NEWS RELEASE

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), under the leadership of its President, Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, has issued a formal clarification in response to a widely circulated voice message misrepresenting the provisions and implementation of the Legal Practitioners’ Remuneration Order 2023.

The misleading message, attributed to one Frank Aboua, has been described by the NBA as a gross distortion of the Remuneration Order and has raised concerns within and outside the legal profession.

In the viral audio recording, the speaker falsely asserts that legal documents such as deeds of assignment and irrevocable powers of attorney must undergo approval by the NBA before they can be considered valid.

He further claims that clients must pay 10% of the property value directly into an NBA account, and that any document not endorsed by the NBA would be rejected in court or by land registries across the country.

The speaker goes as far as suggesting that lawyers could face prosecution before the NBA Disciplinary Committee and risk having their license revoked if they fail to submit such documents to the NBA for “approval.”

Reacting to these claims, Chief Emeka JP Obegolu, SAN, Chairman of the NBA Remuneration Committee, firmly refuted the content of the message, describing it as “a gross misrepresentation of the provisions and intent of the Remuneration Order.”

He emphasized that the Legal Practitioners’ Remuneration Order 2023, duly enacted by the Honourable Attorney-General of the Federation pursuant to the Legal Practitioners Act, does not require lawyers to seek NBA approval before preparing legal documents, nor does it mandate clients to pay fees into any NBA account.

“The Order provides a structured fee framework to guide legal practitioners and protect clients from exploitation. It is not designed to create an additional layer of bureaucracy or validation through the NBA.

Any contrary narrative is false, misleading, and must be disregarded,” Obegolu said.

He further clarified that lawyers remain responsible for franked documents bearing their names, enrolment numbers, and stamp/seal as required.

“There is no provision under the Order that renders such documents invalid if not vetted by the NBA,” he added.

In a firm advisory to legal practitioners and the general public, the NBA Remuneration committee chairman, stated that lawyers are strongly advised to comply strictly with the provisions of the Legal Practitioners’ Remuneration Order 2023 and to report any instance of non-compliance or misinformation to the Programme Office of the NBA Remuneration Committee via 08033888791.

The Committee also welcomes all other complaints and inquiries that will aid in the accurate implementation of the Order.

The NBA Remuneration Committee, under the dynamic leadership of Chief Obegolu, has reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to the swift and comprehensive implementation of the Order across all arms of government, including NBA branches, ministries, departments, agencies, courts, parastatals, and state institutions.

The Committee is actively engaging stakeholders to ensure that the Remuneration Order becomes a standard tool for fair legal compensation nationwide.

The committee acknowledges and commends the leadership of its President, Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, whose clear vision and strong support continue to energize the ongoing reforms around lawyers’ welfare and professional standards.

Under his administration, the NBA has taken bold steps to institutionalize fairness and value in legal service delivery, particularly through the enforcement of the Remuneration Order.

As the NBA Remuneration committee continues to champion proper regulation, lawyer-client fairness, and accountability, members of the public are advised to disregard unofficial statements and seek verified information directly from the committee programme officer or the national secretariat of the Nigerian Bar Association.

For accurate guidance, contact the NBA Remuneration Committee’s Programme Office: Stella Charles Akupue on: 08033888791.

The committee remains committed to upholding the dignity of the legal profession and ensuring that all legal practitioners receive just remuneration for services rendered.

To view the misleading video, click here

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