NEWS RELEASE

CONGRATULATORY MESSAGE FROM THE NIGERIAN LAW SOCIETY TO THE LATEST RECIPIENTS OF THE RANK OF SENIOR ADVOCATE OF NIGERIA:

Distinguished colleagues,

Permit me to extend my profound felicitations to you on this auspicious occasion of being conferred with the prestigious rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria.

This award is a recognition of your many years of hard work and dedication to the growth of the legal profession in Nigeria and beyond.

This distinguished conferment carries with it, an incidental responsibility of preserving, upholding and promoting not only the rule of law; but the highest standards of professional ethics and etiquette.

As you embark on this new journey in this new chapter of your illustrious careers, we exhort you to always remember that justice is not only your duty but your sacred calling.

We charge you to uphold the Constitution, defend the rule of law, and protect the rights of all Nigerians.

May wisdom, integrity, and compassion guide your steps in this new journey.

Best regards.

S. U. Nwankwo Esq. (Steve Sun)
National Publicity/PR Secretary, NLS.

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FEATURED

Today, Monday 30th September 2024, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, has sworn in 87 new Senior Advocates of Nigeria.

Okuneye Idris Olanrewaju, the Nigerian transgender better known as Bobrisky, reportedly spent only three weeks in prison after receiving a six-month sentencing for naira abuse in April.

Martins Vincent Otse, a social media user predominantly known as VeryDarkMan, had recently released a phone conversation during which Bobrisky confessed to serving her term outside the prison and paying N15 million to have the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) allegedly expunge ‘money laundering’ from the charges against her.

The controversy has since attracted renewed attention to corruption in Nigerian prisons, with Interior Minister Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo already ordering “an unconditional and comprehensive investigation into the allegations of bribery and corruption within the Nigerian Correctional Service”.

But sources familiar with the matter told FIJ that while Bobrisky was indeed taken to Kirikiri in April after her sentencing, she left after just three weeks. Meanwhile, she was only officially released from prison in August.

‘GUARDED LIKE A PRESIDENT’

“Bob spent only three weeks here with us in Kirikiri before she was taken out to another place we don’t know,” a prison official told FIJ. “That was where she spent her time; it was an ‘arrangee thing’. And money was involved.”

The source also told FIJ how Bobrisky was “guarded like a president” until she was “secretly taken away after three weeks”.

“She received VIP treatment all through,” said the source. “She lived in a special cell. The money she said she paid is actually true; no lies. Yes, she paid the money.”

The revelations by the source are in consonance with a 2019 undercover investigation by FIJ founder ‘Fisayo Soyombo, for which he deliberately got himself detained for five days by the police and incarcerated for eight days by the prison service, discovering that it was possible to pay money to live in well-furnished apartments inside prisons, pay to bring in phones, drugs and sundry outlawed items, strike one’s name off the prison records and even live outside the prison while supposedly serving out a jail term.

VIDEO CALL CAMERA ON BOBRISKY

Although the prison authorities did not allow Bobrisky to mingle freely with other inmates, consequently reducing the chances of her eventual disappearance being spotted, the prison official told FIJ about one noteworthy incident.

“There was this day one guy was on a video call with his girlfriend, and he suddenly turned the camera on Bobrisky,” the official said. “It was deemed an invasion of Bobrisky’s privacy, so, as punishment, he was locked up in his cell for nearly two months.”

The source added: “As I said, she was heavily guarded, so there weren’t many of such incidents to point at. And she was quietly taken away after three weeks.”

BUT JAMES BROWN VISITED BOBRISKY IN PRISON?
Since Otse released the audio, some social media users have been wondering whom James Brown, another crossdresser, met with when she announced on June 8 that she had gone to visit Bobrisky at Kirikiri.

“By the time James visited, Bobrisky was no longer in prison,” a source in James’ camp told FIJ on Thursday.

“James went there to see one guy called Vindicate who had invited her to join in recording a song from prison. The prison authorities liked the idea of a song recorded from prison, so they let her come.

“I don’t know why James lied that she went to see Bobrisky; maybe for clout. I will send you videos of James in prison with the people she went there to see. But have you ever seen just one photo of Bob and James in prison?”

NO DENIAL FROM THE PRISON SERVICE

The Nigerian Correctional Service has neither denied nor confirmed claims that Bobrisky did not serve her jail term in Kirikiri.

However, on Thursday night, the interior ministry announced that the Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire and Immigration Services Board had suspended two deputy controllers of corrections (DCCs) in charge of the medium security custodial centre, Kiri-kiri, Michael Anugwa and Sikiru Adekunle, “over their unprofessional conduct in handling the case of Nigerian crossdresser Idris Okuneye, popularly known as Bobrisky”.

Announcing the action, Ja’afaru Ahmed, secretary of the board, said the suspension was done to pave the way for further investigations.

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The Court of Appeal administration has lauded the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Lagos Branch for the donation of a solar system and 6 standing fans to the Lagos Division of the appellate court.

In a commendation letter obtained by CITY LAWYER and signed by its Deputy Chief Registrar, Yusuf Musa Esquire, the court stated that “Words are not enough to express how delightful we are with the installation of the Solar (system).”

CITY LAWYER gathered that the court in a similar ‘Thank you’ letter appreciated the Chairman of the Council of Legal Education (CLE), Chief Emeka Ngige SAN who moved the motion for the NBA Lagos Branch to embark on the project.

CITY LAWYER recalls that the court has been battling with funding its energy needs especially in light of hike in electricity tariffs, leading to abridged sitting periods and delay in justice administration.

Below is the full text of the letter dated 17th September, 2024 and titled “Letter of Appreciation.”

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He is billed to speak on “Lawyers and unethical practices in the profession: confronting the monster.”

The meeting holds at 1 pm at NBA House, Port Harcourt.

The pioneer female Branch Chairman of the influential branch, Cordelia Eke urged members to attend the meeting, adding that “Ethical issues are at the centre of our practice as lawyers. It must be put on the front-burner at all times, moreso as ours is a most noble profession.”

Krukrubo is a Partner in ALN Aluko & Oyebode one of Nigerias leading law firms and heads the Firm’s Port Harcourt office.

He handles complex instructions from diverse clientele and advises on commercial transactions, banking, regulatory compliance, employment law, oil and gas, law of the environment, other aspects of law practice in Nigeria.

He holds an LLM degree with a focus on International Business Law from the University of Liverpool. He has been recommended by The Legal 500 Europe, Middle East and Africa for his litigation experience. He has also been recommended by Who’s Who Legal as a lawyer with “great interpersonal skills” and “excellent expertise in the field” of Labour and Employment.

He is an avid proponent of the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement (AfCFTA) particularly as it will affect legal practice in Africa. He is also an Arbitrator and was past chair of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators UK Nigeria Branch Port Harcourt Chapter. Past Secretary of the Section on Legal Practice of the (NBA). Past chair of the Continuing Legal Education Committee of the Branch. Currently he is the Co – Chair of the Dispute Resolution Committee of the NBA and is also currently the Chair of the NBA-SLP litigation committee.

• SUPREME COURT JUSTICES VISIT DATTIJO

More details have emerged on the gruesome killing of Aliyu Musa Dattijo, the son of former Supreme Court jurist, Justice Musa Dattijo Muhammad.

CITY LAWYER gathered that while there are strong indications that Aliyu was attacked with dangerous weapons, the assailants may have ran over him with a vehicle.

Born on 8th February 1980, Aliyu studied Estate Management at the Federal University of Technology (FUT Minna) and graduated in 2008.

Meanwhile, CITY LAWYER gathered that a delegation of justices of the Supreme Court visited the grieving and outspoken jurist whose valedictory speech during his retirement from the apex court opened a can of worms.

There are strong indications that the killing of Aliyu shook Dattijo to his foundations, even as he has petitioned the Department of State Services to fish out the killers of his son.

A part of Dattijo’s letter which was received by the DSS on 4th September, 2004 reads: “I am writing to report the tragic death of my son, Aliyu Musa Dattijo, aged 44, which occurred on the 20th of August, 2024, between 8:30 pm and 9:30 pm, at the Sani Abacha Express Way, by Wuse under bridge Utako, Abuja. Aliyu… was said to have left home around 7:30 pm to meet with an unidentified person for business…

“The preliminary police report states that Aliyu was a victim of ‘a hit and run fatal motor/pedestrian accident’ which resulted to his death at the spot of the incident. His car (Peugeot 406 with registration number ABC 40 AW) was found by the aforesaid highway, under the Wuse Market pedestrian bridge, with the door open and keys nowhere to be found…The intervention of your office (SSS) is humbly sought to aid with the investigation…”

According to a family source, “I got to the station at around 12:30, and at that time, we hadn’t even seen the body because they didn’t allow us to see it. Eventually, some male members of the family stayed behind while the females were asked to home. Subsequently, he was released to them and then they proceeded to take the body to the central mosque so that they would help to prepare the body. It was at the mosque they now saw the state in which the body was in.

“They Noticed a lot of gashes; stab wounds on his hands, like somebody had tried to cut him with an axe or something. Offensive wounds. They noticed that there was a stab wound on his stomach, which led to his gut spilling out. And then his legs looked like they were crushed under a vehicle. And then obviously his skull too was, you know, cracked and all of that. So having seen the way the body was, they asked the police officers to take them where the incident happened; which they did.

Described by the immediate past Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola as “outspoken,” Dattijo had queried the enormous powers of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, indicating that a reform has become urgent.

Muhammad asserted that the CJN, given his enormous powers, appoints members of the various judicial institutions without conferring “with fellow justices nor seek their counsel or input on any matter related to these bodies. He has both the final and the only say.”

“The CJN has the power to appoint 80 per cent of members of the council (NJC) and 60 per cent of members of FJSC. The same applies to NJI and LPPC.

“Such enormous powers are effortlessly abused. This needs to change. Continued denial of the existence of this threatening anomaly weakens effective judicial oversight in the country,” Muhammad noted.

Speaking on the composition of the court’s seven-member panel which dismissed the appeals filed by Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi against the election of President Tinubu, Mr Muhammad said all the six geopolitical zones in the country ought to be represented.

Of the six regions in the country, only South-south, North-west and the North-east were represented on the panel of six members.

Dattijo had sensationally blamed the tardiness in ensuring the two regions had representatives on the Supreme Court bench on the CJN. He said it was deliberate and it “is all about the absolute powers vested in the office of the CJN”.

It was unclear at press time whether the secret police has commenced investigation into the matter.

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AJULO, OON, SAN ON THE SWEARING-IN OF JUSTICE KEKERE-EKUN AS ACTING CJN AHEAD OF SENATE CONFIRMATION

The swearing-in of Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun as acting Chief Justice of Nigeria ahead of Senate confirmation of her appointment is still generating hot debate in the legal profession. Former Cross River State Governor and lawyer, Mr. Donald Duke had set the debate in motion. Constitutional lawyer and Ondo State Attorney-General, Mr. Kayode Ajulo SAN weighs in on the debate

It is evidently clear that the assertions proffered by Mr. Donald Duke, the former Governor of Cross River State, regarding the swearing-in of Justice Kekere-Ekun as acting Chief Justice of Nigeria, prior to her confirmation, exhibit a profoundly disturbing misunderstanding of the legal framework governing such appointments. One must critically assess how someone can maintain such a political stance with misplaced confidence in his interpretation of the law under these circumstances.

To commence, Section 231(1) of the 1999 Constitution states: “The appointment of a person to the office of Chief Justice of Nigeria shall be made by the President on the recommendation of the National Judicial Council, subject to confirmation of such appointment by the Senate.” This provision empowers the President to appoint an acting Chief Justice when the office is vacant or when the incumbent is incapacitated.

Moreover, Section 231(4) explicitly delineates that until a new Chief Justice has been confirmed and has assumed office, the President is authorised to appoint the most senior Justice of the Supreme Court to fulfil these functions in an acting capacity. Therefore, the swearing-in of Justice Kekere-Ekun is not merely permissible; it is essential for the uninterrupted continuity of judicial leadership.

Furthermore, the assertion that her swearing-in is illegal fundamentally disregards the constitutional provisions that permit such actions during periods of vacancy. While the confirmation process by the Senate is undeniably vital, it does not preclude the President from appointing an acting Chief Justice in the interim. This appointment is temporary, lasting a maximum of three months, as elucidated by Senator Adeniyi Adegbonmire, an SAN and Chairman of the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, who dismissed Mr. Duke’s position, affirming, “An acting CJN can only act for three months.” Thus, Mr. Duke’s claim of a fundamental infringement of the Constitution is entirely unfounded.
Moreover, to insist on delaying the swearing-in until confirmation could engender a significant void in judicial leadership, which would be detrimental to the effective functioning of the judiciary.

The Senate’s role is to confirm appointments; any legitimate concerns regarding an appointee should be addressed during the confirmation process, rather than permitting the judiciary to function without leadership

The office of Chief Justice of Nigeria is integral to our democratic governance.
I assert, without equivocation, that the President’s swearing-in of the Acting Chief Justice is constitutionally sound.

Additionally, the Attorney General of the Federation, Prince Fagbemi, SAN is, beyond doubt, one of the most erudite legal minds in the nation. It is disconcerting that some individuals, who cannot be considered a knowledgeable authority on matters of law and constitutionalism, would choose to undermine such a noble office with their jejune arguments.

In conclusion, it is imperative to engage with the legal framework in a thoughtful and precise manner. Such comments, rather than enriching the discourse, reveal a regrettable lack of understanding of the constitutional provisions governing such appointments. It is essential for public figures, particularly those with legal backgrounds, to ensure that their statements reflect a comprehensive grasp of the legal principles at hand.

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BY MIKE ANYADIEGWU, PhD.

The powers of the police and other law enforcement agencies to arrest and detain criminal suspects are regulated by law. However, in many cases, these agencies abuse their powers. There are many cases of wrongful arrests and prolonged pretrial detention. Detainees are often denied access to legal representation. The right to a fair trial within a reasonable time is usually violated. This has resulted in the loss of public confidence in arresting authorities and criminal justice administration. Some detainees are tortured and extra judicial killings also occur.

The abuse of power thrives because there is little scrutiny of law enforcement decisions to arrest and detain and few officers are held accountable for thier actions. This has contributed to the poor public perception of the police and other arresting authorities, undermining the administration of criminal justice. In October 2020, mass protests organized under the hashtag #EndSARS# raged for weeks, demanding the dissolution of the Nigerian Police special Anti Robbery Squad over gross abuse of thier powers including extortion, torture and extra judicial killings. The same year the National Human Right Commision (NHRC) recorded 41,040 complaints of unlawful arrests and detention against law enforcement agencies.

Administration of Criminal Justice legislation at federal and state levels responded to this serious issue by creating a scheme for the judicial oversight of detention. Magistrates are obligated to periodically inspect detention facilities to scrutinize records , ask questions and ensure that detention practices comply with constitutional and international standards for the treatment of persons in custody. See Sec 70 (3) of ACJL 2022 Anambra State. Sub (4) of the aforestated law provides that the designated magistrate may take any of the following actions. He may examine records of arrest, examine records of bail, including bail requests or applications and decisions on them, direct quick arraignment or may grant bail to the suspect.

It is to be noted by visiting magistrates that this is not an avenue for judicial rascality. The power granted shall not be abused because most of the suspects who were tracked by police on serious offences shall not be granted bail since the proper thing is to order for their arraignment in court. The visiting magistrates is not there to sabotage the effort of police in fighting crime because no body is safe if u release a recidivist in custody. Police Act 2019 has an equivalent provisions. See sec 70 of Police Act 2019 which also provides that the magistrate so designated by the Chief Judge shall at least every month conduct an inspection of police stations or other places of detention within his territorial jurisdiction other than the prison.

It provides further that during such visit the magistrate may call for, and inspect the record of arrest , direct the arraignment of such suspect, where bail has been refused, may grant bail to suspect where appropriate if the offence for which the suspect is being detained is within the jurisdiction of the visiting magistrate. Take note that the section made it mandatory for the officer in charge of the police station to avail the magistrate with list of those in his custody and failure to do that will be treated as a misconduct which will attract a disciplinary action under the Police Act rules and regulations. The Chief judge of Anambra State, Hon Justice O M Anyachebelu, desirous of full implementations of the law on visit to place of detention has designated some Magistrates to embark on such exercises and file report of action taken by such Magistrates during such visit.

What Are The Benefits Of Visit To Places Of Detention By Designated Magistrates

(1) Visit to place of detention will reduce the number of unlawful arrests and detention. The knowledge that judicial officers can visit the place of detention at any time can propel positive attitudinal and behaviorial changes in police stations.

(2) Because of possible visit by designated magistrates there is likely to be a reduction in the number of those in custody because the visiting magistrates can grant bail, order for arraignment of the suspect, make order for the defendant to be brought to court for pre-detention order in the Prison and may make an order of release or discharge which can only be exercised in clear cases where no criminality has been disclosed. Eg where a person was arrested and detained in lieu of another or on purely civil wrong or for no known offence like a case where 2 defendants were arrested and detained because they urinated in a place where the landlord wrote that defaulters will pay #50,000. When they refused they were detained by police upon the compliant of their landlord that the #50,000 must be paid before their release by police.

(3) It will increase professionalism in the way arresting officers treats those in conflict with the law.

(4) It shows expanded access to legal aid , pro Bono lawyers through the police Duty Solicitor Scheme (PDSS) and other legal aid scheme. This can be achieved when lawyers from the PDSS or other legal aid Schemes collaborate with visiting Magistrates to follow up and ensure compliance with their directives.
Building A Partnership With The Bar Association

Sometimes, a visiting magistrate may need lawyers on his visit to place of detention. These are lawyers who offer their services under a pro Bono legal assistance programme. eg Police Duty Solicitor Scheme. The Practice assists detainees to assess legal service get their relative to come over to stand as sureties since such a visit is usually unscheduled visit and more often than not sureties are hardly on ground to perfect the bail. Leaving the whole Duty on a visiting magistrate will not be proper since a court is not there to offer legal or any other assistance to a detainee.

Though ACJL requires police officers to inform detainees of their right to legal representation, lawyers who form part of the visit must not interfere with the process – and shall allow the magistrate to conduct the interview and make necessary order as the case maybe. The role of PDSS or pro bono lawyers is that of an observer and to lend legal assistance in order to realize the full objective of the exercise. They are not there to apply for bail of any defendant because such place is not a regular court for advocacy. They are expected like an observer to ensure that order made by the visiting magistrate is carried out.

• Dr. Anyadiegwu is with the Chief Magistrates Court at Awka, Anambra State.

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Recent Review of Cost of NBA Stamp/Seal In Light Of ‘Nothing Worth Having Comes Easy’

By Sylvester Udemezue

By Rule 10 of the Rules of Professional Conduct for Legal Practitioners in Nigeria, 2023, NBA has the exclusive powers to prescribe stamp and seal which gives an insignia of validity to any legal document prepared by a lawyer in Nigeria. The RPC further requires that a legal practitioner acting as such legal practitioner, or as a legal officer or adviser of any Government Department, Ministry or any corporation, who signs or files a legal document must affix on any such document his seal and stamp approved by the NBA. The requirement of stamp and seal applies to all legal documents prepared by a lawyer. Legal documents envisaged include pleadings, affidavits, depositions, applications, instruments, agreements, deeds, legal letters, memoranda, reports, legal opinions or any other similar legal documents. This exclusive regulatory powers of the NBA to prescribe stamp and seal has been judicially endorsed. See ALL PROGRESSIVE CONGRESS V. GENERAL BELLO SARKINYAKI SC/722/15 (reported as SENATOR BELLO SARKINYAKI V. SENATOR ATIKU BUBAKARBAGUDUORS (2015) LPELR-25721 SC); ), (2015) 18 N.W.L.R (Pt. 1491) 288; ADEWALE & ANOR V. ADEOLA & ORS (2015) LPELR-25972(CA), the Court of Appeal (Per AGIM, J.C.A. (Pp. 16-17, Paras. D-A; 19-20, Paras. A- B, P 20, Para C-E). The Nigerian Supreme Court has also ruled that any process filed in court by a lawyer in Nigeria without affixing the Stamp and Seal prescribed and approved by the NBA is deemed to be not properly filed. See also: JOSIAH CORNELIUS LTD AND ORS V. EZENWA (1996) LPELR-1632 (SC) and In Re OSIBAKORO D. OTUEDON (1995) LPELR-1506 (SC).

However, following acknowledged widespread inconvenience and challenges occasioned by noticed delay in the production and dispatch of NBA stamps/seals to successful applicants, the immediate past leadership of the Nigerian Bar Association led by Y. C. Maikyau, SAN, had adopted measures to combat the unpredictability of the physical stamp regime. The immediate past General Secretary, Mr Adesina Adegbite had in a statement hinted that NBA had “developed and implemented a digital stamp (e-stamp) as an alternative”. Attributing the noticed delay in NBA stamps/seals production to constraints faced by the stamps producer largely due to foreign exchange rates and inflation, Mr Adegbite on behalf of the NBA expressed the deep regret for the inconveniences caused by the delays. He added that previous resistance to a cost-revision aimed at protecting the interests of its members was what ultimately led to the unavoidable consequences being experienced.

Days after the statement by Mr Adegbite, and in a landmark event, the Maikyau-led NBA leadership launched what it called “the Secure Digital Stamp and Seal”, said to be a revolutionary, cutting-edge innovative solution, powered by blockchain technology and designed to modernize and streamline legal practice in Nigeria, with a view to addressing the long-standing document authentication challenges and enhancing the credibility and security of legal processes. The digital stamp/seal initiative, said to be seamlessly integrated into Microsoft Word, and a tamper-proof, verifiable, and user-friendly solution, marked a significant shift from the traditional physical stamps, aimed at eliminating delays and inefficiencies that had hitherto plagued the stamp/seal system. According to the NBA leadership, such advancements “are crucial for aligning the legal profession with global best practices.” Finally, in his report to NBA’s 2024 Annual General Meeting held in Lagos on 28 August 2024, the NBA-GS recommended that an upward review of the cost of procuring the NBA stamp/seal would ensure its availability in view of prevailing economic realities.

However, upon taking over the mantle of NBA leadership on 29 August 2024 as its President, Mazi Afam Osigwe immediately promised to look into the stamp/seal imbroglio with a view to resolving the same in the interest of NBA members. Shortly thereafter, an official statement published on September 11, 2024 on NBA’s official blog, and under the title, “Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN Leads NBA In Resolving Stamp Distribution Delays” read in part:

“Distinguished Colleagues. In an effort to urgently resolve the ongoing issues regarding the production and distribution of NBA Stamps, as well as the resultant dissatisfaction among members, the President of the NBA, Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, on Monday, the 9th of September 2024, convened an emergency meeting with the Chairmen and Secretaries of NBA branches. During the meeting, which was also attended by the Managing Director of Strataflex Ltd, the consultants engaged by the NBA for the production of adhesive stamps, President Osigwe provided an in-depth explanation of the reasons behind the delay in the production and distribution of stamps. The delay is essentially attributed to the inability of the consultant to cope with rising production costs. The current price of Four Thousand Naira per pack of four sheets of stamps, which has been in effect since the contract’s inception in 2015, is no longer sustainable. This has led to substantial costs for both the NBA and the stamp producers. It was revealed that market fluctuations have made the current production model unsustainable. This financial imbalance has severely impacted the producer’s capacity to meet demand, resulting in operational losses and eventually leading to the producer’s decision to suspend production. To ensure improved efficiency in the production and distribution of stamps, a phased adjustment of the current price has become imminent. Consequently, effective from the 1st of November 2024, a negotiated adjustment will increase the price from Four Thousand Naira per pack of four sheets of stamps to Six Thousand Naira per pack. Additionally, from the 1st of January 2025, members will be required to pay Seven Thousand Naira for a pack of four sheets of stamps to sustain the initiative effectively.”

A summary of the review plan:
₦4000 per pack Until 31 October 2024;
₦6000 per pack Until 31 December 2024; and
₦7000 per pack after 31 December 2024

Meanwhile, take note of these painful reminders about the prevailing socio-economic realities in Nigeria:
In 2015, when the “₦4000 per pack” was introduced, One US Dollar was ₦171. In 2024,One US Dollar is ₦1,650. Cost of petrol (PMS) per litre in 2015 was ₦180 per litre as opposed to ₦900 – ₦1,400 per litre in 2024; A bag of rice in 2015 was ₦6,500 – ₦7,500 as opposed to ₦95000 – ₦110,000 in 2024;
A rim of printing paper (A4) which sold for ₦350–₦500 in 2015 is now ₦5,000–₦6,500 in 2024.

In view of these prevailing socio-economic realities about Nigeria, one would not be far from the truth in affirming reality if one suggested that the 75 percent increase may not be realistic in fulfilling the objectives of the review, especially if the main objective of the price adjustment was/is to ensure promptness, stability and consistency in production of the seal, and to forestall any more hiccups, hitches or technical hitches. While it is said that good soup na money make am, truth is that there are no shortcuts to any place worth going, meaning that nothing in this world that’s worth having comes easy. Put differently, what comes easy won’t last long, and what lasts long won’t come easy, which perhaps had informed Theodore Roosevelt’s declaration, that “Nothing worth having comes easy.”

Well, if the current NBA leadership is retaining its predecessor’s plan for issuance of the stamp/seal to be wholly online, then one may be right to agree that a further review of the review may be unnecessary. Else, I respectfully doubt that a further review to, say, ₦10,000 per pack, would not be necessary to bring things in tune with prevailing realities. Some people may not be comfortable with this view, which they may consider unpopular. But it is okay. It was Beverly Sills who once observed: “It seemed no longer important whether everyone loved me or not, more important now was for me to love them”. As Anne Tyler once said, it is very difficult to live among people you love and hold back from offering them advice. Hence my advise to NBA managers and all of the members of the NBA is this: never reject good advice; that’s what makes you wiser. When one sees good advice, one should not only listen to it, but should also take it.

I am sorry that I have to face REALITY. You see, one may succeed in avoiding reality, but one cannot succeed in avoiding the consequences of avoiding reality.

• Sylvester Udemezue is a Lecturer at the Nigerian Law School and can be reached at therealityministry@gmail.com

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EID EL-MAULUD MESSAGE BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE NIGERIAN BAR ASSOCIATION (NBA), MAZI AFAM OSIGWE, SAN

We join our Muslim colleagues and indeed the entire Muslim Ummah in celebrating the occasion of Eid-El-Maulud Nabiy, the birth of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W).

The Holy Prophet exemplified compassion, equity, fairness, and justice for all humanity. These principles are essential for the peace, harmony, and development of any nation. Now more than ever, as Nigeria endures security and economic challenges, we – leaders and followers – must rise to embody these values. As we hold fast to these guiding principles, we send salutations upon the blessed soul of the Holy Prophet (S.A.W), and pray that God renews the fortunes of our dear nation and our people.

Eid Mubarak!

Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN
President,
Nigerian Bar Association

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RIGHT OF REPLY

• NBA IS STILL OWING ME FOR OFFICIAL DUTIES
• I CAN NEVER BE PARTY TO SHARING NBA FUNDS
• PAY ME N100 MILLION AS DAMAGES

The immediate past First Vice President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Linda Bala has said that she was not paid any money by the immediate past NBA President, Mr. Yakubu Maikyau SAN.

Bala was responding to a CITY LAWYER news report that some National Officers received payments approved by the immediate past NBA President, Mr. Yakubu Maikyau SAN as logistical support or per diem allowance for attending the recent NBA Annual General Conference (AGC).

CITY LAWYER gathered that the per diem allowance which used to be N30,000 per day was upped to N50,000 per day for National Officers while NBA Staff receive N30,000 per diem allowance per day.

Three ranking National Officers confirmed receipt of the AGC payments. While one National Officer told CITY LAWYER of being paid N420,000 another said N480,000 was the amount received by the National Officer.

But in a letter titled “RE: EXCLUSIVE: MAIKYAU PAYS EX NATIONAL OFFICERS N.44M, BISHOP SHUT OUT DEFAMATION OF MY CHARACTER AND DEMAND FOR IMMEDIATE RETRACTION, APOLOGY, AND DAMAGES,” Bala stated that “A visit to your blog revealed that you published that I along with immediate past National Officers of the NBA received various sums of money from the immediate past NBA President during the swearing-in ceremony of the new NBA President.”

The Bar Leader vowed that “These claims and allegations in the said publications on your blog which have now been communicated to millions of people within and outside Nigeria are false, untrue, malicious, and highly defamatory of my person in every respect. It portrays me as a selfish, greedy, and corrupt individual.”

According to the senior lawyer, “To make it perfectly and emphatically clear, and with every sense of modesty, I was not paid any money by the immediate past President of the NBA, either at the swearing-in ceremony of the incumbent President of the NBA or at any other place. I am a legal practitioner of impeccable character and standing with over 30 years of post-call experience. I have a thriving practice and have never been involved in any case of corruption or corrupt enrichment either in my years of service to the NBA or as a legal practitioner. I sought to serve the Bar selflessly and as such can never be a party to the sharing of our common wealth. This is even as the NBA has yet to settle its outstanding financial obligations to me for official duties carried out.

“Your publications to the contrary are therefore maliciously aimed at smearing my image and reputation. The several calls and messages I have received and comments I read on the issue, have caused me anxiety, emotional and psychological stress, and trauma.

“Curiously and contrary to all ethics of professional journalism, and especially given that you are a lawyer who understands the maxim of audi alteram patem”, hear the other side, you published the said story on your blog and circulated the same on various social media without reaching out to me to verify the veracity of the story.

“Had you contacted me for my comments before you published your unfounded story as the ethics of professional journalism demands, I would have explained to you that your “sources” if they exist, are unreliable and the story false in its entirety. It is at best fictional or malicious and baseless, and you had no justification for publishing the said unfounded story which is defamatory of me on your blog and circulating the same.”

Bala demanded “That you publicly retract the defamatory story and remove same from your blog forthwith,” adding: “That you pay the sum of N100,000,000.00 (One Hundred Million Naira) only to me as damages for the emotional and psychological trauma, the loss of reputation and goodwill I have suffered as a result of your malicious and defamatory publication.”

The full text of the letter reads:

Dear Sir,

RE: EXCLUSIVE: MAIKYAU PAYS EX NATIONAL OFFICERS N.44M, BISHOP SHUT OUT DEFAMATION OF MY CHARACTER AND DEMAND FOR IMMEDIATE RETRACTION, APOLOGY, AND DAMAGES
The above subject matters refer.

On Friday, 6th September 2024, my attention was drawn to a false, malicious, and defamatory publication from your online platform/blog – CITY LAWYER captioned “EXCLUSIVE: MAIKYAU PAYS EX NATIONAL OFFICERS N.44M, BISHOP SHUT OUT”.

The said publication on your blog was published and circulated by you to several lawyers’ groups on different social media platforms including but not limited to WhatsApp, Facebook, and Telegram.

In the said publication, it was alleged amongst other things that the immediate past president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr. Yakubu Chonoko Maikyau, OON SAN paid all former National Officers of the NBA (including myself, having just served as the 1st Vice President of the NBA under Mr. Maikyau) the sum of N.44 million. It was alleged that the immediate past National Officers received credit alerts for the alleged sum “during the swearing-in of Mr. Afam Osigwe, SAN as NBA President” which facts are untrue, false, unfounded, and defamatory of me.

The publication is malicious and a deliberate attempt at damaging and smearing my reputation as a legal practitioner of over 30 years post-call standing and ruining my stellar reputation of selfless service to the NBA over the last three (3) decades.

Since your publication was made and published/circulated on 6th September 2024, I have been inundated with calls from family members, relatives, colleagues, clients, and friends from within and outside Nigeria seeking my comments and clarifications on this disturbing publication they had read about me on your blog. Some persons even sent me messages containing their account numbers stating that “there is love in sharing” requesting that I share the “largesse” with them.

Following the several calls received from my family members, relatives, colleagues, clients, and friends, I visited your blog, https://citylawyermag.com/ to ascertain the disturbing publication my family and associates have referred to. A visit to your blog revealed that you published that I along with immediate past National Officers of the NBA received various sums of money from the immediate past NBA President during the swearing-in ceremony of the new NBA President.

These claims and allegations in the said publications on your blog which have now been communicated to millions of people within and outside Nigeria are false, untrue, malicious, and highly defamatory of my person in every respect. It portrays me as a selfish, greedy, and corrupt individual.

To make it perfectly and emphatically clear, and with every sense of modesty, I was not paid any money by the immediate past President of the NBA, either at the swearing-in ceremony of the incumbent President of the NBA or at any other place. I am a legal practitioner of impeccable character and standing with over 30 years of post-call experience. I have a thriving practice and have never been involved in any case of corruption or corrupt enrichment either in my years of service to the NBA or as a legal practitioner. I sought to serve the Bar selflessly and as such can never be a party to the sharing of our common wealth. This is even as the NBA has yet to settle its outstanding financial obligations to me for official duties carried out.

Your publications to the contrary are therefore maliciously aimed at smearing my image and reputation. The several calls and messages I have received and comments I read on the issue, have caused me anxiety, emotional and psychological stress, and trauma.

Curiously and contrary to all ethics of professional journalism, and especially given that you are a lawyer who understands the maxim of audi alteram patem”, hear the other side, you published the said story on your blog and circulated the same on various social media without reaching out to me to verify the veracity of the story.

Had you contacted me for my comments before you published your unfounded story as the ethics of professional journalism demands, I would have explained to you that your “sources” if they exist, are unreliable and the story false in its entirety. It is at best fictional or malicious and baseless, and you had no justification for publishing the said unfounded story which is defamatory of me on your blog and circulating the same.

I, therefore, believe that you only published the said defamatory story on your blog in a bid to completely damage my reputation in the estimation of the right-thinking members of society and perhaps gain traffic to your blog.

MY DEMAND
It is in the light of the foregoing that I hereby make the following demands:

1.
That you publicly retract the defamatory story and remove same from your blog forthwith.
2.
Within 3 days of your receipt of this letter, you issue a public apology to me for publishing the said defamatory story against me on your blog.
3.
The said public apology must be published on your blog and circulated on the various lawyers’ platforms on WhatsApp, Facebook, telegram, etc.
4.
That you pay the sum of N100,000,000.00 (One Hundred Million Naira) only to me as damages for the emotional and psychological trauma, the loss of reputation and goodwill I have suffered as a result of your malicious and defamatory publication.

TAKE NOTICE that should you fail to comply with my demands within 3 (three) days, I will explore all possible legal means available to me to seek redress and this shall be without further recourse to you. In the said suit, we shall be seeking amongst other reliefs aggravated and exemplary damages as well as the cost of litigation.

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RIGHT OF REPLY

The immediate past Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Assistant General Secretary, Mr. Daniel Kip has stated that he “never received a dime from the outgone President of the NBA, Yakubu Chonoko Maikyau, OON, SAN in any form before exiting office.”

Kip was responding to an exclusive news report by CITY LAWYER that some National Officers received payments approved by the immediate past NBA President, Mr. Yakubu Maikyau SAN as logistical support for attending the recent NBA Annual General Conference (AGC).

Multiple sources including two ranking immediate past NBA National Officers confirmed receiving AGC related per diem payments to CITY LAWYER.

However, the immediate past NBA assistant scribe vowed that he did not receive any payment “in any form” from the immediate past NBA President before his exit from office.

Describing the CITY LAWYER report as “defamatory & malicious,” Kip wrote: “The said story published on your blog was personally circulated by yourself on several Lawyers Platforms/Groups on Facebook, Telegram and WhatsApp. To show the extent to which your publication on various platforms has been consumed, the NIGERIAN BAR_ASSOCIATION MEMBERS Platform on Facebook has about 18,000 members, the LAWYERS IN NIGERIA Facebook platform has about 14,800 members, the NIGERIA BAR ASSOCIATION platform has about 14,200 members, the other LAWYERS IN NIGERIA Facebook platform has about 35,500 members. Need I mention that you also posted same false publication on the following WhatsApp groups; NBA REFORM FORUM(1,024 members), VOTERS MEET, 2024(505 members), LAWYERS DECIDE(946 embers), BA MATTERS(381members), HUMAN RIGHT DEFENDERS(381 members), CTIY LAWYER SOCIAL(977 members). On Telegram, you posted on NIGERIAN BAR ASSOCIATION(NBA)(3,481 members), NBA ACCREDITED OBSERVERS FORUM (184 members), CITY LAWYER(870 members). ‘These are but to mention a few.

“It beats my imagination that a Lawyer who doubles as a journalist will make such damning publication without conducting any form of investigation, confirmation or verification.

“It is incontestable that the said publication was made by you maliciously and knowing same to be false. It is also indubitable that the said false & unverified publication was made to gain traction to your platform disregarding the damage it may cause another. This is even more worrisome as I never received a dime from the outgone President of the NBA, Yakubu Chonoko Maikyau, OON, SAN in any form before exiting office. I am a law abiding and responsible citizen with an admirable character, and 1 served creditably and selflessly as Assistant General Secretary of the Nigerian Bar Association.

“Your publication, which has gone viral and generated uproar on social media, has thrown me into a state of trauma, and earned me undeserving opprobrium. find your action and publication of and about my person quite defamatory, mendacious, malicious, deceptive, unlawful and highhanded. My reputation, person and character has been greatly injured and maligned. The perception of my friends, relatives, colleagues and associates is that I unjustly enriched myself from the coffers of the NBA and kept mute about it. This is totally unacceptable.”

Kip demanded “an immediate written retraction of the said publication, accompanied with an unequivocal apology to be circulated to all social media platforms and contacts who earlier received the defamatory publication, and also a Letter of apology addressed to me.”

He added: “Take note that in the event that the foregoing demands are not met within 24 hours of the receipt of this letter, will invoke all legal options at my disposal to ensure that 1 get legal redress for the injury and psychological trauma you have occasioned me.”

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Fiery activist and former Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Ikeja Branch Chaiman, Mr. Adesina Ogunlana, will be buried on Thursday.

According to a notice made available to CITY LAWYER by his longstanding associate, Mr. Ayo Ademiluyi, Service of Songs/Wake for the late senior lawyer will hold on Wednesday at 4 pm at NBA Ikeja Bar Centre while Night of Tributes holds two hours later at the same venue.

There will be a Commendation Service for the deceased Bar Leader at 9 am on Thursday at Chapel of St. Luke’s The Physician, LASUTH, Ikeja.

Interment follows immediately after at RCCG Memorial Garden, Redemption Camp, Mowe.

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A senior lawyer and Bar Leader, Chief Paul Harris Ogbole, SAN was honoured by a group of lawyers under the aegis of “Friends of Paul Harris OGBOLE, SAN” at the just concluded Nigerian Bar Association Annual General Conference (NBA-AGC) in Lagos.

The event tagged “Lawyers Hangout and Karaoke with Paul-Harris OGBOLE SAN” witnessed the presence of many Bar Leaders, lawyers and conferees from all over the country.

Notable figures at the event included a past NBA President, Mr. Augustine Alegeh, SAN; former NBA General Secretary, Chief Emeka Obegolu, SAN; Mr. Ejembi Eko, SAN; Mr. Agada Elachi, SAN; Prof. Agbo Madaki; Mr. Paul Daudu, SAN-designate and Chairman of NBA Bwari Branch; Mr. Nuhu Egya, Chairman of NBA Keffi Branch; Mr. Afam Okeke, immediate past Chairman of NBA Abuja Branch, and Mr. Onofiok Luke.

There was a special appearance by the popular musician ICE PRINCE ZAMANI who joined the lawyers to celebrate the Silk.

Speaking on the well-attended event, Mr. Marvin Ibem, an associate and admirer of the senior lawyer and Co-convener of “Friends of Paul Harris OGBOLE, SAN,” said that he is a consummate Bar-man who has devoted his time, energy and resources to the advancement of the Bar.

In his words, “I am not surprised by the large turn-out of lawyers who have come to honour the Learned Silk. He is a visionary Bar leader who has committed to the betterment of the Bar and the legal profession.”

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By Abdulrasheed Ibrahim

Not long ago, a Federal High Court in Abuja ordered the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) to register the Nigerian Law Society (NLS), a new association of lawyers in Nigeria being led by Chief Bolaji Ayorinde, SAN. The legal battle subsequently moved to the Court of Appeal and Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) then under the leadership of Mr. Y. C. Maikyau, SAN appeared at the Court of Appeal seeking to be joined. NBA was never a party at the Federal High Court, but since it is interested in protecting the NBA’s monopoly in the bar politics, its legal team led by Mr. Y.C. Maikyau, SAN, himself as the then President of the NBA met Chief Joe Gadzama, SAN who was leading the NLS’ legal team at the Court of Appeal in a legal firework. Since the case still seems to be pending before the Court of Appeal, I may not want to go beyond this line for now. But from what is presently going on in the media both conventional and social, the line seems to have been drawn for a very serious rivalry in the Bar Politics as both NBA and NLS have rolled out their respective new executives.

It is interesting to note that Mr. Hussain Ishaq Magaji, SAN, the Registrar General of the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) had earlier written a letter to the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister for Justice, Mr. Lateef Fagbemi, SAN seeking for a fiat to prosecute the NLS and other corporate entities for carrying out activities and operations without being registered by the CAC. Chief Ayorinde, SAN has not taken this very lightly and has threatened to drag to the Registrar-General of the CAC to court, if he failed to withdraw the public notice he considered defamatory to him and the NLS within specific number of days. According to Chief Ayorinde, SAN in his reaction:

“In the said part of the judgment, the Honourable Court clearly granted all the Plaintiff’s claims and specifically directed your Commission to register the Nigerian Law Society. Your Commission has failed, refused and or neglected to obey the judgment of the Federal High Court and whose judgment remains extant even though you have filed an appeal on record .It is also noted that despite filing the same appeal , you have not secured any order to stay the direction in the judgment. It is therefore shocking that you will cause the publication under reference to be made despite the above. In the said publication, you alluded as follows: That you have not registered the Nigerian Law Society .That the members of the Nigerian Law Society including my humble self are committing an offence in breach of the law .That the activities of the Nigerian Law Society including my humble self are illegal.”

As at the time of putting this essay together, it is yet to be confirmed whether the CAC has reacted to the threat of litigation from the NLS under the leadership of Chief Ayorinde, SAN. You will recall that upon the suspension of Hon. Nimi Walson-Jack by the NBA from its National Executive Council (NEC) for his involvement in the NLS’ activities, he (Walson-Jack) subsequently proceeded to court to challenge the NBA’s decision, his court action against the suspension did not fly in court as it was held that the NBA has the power to suspend him. Hon. Nimi Walson-Jack is now the Vice President (South) of the NLS. The decision of court in favour of NBA suspending Walson-Jack must have encouraged the NBA to extend similar suspension from its NEC to Steve Abar, Esq., who is now the General Secretary of the NLS. I have once asserted some years back that the split in the NBA was very imminent and certain which has now come to past. When you have an NBA that prides itself as promoting the rule of law but most times acts contrary to the spirit of that theory, this is what you will have at the end of the day. If you have been very conversant and familiar with some of my essays on the NBA politics, you would have come across wordings such as: THE TYRANNY OF MINORITY; ALL ANIMALS ARE EQUAL BUT SOME ANIMALS ARE MORE EQUAL THAN THE OTHERS; EMPEROR AND EMPIRE.

There is tyranny of minority when an elected NBA President single-handedly carries on without carrying other elected National Officers along in the scheme of things. That is a typical example of converting the office of the NBA President to that of the Sole Administrator. There is George Orwell’s Animal Farm theory when members of the NBA are only expected to pay their subscriptions with the franchise to vote but cannot be voted for as well as the unnecessary disqualification of candidates from contesting elections in NBA. Before now some provisions contained in the NBA Constitution used to be more discriminatory to most members of NBA than now. With all these kinds of happenings in a professional association, how do you expect everyone to move along without deciding to go their own ways? This is a very big lesson for those coming up or contemplating forming of new associations just like the NLS.

There should not be any excitement whenever any new group or association is coming on board. To roll out the drums to celebrate the arrival of a new association or a political party in Nigeria is like celebrating the pregnancy of a new bride that is yet to be born. It is only God ,the creator that makes the pregnancy a reality that really knows what will become of that pregnancy. There is no better way to illustrate this than what is presently happening in the nation’s political landscape. Nigerians are always yearning for good leaders with the full commitment to the path of democracy but despite this, the contemporary political leaders are yet to live up to the yearning of the Nigerians. Their positive expectations from the leaders are often met with disappointments and the gnashing of teeth. For instance, since the return of democracy in 1999, the People Democratic Party (PDP) ruled the country for 16 years contrary to its boast that it would ruled for 60 years. With the coming together of some political parties that metamorphosed into the present ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) that defeated the PDP in the 2015 General elections, the expectations are yet to be met. Since the APC came to power with the slogan of CHANGE, nothing has changed and the situation has been like from fire to fry pan. The country has remained worse than when the APC came into power and this is so because it is almost the same set of politicians that used to be in PDP that later came to the APC and vice versa. The country is seriously under the conquest of the capitalist politicians rather than the real socialist politicians that probably would have meant well for the Nigerians with what the country is blessed with.

Since the stage in now set with the introduction of both the new executives of the NBA and NLS, it will be very interesting in the days to come to see how the Bar Politics will play itself out among the lawyers in this country. With the NBA already having over 100 branches across the country, how the NLS intends to go about recruiting members to its fold from across the country will be very exciting. Most of the lawyers that presently constitute the new NLS executives used to be very strong members and stakeholders in the NBA but now that they have parted ways with the NBA, whether they will able to rival the NBA in spreading their new gospel to attract lawyers into their fold will equally be very interesting. With the serious lamentations still coming from many lawyers on the just concluded NBA conference, will some of them consider the NLS as an alternative? A lawyer on the social media seems to have decided to opt for the NLS. According to the lawyer:

“The 2024 NBA AGM is the worst in the recent years leading credence to the assertion that the Association has run out of ideas and it is on throes of Hooks’ law .You hold an AGM without financial report ,no A.O.B, no question for institutional report .The presiding officer alone talking for hours without end and none of the SANs, Benchers , Forum leaders , Senior lawyers who have been attending meetings could call this thing to order. I am even talking of lack of conference bags, detail program and even a one stop shop system to reduce movements from one long place to the other. While Association leaders were busy squashing monies in high cost hostels, others especially young lawyers were lumped together in six persons in a room. Operators of joints in the mammi market said they paid the sum of N200,000 for a square meter space for three to four days leading to the exorbitant cost of items including food. It was not a secret that the NBA leadership received monumental sponsorship from government and corporate bodies yet the difficulties and suffering encountered during the just concluded NBA AGC is inexplicable .The most annoying aspect is no one spoke to condemn this orchestrated and deliberate acts foisted on innocent lawyers .After all these misgivings you tender a nonsense apologies intended to make the open squander mania a culture at the branch levels. If AGM is organized in this fashion then no need to worry oneself .The 2024 AGM is indeed regrettable .One can say unequivocally that anything Chonoko Meikyau and his cohorts in his ship of exco should not happen again to the NBA and or let the Nigerian Law Society be the new bride.”

The above is just one of numerous lamentations by the lawyers that took part in this year NBA annual conference. If the NLS is now being seen as “the new bride” as I said earlier that is like a pregnant bride, is there anything the NLS will do differently? Will there be any new dawn in the Bar Politics with the arrival of the NLS? When I first saw the motto of the NLS that says “Justice for all”, what immediately came to my mind was the book written by the late Hon. Justice Ephraim Akpata (JSC of blessed memory) titled “Justice for all and by all” . If the message of the NLS by its motto is that all those that have suffered injustice should come to its fold , what are the assurances that those that come to its fold will surely get justice considering the fact that it is pulling out from the NBA whose by its motto prides itself as “promoting the rule of law” but have on occasions acted against that principle which must have prompted the pulling out by the NLS? Is it also not going to be business as usual as seen in the classic case of PDP and APC that have over the years proved to the birds of the same feather? I believe the new leaders of the NLS will be in better position to answer all these questions.

• Ibrahim is a senior lawyer and text writer, and can be reached at abdurasheedibrahim362@gmail.com

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Immediate past National Officers of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) received about N440,000 each on their last day in office, CITY LAWYER can authoritatively report.

Meanwhile, immediate past NBA Treasurer, Caroline Anze-Bishop was shut out of the payment which was titled “AGC REFUND.” This may not be unconnected with her longstanding face-off with the immediate past NBA President, Mr. Yakubu Maikyau SAN.

There are strong indications that the payment is to cater for the logistics of the National Officers during the recently ended NBA Annual General Conference (AGC) in Lagos.

The payment may also have been the last official act of Maikyau, as CITY LAWYER gathered from an unimpeachable source that the National Officers received their alerts during the swearing-in of Mr. Afam Osigwe SAN as NBA President.

A close associate of Bishop confirmed the payment to other National Officers, saying: “I do not know if N500k was given to the National Officers but I am aware that each one of them was credited the sum of N440,000 on the day of the swearing-in of our new Officers.

“In fact, it was Caroline’s colleagues at the table that directly told her about the payment.

“She hasn’t received a dime from the NBA till now, since April. YC only publicly hugged and shook her at the swearing-in ceremony to mislead lawyers into thinking that all is well and resolved; nothing could be farther from the truth.”

There are strong indications that some National Officers may have received marginally lower or higher figures, as a ranking National Officer told CITY LAWYER that some officers were paid N320,000 and N480,000 respectively.

The officer however complained bitterly that the monies were “serious underpayments,” saying most of the National Officers spent far above the refunds. “This is aside from several outstanding payments for official assignments,” said the officer. “I can tell you that our financial sacrifices in discharging our official duties were huge.”

CITY LAWYER recalls that Maikyau had barred Bishop from receiving the financial sponsorship extended by the NBA leadership to other National Officers to attend the recent Annual General Conference (AGC) in Lagos.

This did not however deter the embattled former Treasurer from hitting Lagos on the eve of the conference.

Though NBA watchers had expected a feisty session at the NBA Annual General Meeting, especially as Bishop had vowed not to endorse the NBA Annual Report, this was obviated as National Officers were not invited to present their traditional reports.

Bishop had told CITY LAWYER that despite her longstanding quest, she was sidelined as regards the association’s finances, adding that she was not a party to any financial report to be presented at the AGM.

It is recalled that Bishop had in a letter addressed to the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi SAN in his capacity as the Chairman of the General Council of the Bar (GCB), urged him to “set-up a high-powered Committee to immediately and thoroughly consider and investigate my concerns.”

The letter was titled “A REPORT OF A PERPETUAL ABUSE OF OFFICE, THE MARGINALIZATION OF THE NBA NATIONAL TREASURER AND URSURPATION (SIC) OF HER DUTIES UNDER THE NBA CONSTITUTION (2021 AS AMENDED) BY THE PERSON OF THE NBA PRESIDENT MR. Y. C. MAIKYAU SAN: AN APPLICATION FOR AN IMMEDIATE INVESTIGATION OF THIS COMPLAINT AND FOR YOUR NECESSARY ACTION.”

A similar petition was addressed to the Chairman of the Body of Benchers as well as to NBA Trustees. Bishop had made a similar plea following controversies that trailed the NBA Annual Report and Accounts at the 2023 Annual General Meeting.

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A judge of a High Court is urgently seeking to employ a highly intelligent LEGAL/RESEARCH ASSISTANT.

The ideal candidate must possess the following attributes:

• Excellent writing skill
• Excellent research skill
• Excellent analytical skill
• Hard working
• Honest

SALARY: Attractive

HOW TO APPLY
 Interested candidates should email legaljobs77@gmail.com.

VERY IMPORTANT: Please ensure that SUBJECT field reads “JUDGE SEEKS LEGAL/RESEARCH ASSISTANT.”

Please note that only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.

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NEWS RELEASE

ON NBA STAMP AND SEAL

Distinguished colleagues, good morning. The new Excos led by our amiable leader, Mazi Afam Josiah Osigwe SAN is not ignorant of the complaint of our colleagues over the stamp and seal and the hardship it is causing our colleagues. Our president is working assiduously to solve this problem once and for all.

Gentlemen, our president is a thorough person. From the day he assumed office, he has been studying the various agreements entered by the previous administration over the said stamp and seal and consulting experts in the said departments with the view of giving our colleagues a better and cheaper option. I can tell you for free that Mr President is on top of the situation.

He is committed in ensuring that the backlog of the stamp and seal is cleared. He is not a man of promises but a man of results. In no distant time, the results will be obvious for all lawyers to see. As a proactive leader, his mission is to put smiles on the faces of Nigerian lawyers.

We therefore plead with all of you to give our president little time to solve this nagging problem. If only Nigerian lawyers know what he has gone through to solve this stamp and seal problem from day one, you will appreciate him more. The truth is; Nigerian lawyers are in safe hands with our own Mazi Afam Josiah Osigwe.

We know your pains, we feel your pains and we are carrying your pains as ours. As a united family, we will not rest until each and everyone of us that paid for the stamp and seal in the previous administration gets his or her own set. We count on your support and prayers to deliver on our promises. Don’t loose hope.

I want to state here boldly that the issue of our colleagues that paid for stamp and seal not having them as at when due will not happen under this administration. This will be a regime like no other, just give us a little time.
Thanks for your patience.

Sabastine Anyia,
NBA, First Vice President.

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NEWS RELEASE

NBA Decries Fuel Price Hike, Calls for Immediate Reconsideration

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) expresses its profound concern and strong condemnation over the recent increase in the pump price of fuel by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC), which has risen sharply from 617 Naira to about 900 Naira. This significant and abrupt hike has imposed an unbearable burden on the already overstretched finances of ordinary Nigerians, further aggravating the economic challenges faced by millions across the country.

The cascading effects of such a steep increase in fuel prices on the cost of living, transportation, and essential goods and services are deeply troubling. Many Nigerians are already grappling with inflation, unemployment, and other forms of hardship, and this additional financial strain is simply unsustainable. If allowed to persist, this price hike will only deepen the poverty and hardship experienced by the citizens.

While the NBA acknowledges the necessity of economic reforms and recognizes the government’s responsibility to make difficult decisions, these decisions must be made with the utmost consideration for their impact on the welfare of the citizens. The NBA views this sudden price hike as not only harsh but also unjustified at this time.

In light of this, the Nigerian Bar Association calls on the Federal Government to immediately halt the implementation of this policy and engage in meaningful dialogue with all relevant stakeholders, including civil society organizations, labor unions, and economic experts, to explore more sustainable and less punitive alternatives.

We urge the government to prioritize the welfare of its citizens, particularly the most vulnerable, and to pursue policies that alleviate rather than exacerbate the hardships faced by the Nigerian people.

The NBA remains steadfast in its commitment to upholding the rule of law and will continue to advocate for the rights and well-being of all Nigerians. We stand ready to engage constructively with the government to find a more equitable solution that ensures economic stability while safeguarding the interests of all Nigerians.

MAZI AFAM OSIGWE SAN
President, Nigerian Bar Association

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