALS) Prof. Epiphany Azinge (SAN) said: “This is purely an NBA programme for which I must give them credit. I can see very young lawyers trying to learn the rope of the profession , they are being mentored and tutored on how to go about it. One of the courses listed for discussion – legal drafting – is very critical and advocacy which is very important for anybody who wants to practise law and go to court as an advocate.

    “There are so many issues listed there for discussion which have direct bearing on modern realities in the practice of law, such as e mail etiquette, online research and transactions and so on, these are contemporary realities. On the whole, I can say that the programme is well thought out, there is a good faculty to drive the process and the participation, going by the degree of attendance is quite commendable. I have no doubt that the idea that the NBA Section on Legal Practice is driving is one that will stand in good stead for all those who are here and beyond because many of the participants will go back to their respective offices and demonstrate the skills that they have acquired from this training. We believe that on the whole, the legal profession stands to benefit immeasurably from this training and like they pointed out, this one is in Lagos, it has to be replicated in other places so majority of young lawyers will benefit from it.

    “This is because the number of lawyers is growing every now and then and we have to continue building capacity, that is the only way we can make sure that standards are up there and we can compete favourably with any lawyer anywhere. At the time we are talking of trans border prosecution, trans border transactions and what have you it is important that we up the ante in our own jurisdiction to make sure that our lawyers are up there and we can only do so, not necessarily by passing through the universities and the Nigerian Law School, but by continuously building their capacity as we are doing now, acquiring all the necessary skills that they need for legal practice and building up their confidence so that they know that they are up there with the best anywhere in the world, that is the essence of this training. I must praise the NBA for a job well done.”

    Chaiman, NBA-Section on Legal Practice (SLP) 2013 Professional Development Committee, and President, Commonwealth Lawyers Association(CLA) Mrs. Boma Ozobia said: “That remains a key lawyering skills in a global economy, facing the reality of the fact that there are no borders in today’s world, with the internet, we can advise a client sitting in Lagos in places like New York and vice-versa, so we have to recognise that. We also have to recognise that standards are the same wherever you go, excellence is excellence in the profession. There is no such thing as a good Nigerian lawyer. You are either a good lawyer or not and we are competing with colleagues in a globalised economy; we are competing with colleagues in London for example, in New York, Paris, South Africa and even in Accra next door. We have to be ready, equipped and prepared to compete. You have to equip yourself to compete with the best international standards so that you can serve your Nigerian clients to the best of your ability , remember, your Nigerian client also has access to lawyers outside Nigeria because of the internet, you really have to be on top of your game, you have to equip yourself, you need to know how to do your research online, you really have to know how to sign documents on line for example and do so many things that are available to lawyers that are internet compliant. Business development and so on, that is what this workshop is all about.

    Chairman NBA Lagos, Mr. Taiwo O. Taiwo said: “ This is very important because as you all know, the world has moved from the archaic, so we should stop behaving as if we are in the 19th century. Today, everything is about Information Technology (IT) . Although by nature, our profession is conservative, but then that does not mean that our conservatism should not move forward. So, given the instruments at our disposal now and the training that we receive, I believe that we are in a better position to compete globally and effectively too. I praise the organisers of the programme and I believe it will highly equip the participants for better service delivery”.

    Mr Oluyele Delano (SAN) took participants through legal drafting skills and procedures while Laura Alakija took them through internet research procedures.

  • Judges, lawyers bid ex-NBA Lagos chair farewell

    The Lagos branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has held a valedictory service in honour of its former chairman, Akintola Akinbote, who died on February 20. Precious Igbonwelundu reports.

    All dressed in their ceremonial wigs and gowns, members of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), as well as the top echelon of the Lagos Judiciary last week converged on the Foyer of the Lagos High Court, Igbosere to bid the late Akintola Akinbote, former Lagos NBA chairman, farewell.

    Akinbote, who died on February 20, after suffering from kidney failure at 56, according to NBA President, Mr Okey Wali (SAN), was a quintessential barman and an unassuming gentleman.

    At the valedictory were the Chief Judge of Lagos, Justice Ayotunde Philips, Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs), Wale Olanipekun, Dele Adesina, Norrison Quakers, Lagos NBA Chairman, Mr Taiwo Taiwo, wife of the deceased, Adebimpe, and his four sons, Akintola, Akinola, Akinolu and Akinbolu.

    In his tribute, Wali said Akinbote was a lawyer’s lawyer.

    He said: “The greatest honour we can give to him, is for us to remember his exemplary life at the bar and service to the NBA, and try to immortalise him by conducting ourselves the way our departed colleague conducted himself at the bar.

    “He was a very unassuming gentleman. I worked very closely with Akinbote on the NBA Capacity Building Committee, between 2008 and 2010. He was the secretary of the committee, and, you could not but admire his efficiency and interest in the affairs of the bar.”As president, I have had to fall back on him on issues of capacity building, because of his. Deep capacity on the issue. Isn’t it a shame, that, that reservoir of knowledge is no more?

    “To his wife, children and relations, I give you the condolences of the NBA. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken, we cannot question him. Let us take solace in his legacies, the life he lived, a good life, and a good man.

    “Let me say this to his dear wife, the greatest expectation any man has of his wife, is her ability to carry on with the family in the event of such eventuality.

    “You will not let your dear husband down. You must, therefore, very quickly, put yourself together and carry on from where he stopped. That is the greatest honour you can do to him.

    “To our departed colleague, you have come, you have seen and I dare say, you have conquered. You lived a good life. We all shall miss you, but you have gone to be with him that loves you most. Rest in peace.

    “On behalf of the NBA, I bid thee farewell. Goodbye and good night my learned friend and may the good Lord receive your gentle soul in his bossom. Amen.”

    To Taiwo, Akinbote was “the selfless barman”, who would stand his ground on any issue without fear or favour.

    He urged all who gathered at the session to reflect on how to help the four children Akinbote left behind, just as he commended the state Governor, Babatunde Fashola (SAN), who supported the deceased in his battle against the ailment.

    “I must state for the records that a lot of our seniors and colleagues were concerned about his plight to the extent that within a few days money were paid into his account to enable him to travel abroad for medical attention. I cannot mention all who heeded the call so as not to offend omitting the names of those who did without my knowledge.

    “I must thank His Excellency, the Governor of Lagos State for his prompt response to Akinbote’s plight. He showed compassion, sent his personal physician to the deceased and was ready to support financially, like all our colleagues, when on that fateful day, Akinbote breathed his last, the same day he went to the embassy for his visa. He was to travel out on Saturday!

    “On behalf of the branch, we thank all who gave their support and those who called to do so on Wednesday, February 20, not knowing he had passed on.

    “Akin, as we fondly called him, was selfless in his service to the bar. I was the secretary of the branch when he was the chairman. At that time, we did not; at the insistence of Akin take a dime from the coffers of the branch to finance our various trips to bar conferences and National Executive Committee (NEC) meetings. We bore our expenses!

    “He travelled by night bus and at times in his car, sometimes in mine or Folusho Fayokun’s to serve the branch. Yea, Akin was someone who would stand his ground on any issue and was not afraid to do so, no matter the opposition against him. He was not afraid to take a stand!

    “I want us to pause a while and look at the children, all four boys, in whom we can see that Akin lives on! Let us pause and look at the young wife, on whose shoulders the lot of catering for these children now fall. Let us therefore, decide now to something for these children, let us take them up, nurture them and make them know that their father has not laboured in vain.

    “Let us be kind to them in anyway we can because kindness takes the friction out of life. Let us realise that while we make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give. The heart is the happiest when it beats for others. Let our hearts beat for these little ones.” he said.

    Olanipekun described the deceased as a gentleman among gentlemen, who conducted himself without reproach.

    “The important thing is that he lived a decent life, free from frivolity and recklessness. At no time, to the best of my knowledge, was he caught or found engaged in unethical deal or being rude or nasty to any colleague or judge.

    “He lived well and may his soul find eternal rest.”

  • Adesina opens office

    Adesina opens office

    Former Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) General Secretary Deacon Dele Adesina (SAN) has opened his new law office in Lagos and dedicated it to God and to the legal profession.

    Erudite lawyers and Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) such as the Chief Judge of Ekiti State, Mr Ayodeji Daramola, the governor of Lagos State, Mr Babatunde Raji Fashola who was represented by the Solicitor General, Mr. Lawal Pedro,Chief Wole Olanipekun, Mrs. Funke Adekoya among others, also described the edifice along Opebi Road in Ikeja as a pride to the legal profession.

    Addresssing guests at the opening of the building during the weekend, Adesina gave glory to God for making the structure a dream come true saying, “I dedicate this building to God Almighty, to continue to celebrate His grace and to humanity, to continue bringing justice to the door step of everyone.”

    “This edifice, which I submit with humility is a pride to the legal profession as a modest initiative to the profession we love so much”, Adesina said adding that behind the structure are qualities, energy and character which have brought the law firm to the present state of achievement.

    “I feel fulfilled as far as this phase is concerned. For you to conceive an idea and see the idea in reality is a source of fulfillment and happiness, so, to God belongs all the glory.”

    On how he started practice, he said: “I had an office that was stationed in a kitchen for six years. A kitchen converted to an office, the sink was covered with plywood where I put the case files but that never affected negatively my output, production, determination to succeed and focus.

    “So, if somebody who came from no where and entered a wilderness that was at time where only those that were connected were linked up with very big chambers. My chambers was not one of the 100 chambers in Lagos at that time, otherwise, I wouldn’t have had my office in a kitchen. But it shows that what is important is for you to start, number two, for you to have a clear vision of what you want to achieve in life. When you don’t have a vision, you are like a ship in the high sea without a compass. But when you have that vision, the vision begins to propel you, it drives you.

    My bishop, David Oyedepo will tell you that ‘Unless the pursuit of your vision involves some madness, you are not there yet’. It must be pursued with madness as if your very existence depends on that vision and the truth is that your life depends on your vision, so that is the way I have driven my life and I believe that this is a stepping stone to greater heights.”

    According to him, the opening of the building marked a new beginning ‘that is unstoppably committed to the advancement of the rule of law and the development of our legal jurisprudence adding, “we recognise that while a nation can endure with unbelief, it certainly cannot endure with injustice. As it is often said, injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”

    On his vision for the profession, he said: “I still have the vision not just only to impact the lawyers around me, but the vision to impact the profession itself, the vision to instill hope and confidence in the majority of our members that constitute not less than 70 per cent members of the profession who are young, some of them are even feeling that I may even be in the wrong profession, I want to instill hope and confidence in the people.

     

  • Akeredolu urges ‘sacked’ lecturers to sue

    Akeredolu urges ‘sacked’ lecturers to sue

    Former Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) President Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN) has urged sacked lecturers and staff of the Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo, Ondo State, to seek redress in court.

    Condemning the action, he said he was ready to offer legal support to those affected.

    “I will implore all those affected by this uncommon act of wickedness to challenge it in court.

    “We will be more than ready to support this just cause until the final victory is won,” Akeredolu said in a statement at the weekend. He described as “callous and irresponsible” the alleged sack of some lecturers and staff of the institution.

    They were said to have been relieved of their duties by the intitution’s Governing Council acting on the orders of the Ondo State Government.

    Akeredolu, who was Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) governorship candidate in the last election, said the dismissal was condemnable.

    The statement added: “This latest assault on the law abiding citizens working in that patently neglected institution, under the guise of some dubious ‘reorganisation’, one in the series of such mindless tendencies to deprive the people of the state of their legitimate means of livelihood by the clueless pseudo-labour adventurers, must be condemned by all those who are decent and Godly.

    “Some members of staff of the Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, have already been subjected to this harrowing experience.

    “The hapless victims of a vindictive band are being punished, ostensibly, for their principled stance against bad governance and the practical steps taken to extricate themselves from the shackles of oppressive and rudderless government.

    “It smacks of hypocrisy, of the worst kind, for an administration, which fraudulently hoists the banner of labour, to relieve people of their jobs when it has decidedly elected not to create jobs for an increasing army of jobless people.

    “It becomes all the more instructive that these pathetic beings deploy animalistic instincts in dealing with their fellow beings.

    “We want to assure the government that this current state of things is momentary.

    “Every serious government seeks to alleviate the harsh conditions experienced by its people.

    “Genuine leaders depend on their ingenuity to make things work in an environment of systemic dysfunction.

    “Only a clueless government will seek to compound the misery of the vastly dispossessed and serially abused people.

    “This is a show of vindictive pettiness, an attitude of intolerance displayed by the haughty who wallow in deliberate amnesia concerning what happened in recent past.

    “The Agagu administration did not sack any worker for supporting the opposition before the court judgment which brought this current emperor into office.

    “An elected representative of the people who truly believes in their right to choose will never get away with this impunity in a decent society.”

  • NBA President, others get awards

    NBA President, others get awards

    The President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Okey Wali (SAN) has been honoured with Distinguished Old Boy Award of the Government Comprehensive Secondary School, Borokiri, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

    Also honoured were Air Vice Marshal S. Ironabere, Justice Subare Biambo of the High Court of Rivers State, Port Harcourt and Pastor David Ibiome of Salvation Ministries in PortHarcourt.

    In a chat with The Nation, Wali SAN said: “ That is the greatest award that I have received. At the risk of sounding immodest, I have received a few awards, but to be honoured by your old boys association, made up of people you met as a child in school, some were your seniors, some your juniors and some never even met you at all in school dating back to when we were in Government Comprehensive Secondary School in the seventies brings back the memory of childhood days in secondary school.

    “So, being recognised by those you grew up with innocently as children was a very emotional thing and I felt most honoured and grateful to God for that growing up together, they have come to honour me, it was a great honour indeed, that those my school friends and mates would come together to honour me was indeed a great honour for me.”