TCCP

EROJIKWE, TCCP CHAIR’S DAD, BEGINS HOMEWARD JOURNEY TODAY

The funeral rites for Chief Edwin Ekemezie Erojikwe, the late father of the Chairman of Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Technical Committee on Conference Planning (TCCP) 2022, Mr. Tobenna Erojikwe, will commence today with a Vigil Mass at his Uruagu Nnewi home. Time is 5 pm.

The rites will climax tomorrow, Thursday, September 22, 2022 with a Funeral Mass at St. John of the Cross Catholic Church, Egbo, Uruagu, Nnewi. Interment follows at his compound.

Chief Erojikwe died 5 days after he turned 86. He is reputed as an academic technologist and research scientist “who had a remarkable career working in many notable establishments including the Veterinary Research Institute in Vom, Plateau State; Public Health Laboratory Luton, England; Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Berlin, West Germany, and the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN).

“Chief Edwin Erojikwe was a prolific researcher whose scholarly works in Veterinary Medicine are extensively published in notable international journals. For four years, he served as Chairman of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), UNN Branch. Following his retirement from the University of Nigeria after an illustrious career that saw him serve in most of the University boards including the UNN Community Bank, he continued in private consultancy until March this year.

“Edwin Ekemezie Erojikwe was an extraordinary man who impacted many lives through his philanthropy and his investment in people principles.”

He is survived by his wife, Chief (Mrs.) Ebele Erojikwe, former Principal, University (of Nigeria) Secondary School, Nsukka and several children who have distinguished themselves in different fields of endeavour.

To join our Telegram platform, please click here 

COPYRIGHT 2022 CITY LAWYER. Please send emails to citylawyermag@gmail.com. Join us on Facebook at https://web.facebook.com/City-Lawyer-Magazine-434937936684320 and on TWITTER at https://twitter.com/CityLawyerMag. To ADVERTISE in CITY LAWYER, please email citylawyermag@gmail.com or call 08138380083. All materials available on this Website are protected by copyright, trade mark and other proprietary and intellectual property laws. You may not use any of our intellectual property rights without our express written consent or attribution to www.citylawyermag.com. However, you are permitted to print or save to your individual PC, tablet or storage extracts from this Website for your own personal non-commercial use.

NBA-TCCP CHAIR, TOBENNA EROJIKWE LOSES DAD

The father of Mr. Tobenna Erojikwe, Chairman of the Technical Committee on Conference Planning (TCCP) for the recently concluded Annual General Conference (AGC) and Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) ICLE Board, is dead.

Announcing the passing of Pa Erojikwe through a notice to branch members, the Chairman of NBA Lagos Branch, Mr. Ikechukwu Uwanna wrote:

Dear Distinguished Colleagues,

As a member of the TCCP and Chairman of the LOC, I worked very closely with the TCCP Chairman and found the experience very inspiring.

About 4 weeks ago, during the thick of the planning of the Conference, I was with the Chairman of the TCCP (Mr. Tobenna Erojikwe) when he received the news of a very personal loss, the demise of his father. I saw the grief and loss of composure but then saw him bounce back, continue with activities and maintained his focus throughout the Conference.

On behalf of the NBA Lagos Branch, I commiserate with Mr Tobenna Erojikwe, his dear Mum and the rest of their family on the loss of their Patriarch.

May the soul of the departed rest in peace.

Ikechukwu Uwanna
Chairman

To join our Telegram platform, please click here 

COPYRIGHT 2022 CITY LAWYER. Please send emails to citylawyermag@gmail.com. Join us on Facebook at https://web.facebook.com/City-Lawyer-Magazine-434937936684320 and on TWITTER at https://twitter.com/CityLawyerMag. To ADVERTISE in CITY LAWYER, please email citylawyermag@gmail.com or call 08138380083. All materials available on this Website are protected by copyright, trade mark and other proprietary and intellectual property laws. You may not use any of our intellectual property rights without our express written consent or attribution to www.citylawyermag.com. However, you are permitted to print or save to your individual PC, tablet or storage extracts from this Website for your own personal non-commercial use.

‘WHY I’M RETURNING AGC FUND,’ BY EX AKURE BRANCH CHAIR

The immediate past Chairman of Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Akure Branch, Mr. Rotimi Olorunfemi has stated that “recent happenings at the Bar” has made him resolve to return the N100,000 paid to him as accommodation allowance for the recently concluded NBA Annual General Conference (AGC).

In a letter made available to CITY LAWYER, the former branch helmsman noted that though he had availed his account details to receive the fund and “had no objection to this gesture as it is customary of the National body to provide hotel accommodation for Branch Chairmen and Secretaries during NEC meetings,” “my conscience will not know rest if I accept the payment.”

He urged NBA President, Mr. Yakubu Maikyau SAN to avail him the association’s account details to enable him refund the money, adding that “If however I do not receive any response from the national body as herein requested within the next 14 working days of the receipt of this letter by you sir, I shall draw a Bank Draft in this sum and send same to the President via this same medium.”

The full text of the letter is below.

29th August, 2022

The President,
Nigerian Bar Association,
National Secretariat,
Plot 1101, Muhammadu Buhari Way,
Central Business District
Abuja, FCT

Mr. President,

REFUND OF THE SUM OF N100,000.00K TRANSFERRED TO MY
ACCOUNT BY THE NATIONAL SECRETARIAT.

Permit me sir, to use this medium to congratulate you on your recent assumption of office as the President of our noble association, the Nigerian Bar Association, the foremost, the biggest and the noblest of all professional associations not only in Nigeria but in Africa.

Mr President, I woke on Sunday 28th day of August, 2022 to receive an alert of the sum of N100,000.00k (One Hundred Thousand Naira only) from the Nigerian Bar Association which was described in the narration as “accommodation”.

Sir, I am sure this payment to my account was in fulfilment of the promise of the immediate past President, Mr Olumide Akpata, to reimburse Chairmen and Secretaries of Branches for accommodation expenses incurred during the just concluded AGC.

Initially, I had no objection to this gesture as it is customary of the National body to provide hotel accommodation for Branch Chairmen and Secretaries during NEC meetings, so I forwarded my account details as requested and in anticipation of receiving this money.

However, in view of the recent happenings at the Bar starting with the kill-the-chicken-and-break-the-egg handling of the issue involving our revered Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN’s Law Firm, the purported illegal suspension of the immediate Past General Secretary of the association, Mrs Joyce Oduah, which culminated in a Federal High Court lampooning the National Executive Council (of which I was a member until last week when my tenure expired as Chairman, Akure Branch) for the shoddy manner it handled the matter and the very ugly incident during the recently concluded AGC which portrayed our very noble association in very bad light before the whole world due largely to the very poor and selfish planning by the nepotically selected Technical Committee on Conference Planning, TCCP, of this year Conference, I have decided that I cannot in good conscience keep and/or expend this money for my personal benefit.

Aside the above, I have been attending Bar Conferences since year 2002, one year after I was called to the Bar and I have self-funded myself to attend conferences all these years and the 2022 Bar Conference should not be an exception just because of my privileged position as a Branch Chairman.

It is on the above premises, that I therefore humbly request Mr. President to instruct the National Treasurer to kindly forward the Association’s account details to me with a view to refunding the money quickly to the Association’s coffers. IN THE ALTERNATIVE if I have Mr President’s approval I can pay the money into my Branch account for the benefit of my Branch and I will forward the teller to the National Secretariat.

If however I do not receive any response from the national body as herein requested within the next 14 working days of the receipt of this letter by you sir, I shall draw a Bank Draft in this sum and send same to the President via this same medium.

While I thank and appreciate the immediate past administration led by Mr Olumide Akpata, who I hold and continue to hold in very high esteem, for this harmless gesture of reimbursing my accommodation expenses during the AGC, my conscience will not know rest if I accept the payment.

I once again congratulate the President and members of the new National Executive Committee and wish you all a successful tenure of office.

Thank you.

Yours very sincerely,

Rotimi Olorunfemi Esq.
Immediate Past Chairman NBA, Akure.

To join our Telegram platform, please click here 

COPYRIGHT 2022 CITY LAWYER. Please send emails to citylawyermag@gmail.com. Join us on Facebook at https://web.facebook.com/City-Lawyer-Magazine-434937936684320 and on TWITTER at https://twitter.com/CityLawyerMag. To ADVERTISE in CITY LAWYER, please email citylawyermag@gmail.com or call 08138380083. All materials available on this Website are protected by copyright, trade mark and other proprietary and intellectual property laws. You may not use any of our intellectual property rights without our express written consent or attribution to www.citylawyermag.com. However, you are permitted to print or save to your individual PC, tablet or storage extracts from this Website for your own personal non-commercial use.

TCCP-AGC UNVEILS ‘WHOVA’ AS CONFERENCE APP

All registered attendees can download the Whova Mobile App or Access It From the Web Platform on the Desktop:

-View the Conference agenda and plan your personal schedule

-Access live streaming directly within sessions and utilize the session Q&A to ask questions

-Set up in-person/virtual meet-ups with other attendees to connect and network

-Create and converse through various relevant Discussion Topics in the Community Board

-Receive updates such as last-minute session changes from the organizers

look-out for onboarding email from Organizers and follow the download instructions

After downloading, attendees are to use their registered email address to sign up.

For question or challenges, please send a message on WhatsApp this number +234 811 598 4575
WhatsApp Only

To join our Telegram platform, please click here 

COPYRIGHT 2022 CITY LAWYER. Please send emails to citylawyermag@gmail.com. Join us on Facebook at https://web.facebook.com/City-Lawyer-Magazine-434937936684320 and on TWITTER at https://twitter.com/CityLawyerMag. To ADVERTISE in CITY LAWYER, please email citylawyermag@gmail.com or call 08138380083. All materials available on this Website are protected by copyright, trade mark and other proprietary and intellectual property laws. You may not use any of our intellectual property rights without our express written consent or attribution to www.citylawyermag.com. However, you are permitted to print or save to your individual PC, tablet or storage extracts from this Website for your own personal non-commercial use.

‘WHERE TO COLLECT CONFAB MATERIALS,’ BY TCCP

The Technical Committee on Conference Planning (TCCP) for the 2022 Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Annual General Conference in Lagos has released updates on the collection of conference materials.

According to the statement made available to CITY LAWYER: “Collection of conference materials by delegates will commence on Friday, 19 August 2022 at 4pm and end on Tuesday, 23 August 2022 at 6pm.

“ Delegates who are attending in-person may pick up their conference materials at the designated point at the Registration Tent of the Conference Venue at Eko Atlantic on the following days;

“ Friday, 19th August 2022 (4pm-10pm);
Saturday, 20th August 2022 (9am-10pm);
Sunday, 21st August 2022 (9am -10pm);
Monday, 22nd August 2022 (8am-10pm);
Tuesday, 23rd August 2022 (8am-6pm).

“Delegates who are participating virtually will receive electronic conference bags (“E-bags) which will be sent to their AGC registration email before the opening ceremony.” 

Click to here to download the full location details.

To join our Telegram platform, please click here 

COPYRIGHT 2022 CITY LAWYER. Please send emails to citylawyermag@gmail.com. Join us on Facebook at https://web.facebook.com/City-Lawyer-Magazine-434937936684320 and on TWITTER at https://twitter.com/CityLawyerMag. To ADVERTISE in CITY LAWYER, please email citylawyermag@gmail.com or call 08138380083. All materials available on this Website are protected by copyright, trade mark and other proprietary and intellectual property laws. You may not use any of our intellectual property rights without our express written consent or attribution to www.citylawyermag.com. However, you are permitted to print or save to your individual PC, tablet or storage extracts from this Website for your own personal non-commercial use.

TCCP SET TO HOLD GROUND-BREAKING NBA-AGC

Preparations are in top gear for the 62nd Nigerian Bar Association Annual General Conference (NBAAGC) themed “Bold Transitions”. In a matter of days, lawyers from all corners of Nigeria will converge on the audacious Eko Atlantic City in Lagos for the annual conference that has over the years been known to be the largest gathering of lawyers anywhere in the world.

As the August 19th date for the commencement of the conference draws close, and with the Technical Committee on Conference Planning (TCCP) having unveiled the various conference activities, indications are emerging that the Olumide Akpata-led NBA administration is on course to deliver a legacy conference that sets a standard that will become a benchmark for subsequent NBA conferences.

Tobenna Erojikwe, the TCCP Chairman, had earlier said the core objective of the NBAAGC 2022 is “to host a world-class conference, with in-depth discourse on critical issues affecting the legal profession and the country, facilitated by the most eminently qualified resource persons able to galvanize all conference attendees towards the path of becoming better legal practitioners and experts in their chosen fields; shape public opinion on critical issues; and inspire lawyers to build the law firms of the future”.

So far, the activities lined up for the 2022 Annual General Conference are generating a high level of interest and enthusiasm among lawyers. One exciting event for many lawyers who have registered for the conference is the Presidential Candidates’ session, where the candidates of the major political parties in the 2023 presidential elections are expected to speak on “Democratic Transitions in 21st Century Nigeria: 2023 and Beyond”. Already, the TCCP has confirmed that two of the four leading candidates, Atiku Abubakar of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and Peter Obi of Labour Party (LP), have given their word that they would be present, while Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) are yet to confirm their availability.

Underscoring the importance of the Presidential Candidates’ plenary, a first in the history of the NBA AGC, the TCCP said it would present an opportunity to critically assess Nigeria’s democratic journey since 1999, identify key challenges which have perennially bedeviled the polity, and evaluate sustainable solutions to these challenges. The session will also aim at encouraging greater citizen participation in the governance of Nigeria with lawyers playing a leading role.

“With the poor state of our economy, mounting insecurity, comatose education system, decaying infrastructure, persistent inter-ethnic crises and general high cost of living, the 2023 elections may be a watershed moment for Nigeria. This session will provide a platform for the key presidential candidates in the 2023 elections to give insights on their respective roadmaps for addressing Nigeria’s key challenges and leading Nigeria’s next democratic transition,” Erojikwe said.

Many prospective participants are also looking forward to the Keynote Speech by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, author of Purple Hibiscus, Half of a Yellow Sun, Americanah, and several other works. The multiple award-winning author who has delivered two landmark TED talks – her 2009 TED Talk “The Danger of A Single Story” and her 2012 TEDx Euston Talk “We Should All Be Feminists” – will be speaking at the opening ceremony of the conference.

For some others, the attraction comes from the topics lined up for discussion at the sessions. These include, among others, “AfCFTA: Nigerian Lawyers’ Capacity to Service a Globalized Economy”; “Building a Respectable Bar: Issues Arising on the Regulation of the Legal Profession in Nigeria”; “The Fit for Purpose Lawyer: Reflections on the State of Legal Education in Nigeria”; “Legal Ethics and Etiquettes: Restoring the Dignity of the Legal Profession in Nigeria”; “Lawyers’ Earning Capacity: A Discussion on the NBA Remuneration Committee Report”; “Technology and the Law: Creating a Digital NBA”; and “Spotlight on Brutality, Abuse of Office and Harassment of Lawyers by Security Agencies”.

The Meta session, where Meta, owners of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, will lead the conversation on the topic “Towards an Effective Privacy and Data Protection Regime: The Role of the Nigerian Lawyer”, is also another attraction. Of course, many see the Meta collaboration with NBA, for a conference themed “Bold Transitions”, as significant. Meta, one of the world’s most valuable companies which is considered among the Big Five American information technology companies, builds technologies that help people connect, find communities, and grow businesses. Its Facebook, launched in 2004, heralded a bold transition as it changed the way people connect, while apps like Messenger, Instagram and WhatsApp further empowered billions around the world.

NBA branches as well as football lovers are looking forward to the NBA-AGC Male and Female Football Competitions slated to hold between Thursday, 18th August and Tuesday, 23rd August 2022. The football competitions will see the winning team for both the male and female matches cart away a prize of not less than N500,000.

Among young lawyers, their excitement is built around the many activities lined up for them. For instance, there is the Young Lawyers’ Forum (Job Fair), where senior and vastly experienced legal professionals will provide insights and share their career experiences with young lawyers. The session, which is in tandem with a cardinal focus of the present NBA administration to improve the welfare, and career development, of young lawyers, will also identify diverse opportunities for young lawyers within the legal profession and explore practical tips and strategies for sustainable career growth and development.

But that is not all. There is the AGC Creative Talents Show, which seeks to support local talents among lawyers in Nigeria and give them a platform to showcase their talent at the forthcoming Annual General Conference. The AGC Creative Talents Show, with iLLBLISS, Nigerian rapper, businessman and owner of ‘The Goretti Company’, as its Creative Director, is seen as one capable of launching talented young lawyers into a successful career in the creative industry.

Young lawyers also have a chance to get a sponsored place at the AGC if they emerge victorious in a pitch contest where they are expected to express their understanding of the 2022 theme ‘Bold Transitions’ in a 250-word script accompanied with a video of their voicing these expressions.

But there are many other exciting sessions. The session on “Financing Your Practice and the NBA Access to Finance Scheme” will seek to create awareness and enlightenment on how the NBA Access to Finance Scheme, one of the most impactful initiatives and welfare agenda of the current NBA administration, operates and also provide practical tips and guidance to lawyers on managing their finances.

There is the Health and Wellbeing session, which will provide tips on how lawyers can achieve a decent work-life balance notwithstanding busy schedules and the demands of their jobs. The session will also examine habits which lawyers ought to inculcate and maintain to stay fit and healthy while on and off work, as well as provide useful tips and advice on how lawyers may deal with, or seek help for, depression and mental health challenges.

There is a session dedicated to lawyers with disabilities. This session will x-ray the peculiar challenges faced by lawyers with disabilities both in practice and as members of NBA, and proffer practical solutions towards achieving inclusiveness and equality.
And there is the attraction of the host city itself. Without a doubt, Lagos is the epicentre of Nigeria’s thriving technology sector, the country’s economic capital and the lifeblood of its civil society. But the attraction goes beyond Lagos itself. Eko Atlantic City, the venue of the conference, is a classic story of bold, innovative thinking. One of the world’s cutting-edge new cities, Eko Atlantic City stands on 10 million square metres of land reclaimed from the Atlantic Ocean and protected by the Great Wall of Lagos, an 8.5km-long sea wall constructed primarily of rock and faced with concrete accropode armour. The city, which is being developed to be self-sufficient and sustainable to meet the needs for financial, commercial, residential and tourist accommodations with infrastructure in line with modern and environmental standards, has been variously described as the new economic capital of Africa and Africa’s Manhattan, because it is planned to be the size of Manhattan’s skyscraper district.

To cushion the effect of rising cost, the TCCP went into an arrangement with NACO Logistics to ensure that delegates attending the 2022 NBA Annual General Conference get hotel accommodations at discounted rates.

With a few days to go, the TCCP, composed of a fine selection of some of the best minds within the NBA, is leaving no one in doubt that it is capable of meeting the target set for it by the present NBA administration – to organise a conference akin in quality of content and ambience to the World Economic Forum, the International Bar Association Conference and African Development Bank’s (AfDB) Conferences.

To join our Telegram platform, please click here 

COPYRIGHT 2022 CITY LAWYER. Please send emails to citylawyermag@gmail.com. Join us on Facebook at https://web.facebook.com/City-Lawyer-Magazine-434937936684320 and on TWITTER at https://twitter.com/CityLawyerMag. To ADVERTISE in CITY LAWYER, please email citylawyermag@gmail.com or call 08138380083. All materials available on this Website are protected by copyright, trade mark and other proprietary and intellectual property laws. You may not use any of our intellectual property rights without our express written consent or attribution to www.citylawyermag.com. However, you are permitted to print or save to your individual PC, tablet or storage extracts from this Website for your own personal non-commercial use.

NBA-AGC SOCCER: ‘WHY WE FIXED DIFFERENT PRIZES FOR MALE, FEMALE COMPETITIONS,’ BY TCCP

The Technical Committee on Conference Planning (TCCP) for the 2022 Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Annual General Conference has clarified the difference in the prize winnings for the male and female NBA inter-branch football competitions slated to hold between Thursday, 18th August and Tuesday, 23rd August 2022.

The TCCP said the clarification became necessary following the debate raging amongst lawyers, especially on social media, over the difference in the prizes for the victorious teams.

The TCCP had, in an earlier notice, announced N500,000 as the winning prize for the inter-branch male football competition and N200,000 for the female football competition.

This has, however, generated some tension among lawyers some of whom viewed it as discriminatory.

But offering explanation for the difference, the TCCP said the fixing of the prize winnings was dictated by prudence and realistic expectations as the sports events at the AGC were structured to fund themselves.

In a statement issued on Thursday and signed by Tobenna Erojikwe, its Chairman, the TCCP explained that the male football competition is viewed as totally distinct from the female football competition with completely different consideration, having been around for many years. On the other hand, the female football competition is being introduced for the very first time in the AGC to promote inclusiveness and expand the scope of activities at the AGC, the TCCP said.

“In providing sports activities as part of the AGC, the TCCP exercises prudence in the management of funds as such sports, if not fully funded by itself or sponsored by third parties, have to be subsidised by the NBA,” Erojikwe said in the statement with the subject”Prizes for NBA Inter-branch Female Football Competition”.

“The male football competition has been a regular feature of the NBA over the years and so it is much easier to project income derivable from the competition. For instance, last year, a total of 16 male football teams registered for the male football competition with N1,600,000 received as registration fees,” he said.

The TCCP Chairman said considering the novelty of the female football competition, it was difficult to project the amount that could be generated from it.

Therefore, in order to arrive at an informed view of the prize for the winner of the female football competition, the TCCP carried out an inquiry to determine the number of existing female football teams in the branches of the NBA.

“Our research suggested that there were only two established NBA female football teams in the country, and this informed the decision regarding the amount stated as prize for the competition,” he said.

Erojikwe said the only way the prize winnings for the female football competition could be increased was to raise the registration fees payable by branches, which the TCCP does not consider a feasible option at this time.

“The above considerations led to the decision to fix the above referenced prize winnings for the different competitions. We also deem it necessary to add that the decision to introduce female football as part of the sports events at the AGC is an important development which the TCCP is committed to having entrenched at future AGCs,” he said.

He, however, assured that the TCCP was actively seeking sponsorship for the female football competition and would raise the prize winning as soon as such sponsorship materialised. He pledged that the TCCP would dedicate every amount received as sponsorship and registration fee for the female football competition to the prize money.

“We hope that the above explanation provides context and clarification regarding the subject. We would please ask that the level of interest that has been shown regarding the female football is sustained through the conference and that we make it a competition that we can all look forward to every year,” Erojikwe said.

To join our Telegram platform, please click here 

COPYRIGHT 2022 CITY LAWYER. Please send emails to citylawyermag@gmail.com. Join us on Facebook at https://web.facebook.com/City-Lawyer-Magazine-434937936684320 and on TWITTER at https://twitter.com/CityLawyerMag. To ADVERTISE in CITY LAWYER, please email citylawyermag@gmail.com or call 08138380083. All materials available on this Website are protected by copyright, trade mark and other proprietary and intellectual property laws. You may not use any of our intellectual property rights without our express written consent or attribution to www.citylawyermag.com. However, you are permitted to print or save to your individual PC, tablet or storage extracts from this Website for your own personal non-commercial use.

‘WHY WE CHOSE CHIMAMANDA ADICHIE AS AGC 2022 KEYNOTE SPEAKER’ – TCCP

AGC 2022 Keynote Speaker: Our Bold Choice

It is no longer news that renowned author, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is the Keynote Speaker at the 62nd Nigerian Bar Association Annual General Conference coming up in Lagos in August.

The choice of Adichie as Keynote Speaker at a conference themed “Bold Transitions”, which connotes a transition to a more vibrant, dynamic, and vivacious future, is apt.

It is even more so coming during an NBA administration that has shown leadership in a dynamic and fast-changing world. Ms Adichie, author of many books, is a world renowned thought leader whose opinions on key global issues are highly respected.

Her novel, “Half of a Yellow Sun” published in 2006, made it to New York Times’s “100 Most Notable Books of the Year” in 2007 and has since sold over 5 million copies. While her 2012 TEDx Euston talk, sparked a worldwide conversation, was published as a book in 2014 and featured in Beyonce’s song “Flawless”.

The choice of Ms Adichie also fits into the aspiration of the NBA President to make the 2022 AGC a legacy conference that sets a standard that will become a benchmark for subsequent conferences of the NBA.

To join our Telegram platform, please click here 

COPYRIGHT 2022 CITY LAWYER. Please send emails to citylawyermag@gmail.com. Join us on Facebook at https://web.facebook.com/City-Lawyer-Magazine-434937936684320 and on TWITTER at https://twitter.com/CityLawyerMag. To ADVERTISE in CITY LAWYER, please email citylawyermag@gmail.com or call 08138380083. All materials available on this Website are protected by copyright, trade mark and other proprietary and intellectual property laws. You may not use any of our intellectual property rights without our express written consent or attribution to www.citylawyermag.com. However, you are permitted to print or save to your individual PC, tablet or storage extracts from this Website for your own personal non-commercial use.

TCCP UNVEILS HELP LINES FOR NBA AGC 2022

Registration has commenced for the 2022 Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) holding in Lagos in August.

According to Mr. Tobenna Erojikwe, Chairman, Technical Committee on Conference Planning (TCCP), registration for the conference opened on 12th June with an early bird registration window and participants would be able to register for either physical attendance or virtual attendance at www.nbaconference.com.

The conference is scheduled to hold at the Eko Atlantic City, Victoria Island, Lagos from 19th to 26th August, 2022 with the theme “Bold Transitions”. Renowned Nigerian author, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, will be the Keynote Speaker.

The committee has also released help lines for prospective participants who may have challenges in registration for the usually sold-out conference.

To join our Telegram platform, please click here 

COPYRIGHT 2022 CITY LAWYER. Please send emails to citylawyermag@gmail.com. Join us on Facebook at https://web.facebook.com/City-Lawyer-Magazine-434937936684320 and on TWITTER at https://twitter.com/CityLawyerMag. To ADVERTISE in CITY LAWYER, please email citylawyermag@gmail.com or call 08138380083. All materials available on this Website are protected by copyright, trade mark and other proprietary and intellectual property laws. You may not use any of our intellectual property rights without our express written consent or attribution to www.citylawyermag.com. However, you are permitted to print or save to your individual PC, tablet or storage extracts from this Website for your own personal non-commercial use.

NBA AGC 2022: TCCP SLASHES FEES, KICKS OFF REGISTRATION

Registration has commenced for the 2022 Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) holding in Lagos in August.

The Technical Committee on Conference Planning (TCCP) for the 2022 Annual General Conference (AGC) announced this in a statement issued on Sunday, 12th June, 2022.

Tobenna Erojikwe, Chairman, Technical Committee on Conference Planning (TCCP), said that registration for the conference opened on 12th June with an early bird registration window and that participants would be able to register for either physical attendance or virtual attendance at www.nbaconference.com.

The conference is scheduled to hold at the Eko Atlantic City, Victoria Island, Lagos from 19th to 26th August, 2022 with the theme “Bold Transitions”. Renowned Nigerian author, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, will be the Keynote Speaker.

According to the statement by the TCCP, early bird registration for the conference will run from 12th June to 17th July, while regular registration will start on 18th July and end on 5th August, 2022. Late registration will run between 6th and 12th August, 2022, while registration for virtual attendance will be on an ongoing basis.

“The core objective of the 62nd edition of the NBA Annual General Conference is to host a world-class conference, with in-depth discourse on critical issues affecting the legal profession and the country, facilitated by the most eminently qualified resource persons able to galvanize all conference attendees towards the path of becoming better legal practitioners and experts in their chosen fields; shape public opinion on critical issues; and inspire lawyers to build the law firms of the future,” Erojikwe said.

The registration fees are broken down according to categories. There has also been a significant reduction in the fees for virtual attendance compared to 2021.

Lawyers in the category of 1-5 years of practice will pay N15,000 for early bird registration, N40,000 regular registration, N80,000 for late registration, and N5,000 for virtual attendance as against N7,500 charged last year.

Lawyers within the 6-10 years category will register with N22,000 for early bird, N60,000 for regular, N120,000 for late registration, and N10,000 if they want to participate virtually compared to N11,250 they paid for virtual participation last year.

Lawyers who have practiced between 11-15 years will pay N36,000 registration fee if they make use of the early bird window, N70,000 for regular registration, N140,000 for late registration, and N15,000 for virtual attendance, N3,000 less than the N18,000 they were charged last year.

For lawyers between 16-20 years, the cost is N54,000 for early bird, N80,000 for regular, N180,000 for late registration, and N20,000 for virtual registration compared to N27,000 paid in 2021.

Lawyers who have more than 20 years of practice will pay N95,000 if they come as early bird, N150,000 for regular, N300,000 for late registration, and N30,000 for virtual attendance, a whopping N17,500 reduction from what it cost them to attend virtually in 2021.

Senior Advocates of Nigeria, Attorneys General, and Benchers will pay N190,000 early bird, N300,000 regular, N500,000 late registration, and N50,000 for virtual participation, N45,000 less than the N95,000 they paid last year.

It will cost Magistrates and other Judicial Officers N50,000 to register if they use the early bird window, N50,000 regular, N50,000 late registration, and N20,000 for virtual attendance compared to N25,000 for last year.

Honourable Justices, Honourable Judges, Grand Khadis and Khadis will pay N75,000 registration whether they come as early bird, regular registration or late registration. However, if they wish to participate virtually, the cost is N25,000 instead of N37,500 they paid in 2021.

For non-lawyers who want to attend the conference, the fee is N100,000 irrespective of whether it is early bird, regular or late registration. If they want to register to attend virtually, the fee is N30,000, N20,000 less than last year’s fee.

International Delegates will pay a fee of $300 for either early bird, regular or late registration, but $100 for virtual attendance, $50 less than last year’s fee.

“The AGC will bring together thought leaders in the areas of justice delivery, technology, economy, politics, judicial reforms, human rights, and rule of law. The aim is to have leading lawyers and thought leaders in the various fields to discuss and harmonise positions on the way forward on building a more effective Bar and a resilient country able to thrive amidst changing global dynamics,” Erojikwe said.

NBA Conference

To join our Telegram platform, please click here 

COPYRIGHT 2022 CITY LAWYER. Please send emails to citylawyermag@gmail.com. Join us on Facebook at https://web.facebook.com/City-Lawyer-Magazine-434937936684320 and on TWITTER at https://twitter.com/CityLawyerMag. To ADVERTISE in CITY LAWYER, please email citylawyermag@gmail.com or call 08138380083. All materials available on this Website are protected by copyright, trade mark and other proprietary and intellectual property laws. You may not use any of our intellectual property rights without our express written consent or attribution to www.citylawyermag.com. However, you are permitted to print or save to your individual PC, tablet or storage extracts from this Website for your own personal non-commercial use.

  • EDITOR'S CHOICE
  • Feb 06, 2022
  • 0
  • Comments Off on TOBENNA EROJIKWE AND QUEST FOR ‘WORLD-CLASS’ AGC 2022

TOBENNA EROJIKWE AND QUEST FOR ‘WORLD-CLASS’ AGC 2022

The appointment of Mr. Tobenna Erojikwe as Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Technical Committee on Conference Planning (TCCP) for the 2022 Annual General Conference may have come to many NBA watchers as a surprise.

Announcing the establishment of the TCCP, Akpata had said: “As we approach the twilight of the current administration of the NBA, it is important that we begin early preparations for the next NBA-AGC, during which I and other serving national officers of the NBA will hand over to a newly elected administration. To this end, I am writing to announce the constitution of the Technical Committee on Conference Planning (TCCP) for the 2022 NBA-AGC.” He added that the committee “is tasked with the responsibility of delivering a world class NBA-AGC in August 2022.”

Save for his foray into NBA Lagos Branch affairs where, as a two-term Chairman, Erojikwe successfully led the Continuing Legal Education & Mentorship Committee (later Continuing Professional Development Committee) of the Branch, Erojikwe is not reckoned as your typical “Bar Man” of yore.

All that seemed to have changed especially with his role as the anchor for NBA President Olumide Akpata’s frenzied quest to lead the Bar. Erojikwe once described Akpata as a “Transformational Servant Leader and the number 1 Change Agent.” That Erojikwe and his team delivered on the task is in full public glare. CITY LAWYER investigation shows that Erojikwe has since become one of the President’s Men, a most trusted and valued aide and confidant.

Reckoned by many NBA watchers as the new-kid-on-the-block, Erojikwe’s performance since March 2021 as Chairman of the Governing Board of Institute of Continuing Legal Education (NBA-ICLE) has cemented his rising profile as a Bar Leader to watch. The revamped NBA-ICLE has under his leadership hosted several capacity building trainings for lawyers at zero cost, including the 16-Day Introductory Training on Energy Law and Policy For Lawyers; 8-Day Civil Litigation Training; Introduction to Intellectual Property Rights; Media and Technology Law Practice; Practical Insights into the Nigerian Tax System; Legal Aspects of Finance: Overview, Issues & Documentation, and more recently, another training on Entertainment Law (Entertainment Law Series: The media and entertainment ecosystem – A global legal perspective) delivered by a faculty from the United States law firm of Akin Gump Strauss and Feld.

CITY LAWYER recalls that Erojikwe had, as Chairman of NBA Lagos Branch Continuing Professional Development Committee, anchored the NBA Section on Business Law (NBA/SBL) collaboration with the branch in setting up a Law Firm Mentorship Initiative. He was a member of NBA Lagos Branch Executive Committee and a member of the NBA National Executive Committee (NBA-NEC).

And to think that his foray into NBA affairs essentially started with a request to help develop and implement a strategy for a new direction for NBA Lagos Branch then under the leadership of Mr. Chukwuka Ikwuazom, SAN as well as an invitation by Akpata to co-ordinate the Entertainment Law segment (tagged an ‘Evening with RMD’) of the 2016 NBA/ SBL Conference.

Erojikwe is a Partner in the fast rising law firm of The Law Crest (TLC). He heads the firm’s Finance and Energy Practice Group. He is admitted to practise in Nigeria and in England and Wales. He is reputed to have had “significant practice experience” in both jurisdictions.

His core areas of practice are energy and natural resources; corporate finance; project finance; public-private partnerships, and mergers and acquisitions. He has been involved in most of the firm’s energy and natural resources transactions. Recent transactions in this area include advising the borrower in a US$450 million financing in respect of a participating interest in an oil mining lease, and advising the acquirer in the acquisition of a major oil servicing company as part of an offshore takeover of the parent company. He currently leads the team advising the acquirer in a US$600 million debt restructuring and acquisition for a major oil and gas company in Nigeria.

Erojikwe has also done significant work in project finance and public private partnerships in Nigeria and worked on various ground breaking project finance and public private partnership initiatives when he worked as Legal Adviser to the London Borough of Barnet on Urban Regeneration Projects.

A member of the Law Society of England and Wales, Erojikwe has, in the course of his career, facilitated training courses accredited by the Law Society of England and Wales which focus on infrastructure development and urban law.

Erojikwe obtained a bachelor’s degree in Law (LLB) from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka and was admitted to the Nigerian Bar in 2000. He was also admitted as a solicitor of the senior courts of England and Wales in 2005. He holds a Master of Laws (LL. M.) degree in Corporate Finance Law from the University of Westminster. In 2020, Who is Who Legal (WWL) described him as an “excellent” lawyer who draws praise from his “wealth of experience” and “great understanding” of the energy sector.

Other members of the TCCP are Ronke Adeyemi; Mustapha Imam; Olumide Babalola; Inemisit Dike (Secretary); Blessing Udofia-Poromon; Orji Uka; Ada Obinna Edozie; Rotimi Ogunyemi; Jonathan Agbo; Nta Ekpiken; and Omobayode Okelola

Ex-Officio members include Chief Ferdinand Orbih SAN, Chairman NBA- SLP; Mr. Ayuli Jemide, Chairman NBA – SBL; Dr. Monday Ubani, Chairman, NBA–SPIDEL; Prof. Oluyemisi Bamgbose SAN, Chairperson, NBA Women Forum, and Mr. Tobi Adebowale, Chairman, NBA Young Lawyers Forum.

Copyright 2022 CITY LAWYER. Please send emails to citylawyermag@gmail.com. Join us on Facebook at https://web.facebook.com/City-Lawyer-Magazine-434937936684320 and on TWITTER at https://twitter.com/CityLawyerMag. To ADVERTISE in CITY LAWYER, please email citylawyermag@gmail.com or call 08138380083. All materials available on this Website are protected by copyright, trade mark and other proprietary and intellectual property laws. You may not use any of our intellectual property rights without our express written consent or attribution to www.citylawyermag.com. However, you are permitted to print or save to your individual PC, tablet or storage extracts from this Website for your own personal non-commercial use.

  • EDITOR'S CHOICE
  • Jun 28, 2021
  • 0
  • Comments Off on AGC FEES: NBA-NEC COMMUNIQUE CONFIRMS CITY LAWYER REPORT

AGC FEES: NBA-NEC COMMUNIQUE CONFIRMS CITY LAWYER REPORT

The controversy over the schedule of registration fees to be charged at this year’s Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Annual General Conference may have been laid to rest following release of the communique for the last quarterly meeting of NBA National Executive Committee.

Though CITY LAWYER had in an exclusive report stated that “young lawyers will pay N80,000 for in-person attendance at the conference should they fail to register via the early bird and regular windows,” NBA had issued a Press Release describing the report as “misinformation” and urging stakeholders to disregard it.

In the statement issued by the Publicity Secretary, Dr. Rapulu Nduka, NBA said: “The attention of the leadership of the Nigerian Bar Association has been drawn to the misinformation making the rounds with regards to the Annual General Conference 2021 registration fees.

“We urge members to disregard the said publication as the Technical Committee on Conference Planning will release the appropriate registration fees in due time.”

But the communiqué issued today by the NBA has validated the CITY LAWYER report, stating that “NEC further adopts the proposal of the TCCP that the 2019 conference registration fees be retained for the 2021 conference notwithstanding inflation and increased costs of goods and services.”

It is recalled that the 2019 Technical Committee on Conference Planning (TCCP) had in a Press Release stated that lawyers who are 1-5 years post-call would pay N15,000 and N40,000 respectively during the Early Bird and Regular windows while late registration would attract N80,000.

The communiqué also confirmed that the annual conference would be held during the last week of October in Port Harcourt, saying: “Taking into consideration the uncertainties, delays and other challenges occasioned by the Covid-19 pandemic and other matters, NEC ratifies the proposal of the Technical Committee on Conference Planning (TCCP) that the 2021 Annual General Conference be held in the last week of October 2021 in Port Harcourt, Rives State.

“NEC approves the proposal of the TCCP that the conference be held both physically and virtually. NEC urges NBA President and the TCCP to interface with Rivers State Government and other relevant authorities to ensure a Covid-19 compliant environment for the physical conference and to ensure that the access roads to the conference location, and other necessary logistics of hosting a stress-free conference in the State are created.”

The NBA-NEC also took other far-reaching decisions on the suspension of Twitter operations in Nigeria, the conduct of “certain lawyers serving in the FGN” who fail to advise the government appropriately, increasing spate of insecurity in the polity, attacks on public assets, reported extra-judicial killings of citizens alleged to be associated with secessionist movements, the “inordinate delay in the issuance of enrolment numbers to new lawyers by the Supreme Court of Nigeria,” and encroachment of non-lawyers into the legal space, among others.

Below is the full text of the communiqué.

COMMUNIQUE ISSUED AT THE END OF THE QUARTERLY MEETING OF THE NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE NIGERIAN BAR ASSOCIATION HELD ON THURSDAY 24TH DAY OF JUNE 2021 AT THE NBA NATIONAL SECRETARIAT, ABUJA FCT

1.0. INTRODUCTION

1.1. The Nigerian Bar Association (“NBA”) held her 2nd National Executive Committee (“NEC”) meeting of 2021 on 24th June 2021 at the National Secretariat of the NBA.

1.2. Several issues were discussed including the recently suspended industrial action by Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (“JUSUN”); the shrinking of the civic space through recent actions and policies of the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN); the State of the Nation including the deteriorating state of national security; the protracted crises within the Abuja Branch of the NBA; the welfare of lawyers; scale of charges and remuneration in the legal profession; the harassment of lawyers in the course of practicing their vocation; the incursion of the legal services space by non-lawyers; and other matters of interest to the NBA, in particular, and the society at large.

2.0. RESOLUTIONS

At the end of the extended deliberations, the following resolutions, among others, were reached:

STATE OF THE NATION

Judiciary and Administration of Justice

2.01 NEC observes the festering situation in the Gombe State Judiciary where the State Governor, Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya, continues the elongation of the tenure of the Acting Chief Judge against the recommendation of the National Judicial Council (NJC) to the effect that Justice Beatrice Iliya should be appointed and sworn in as the substantive Chief Judge of the State.

2.02 NEC resolves that NBA must make a very strong case to the Governor of Gombe State on the unconstitutionality of his actions and of any further extension of the tenure of the Acting Chief Judge, with a demand for the Governor to desist from such constitutional breach forthwith.

2.03 NEC further urges the NJC to take decisive action on the flagrant flouting of its directives, else it could be viewed as being complicit in the Governor’s disrespect for the rule of law.

2.04 NEC observes with displeasure that of the over 24 months’ salary being owed some Magistrates in Cross River State, only one month’s salary has been paid since the NBA’s intervention. NEC resolves that the Chairman of NBA Calabar must, on behalf of NEC, further engage with the Chief Judge of Cross-River State and other stakeholders, with a view to bringing the impasse to an end.

2.05 NEC commends the leadership of the NBA for the various roles it played in seeing that the protracted JUSUN strike was suspended. NEC, however, urges the NBA President to ensure that the terms of the Memorandum of Action signed by JUSUN and the Nigerian Governors’ Forum are respected so that the strike will not be reactivated.

Constriction of civic space

2.06 NEC notes with grave concern (a) recent actions and policies of the FGN that appear to constrict the civic space and limit constitutionally guaranteed rights of citizens in a democracy. In particular, NEC condemns the recent suspension of the micro blogging site, Twitter, by the FGN; and (b) the embargo placed by Nigerian Broadcasting Commission on broadcasters from using contents generated from Twitter. NEC considers both acts as veiled gagging of the media, and suppression of the civic space by the government.

2.07 NEC further notes that such actions by the FGN have the tendency of undermining Nigeria’s democracy and investment attractiveness especially as such acts and policies may, if not challenged, be extended to other platforms and avenues that are available to citizens to express their constitutionally guaranteed rights. Accordingly, NEC supports and ratifies the decision of the NBA President to challenge the constitutionality of the said policies and actions through the NBA Public Interest Litigation Committee.

2.08 NEC decries the conduct of certain lawyers serving in the FGN who fail to advise the government appropriately thereby leading to policies by the government which either flout the fundamental rights of citizens or have the tendency of bringing the profession to disrepute. To this end, NEC directs the NBA President to reach out to lawyers serving in the FGN on the need to properly advise and guide the government in accordance with the dictates of the Constitution and respect for fundamental rights and freedoms.

Increasing spate of insecurity

2.09 NEC strongly condemns the attacks on public assets such as INEC offices, police stations and military formations by the so-called unknown gunmen; the killing of law enforcement agencies and prominent citizens such as Ahmed Gulak and Justice Stanley Nnaji (Rtd.), amongst others. NEC further condemns the reported extra-judicial killings of citizens alleged to be associated with secessionist movements and demands that the government should deploy the carrot and stick approach in tackling the resurgent secessionist agitations so as not to exacerbate the crises.

2.10 NEC decries the worsening security situation in the Nigeria including the unabating insurgency, incessant abductions, unending crisis between herders and farmers, kidnappings and attacks on communities and individuals, and calls upon governments at all levels to take more proactive steps towards stemming this tide.

Lawsuit challenging elongation of IGP’s tenure

2.11 NEC rues the implications of the recent judgment of a Federal High Court which upheld the powers of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to elongate the tenure of the Inspector General of Police.

2.12 NEC notes the pendency of the lawsuit filed by the NBA through its Public Interest Litigation Committee on the same subject matter and urges the NBA to continue to conscientiously prosecute same through all levels of court in Nigeria as such is required to set a precedent for the future conducts and decisions of public office holders in similar circumstances.

STATE OF THE BAR

Enrollment Number for New Lawyers

2.13 NEC expresses deep concerns over the inordinate delay in the issuance of enrolment numbers to new lawyers by the Supreme Court of Nigeria. NEC accordingly urges the NBA President to continue to constantly liaise with the Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court of Nigeria with a review to ensuring that the affected new wigs are issued their enrolment numbers.

Scale of Charges and Remuneration of Lawyers

2.14 NEC approves the work being done by the NBA Remuneration Committee in developing a realistic and enforceable scale of charges for lawyers and in addressing the issue of poor remuneration amongst lawyers, and directs the leadership of the various branches of the NBA with similar initiatives to work with the NBA Remuneration Committee in developing a central and robust framework that will be acceptable to lawyers.

Encroachment of Non-Lawyers into the Legal Space

2.15 NEC decries the continued encroachment of non-lawyers (including corporate bodies and other institutions) into areas that are considered to be the preserve of legal practitioners through the offering of legal services, in many cases with the connivance or support of some lawyers.

2.16 NEC also notes, with concern, the increasing trend of lawyers who offer their services in a manner that is inconsistent with the rules or practice of the legal profession.

2.17 NEC further directs that:

(a) the NBA Disciplinary Committee should promptly investigate any complaints against lawyers (including in-house counsel and heads of legal departments) who undertake, advise on, participate in, or supervise the establishment or operation of schemes that purport to, or have the tendency of, unlawfully encroaching into areas of practice of lawyers or who undertake other similar acts that are inconsistent with rules and practice; and (b) the leadership of the NBA Section on Legal Practice to take more proactive steps to address some of the known cases of infraction and possibly prompt the commencement of criminal prosecution of the offenders.

2.18 NEC notes that certain laws in Nigeria require that the services of Nigerian lawyers must be retained in relation to certain matters, and accordingly directs the NBA President to engage with the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board and other relevant stakeholders with a view to ensuring that foreign and local investors retain indigenous legal practitioners and law firms for their legal services needs in the prescribed cases.

2.19 NEC charges the leadership of NBA Branches to be more pro-active and innovative in checking against sharp practices and other unethical practices by lawyers and court officials such as the use of affidavit to convey or transfer title over real property.

Harassment of Lawyers

2.20 NEC reviles the circumstances leading to the brutalization of the Chairman of the Makurdi Branch of the NBA by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on 8th June 2021.

2.21 NEC commends all the efforts taken by the NBA President thus far, in seeing that the officers involved in the act are disciplined by the EFCC, and further directs the NBA President to take the opportunity of the unfortunate Makurdi incident to finally put an end to the epidemic of brutalization and harassment of legal practitioners by law enforcement agencies in the discharge of the lawyer’s professional duties.

Attitude, language, and conduct of lawyers in public

2.22 NEC observes the deplorable and heightened trend of lawyers commenting in public fora on sensitive matters which are pending before the courts, and urges all lawyers to desist from this practice. NEC further observes that intemperate language is spreading among members of the Bar, both in dealings amongst lawyers and in dealings with the Bench. NEC deprecates such behavior and urges that disciplinary action be taken against lawyers who indulge in such conducts and that reports for disciplinary action be made against members of the Bench who are also found wanting.

Annual General Conference

2.23 Taking into consideration the uncertainties, delays and other challenges occasioned by the Covid-19 pandemic and other matters, NEC ratifies the proposal of the Technical Committee on Conference Planning (TCCP) that the 2021 Annual General Conference be held in the last week of October 2021 in Port Harcourt, Rives State.

2.24 NEC approves the proposal of the TCCP that the conference be held both physically and virtually. NEC urges NBA President and the TCCP to interface with Rivers State Government and other relevant authorities to ensure a Covid-19 compliant environment for the physical conference and to ensure that the access roads to the conference location, and other necessary logistics of hosting a stress-free conference in the State are created.

2.25 NEC further adopts the proposal of the TCCP that the 2019 conference registration fees be retained for the 2021 conference notwithstanding inflation and increased costs of goods and services.

Reports of Standing and Ad-Hoc Committees

2.26 NEC approves the interim report of the following Standing and Ad-hoc Committees: (i) Constitution Review Committee; (ii) Welfare Committee; (iii) Human Rights Committee;

(iv) Digital Committee; (v) Legal Education Committee and (vi) Remuneration Committee.

2.27 NEC ratifies the appointment of six (6) Zonal Coordinators for the NBA Human Rights Committee which is aimed at ensuring easier coordination and facilitating the achievement of the mandate of the Committee.

NBA Abuja Branch Crisis

2.28 NBA President informs NEC that pursuant to the mandate given to him at the NEC meeting held in Uyo on the 18th of March 2021 to conclusively deal with the crisis in NBA Abuja Branch in the most expedient manner, he has decided to take the option of splitting the branch and will proceed to implement immediately and report back to NEC upon completion.

OTHER MATTERS
Resuscitation of Military and Paramilitary Fora

2.29 NEC resolves that the forum for lawyers in the armed forces and paramilitary should be resuscitated to reignite the interest of such members and to drive the discussions on issues affecting the Bar and the military and paramilitary agencies. NEC further mandates the NBA President set up the Governing Council of the fora for approval by NEC.

Establishment of New Fora

2.30 NEC approves the establishment of three new fora namely: (i) the Corporate Counsel Forum; (ii) the Law Officers Forum; and (iii) the Lawyers with Disability Forum, each to deal with issues concerning, and cater to the peculiar interests of, members who fall within these special interest groups and to engender diversity and inclusion in the affairs of the NBA. NEC further approves the membership of the Governing Council of the new fora as announced by the NBA President.

Young Lawyers Permanent Observers at NEC

2.31 In order to further engender inclusion, NEC approves that the appointment of 10 young lawyers as announced by the NBA President as Permanent Observers at all NEC meetings during the term of the current administration of the NBA, pending such time that the NBA Constitution is amended to allow for young lawyers to be appointed into NEC as members.

Ratifications

2.32 NEC ratifies: (a) the participation of lawyers in the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) and approves the partnership between the NBA and NHIS which will see lawyers and members of their families enjoy primary, secondary and tertiary health services at a deeply discounted rate of N15,000 per annum. NEC further ratifies that in order to test-run the scheme, NBA should pay the health cover premium for 1,000 eligible lawyers selected from across all branches of the NBA; and (b) the setting up of an NBA Help Desk within the CAC to address the service level issues being faced by lawyers pending such time that the current challenges at the CAC are holistically or satisfactorily dealt with.

Further information

Further information on the above resolutions, including details of other matters discussed, and resolutions passed, at the said NEC meeting can be found in the minutes of the NEC meeting which will be circulated to NEC members, a copy of which will be available for inspection at the NBA Secretariat from 1st July 2021.

Dated this 25th day June 2021

……………………………

OLUMIDE AKPATA
NBA PRESIDENT

………………………………..

JOYCE ODUAH
GENERAL SECRETARY

Copyright 2020 CITY LAWYER. Please send emails to citylawyermag@gmail.com. Join us on Facebook at https://web.facebook.com/City-Lawyer-Magazine-434937936684320 and on TWITTER at https://twitter.com/CityLawyerMag. To ADVERTISE in CITY LAWYER, please email citylawyermag@gmail.com or call 08138380083. All materials available on this Website are protected by copyright, trade mark and other proprietary and intellectual property laws. You may not use any of our intellectual property rights without our express written consent or attribution to www.citylawyermag.com. However, you are permitted to print or save to your individual PC, tablet or storage extracts from this Website for your own personal non-commercial use.

AGC Registration is Scandal-free, Says TCCP

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Technical Committee on Conference Planning (TCCP) has said that registration for this year’s Annual General Conference (AGC) has not witnessed any hitches so far.

Responding to a CITY LAWYER report that some lawyers may be attempting to circumvent the AGC payment system through proxy registration, several TCCP members decried the report as “misleading,” saying AGC registration is going on smoothly and has not witnessed any scandal.

Meanwhile, TCCP Co-Chairman, Mr. Olumide Akpata has said that the committee “will definitely be taking it (report) up.” An NBA official who telephoned CITY LAWYER earlier asked that the report should be pulled down. He also alleged ‘political bias’ against CITY LAWYER. This allegation against CITY LAWYER has been repeated by at least two other ranking TCCP officials.

Unleashing the first salvo of criticisms from TCCP members, Chairman of the AGC Media & Publicity Sub-Committee, Mr. Kunle Edun said in an online post: “Gentlemen, this publication is misleading and very unfair to members of the NBA and TCCP. We urge all bloggers particularly Citylawyermagazine of which Emeka Nwadioke Esq is the alter ego to always get their facts right before going to the press with sensational headlines.

“Registration is going on smoothly and there has been no interruptions (sic) so far. Certainly, there is no reported registration scam. It is just in the imagination of the publishers. Members are advised to ignore such publications.

“Contact numbers have been published and members are free to use the channel numbers to reach the TCCP for any information.”

In another post, Edun also claimed that the report was motivated by what he called “partisan interests,” adding: “Bad journalism and most unfortunate. We should not bring in partisan interests into a clearly professional matter.”

Some sources close to NBA House have occasionally criticized some legal bloggers as belonging to some camps or aligning especially to former NBA presidential candidates, alleging that such bloggers are yet to get over the recent NBA presidential elections.

On his part, Nigerian Law School teacher and TCCP member, Mr. Sylvester Udemezue said: “The news report is misleading and a propagation of falsehood. The headline doesn’t only shout, it shouts falsehood, capable of misleading unsuspecting members of the bar.

“I hope the news report isn’t a sponsored game to discredit the noble efforts of the TCCP for the 2019 NBA-AGC. We wouldn’t lie low and allow such jobless propagation of falsehood in place of truth. Responsible journalism requires that the reporter verifies every information (sic) received before going to town with the metal gong.”

Another TCCP member, Mr. Anthony Atata, said: “Brother, I have read this over and over again without sighting the scandal you are talking about. Kindly come down to my level and educate me accordingly.”

Responding in an online post, Akpata said: “This is simply irresponsible and unacceptable reporting and the TCCP will definitely be taking it up.” Akpata later telephoned CITY LAWYER and demanded a retraction and an apology relating to the report. He stated that a notice by the TCCP warning lawyers to abide by AGC registration guidelines does not amount to a “scandal.”

But a Bar Leader and ranking member of Ikeja Branch, Mr. Dan Okoye disagreed, saying: “I doubt if the substance can be described as false or misleading!! Can a lawyer called to bar 15 years ago use the tag of an unwilling junior who’s 3 years at bar? Is a registration transferable?”

He added: “Whatever happens, my humble advice to lawyers: you either register or ignore the Conference. Just plan to attend the AGM (courtesy NBA Ikeja Branch, 2012 AGC Protest) and other side attractions. Don’t gate crash, it’s demeaning.”

Another lawyer Nzeakor Atulomah posed several queries thus: “Is it not a greater scandal that the so-called TCCP imposes charges that regular members of the Bar find unaffordable and then try to circumvent? Is it not also such a great national shame that only two branches – Lagos and Abuja – can readily host NBA AGCs? Is that not telling of the state of our development as a nation?

“Why must there be AGC every year? To what purpose in particular? Why can it not hold once in two years? Is it not increasingly clear that the NBA is incrementally alienating itself from the lives of its most vulnerable members – the young counsel and distressed members? More questions than ever answers.”

The notice issued yesterday by Edun had stated as follows:
TCCP-2019 AGC NOTICE UPDATE

“We wish to advise intending conferees to register for the conference only with their correct personal and professional details: name and age at the bar are mandatory. The e-paymnt portal has inbuilt capacity that automatically detects wrong entries. We advise members to be very certain about their personal details when registering.

“Be further informed that TCCP has also made additional arrangement for a second security filter at the Conference venue for all Conferees. The devise shall be used at random by security officials assisted by TCCP officials for all Conferees before accessing the Conference venue. The purpose of this security arrangement are

a) to ensure that the entries in our data match with the details of the person presenting the access card.

b) as a cautionary additional security layer.

“It is therefore important that intending conferees enter their correct details when registering. REGISTRATION OR ATTENDANCE BY PROXY SHALL BE CONSIDERED AS A SERIOUS SECURITY AND A GROSS PROFESSIONAL MISCONDUCT.”

Please email us at citylawyermag@gmail.com.

Copyright 2018 CITY LAWYER. All materials available on this Website are protected by copyright, trade mark and other proprietary and intellectual property laws. You may not use any of our intellectual property rights without our express written consent or attribution to www.citylawyermag.com. However, you are permitted to print or save to your individual PC, tablet or storage extracts from this Website for your own personal non-commercial use.

UPDATED: AGC to Gulp N750 Million

The 2018 Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Annual General Conference (AGC) will cost the association a whopping N750 Million, CITY LAWYER can authoritatively report. Continue Reading