• Latest
  • Trending
President: Why NBA shunned call to bar ceremony of 4,711 new lawyers

President: Why NBA shunned call to bar ceremony of 4,711 new lawyers

10 months ago
JUST IN: Tinubu nominates El-Rufai’s replacement for ministerial position

JUST IN: Tinubu nominates El-Rufai’s replacement for ministerial position

5 hours ago
Pregnant woman, two children tricycle rider killed as LASTMA official drags steering with motorist

Pregnant woman, two children tricycle rider killed as LASTMA official drags steering with motorist

5 hours ago
Security clearance: FG deregisters Ohanaeze, ACF, others

23-year-old lady who threatened suicide bombing over Kano guber judgement arrested by DSS

7 hours ago
Oyo to accredit real estate developers

Oyo holds leadership retreat for political office holders

8 hours ago
Fanfare as Yoruba youths celebrate Yoruba National Day

Fanfare as Yoruba youths celebrate Yoruba National Day

9 hours ago
Nigerian actress gets new title from Muslim community

Nigerian actress gets new title from Muslim community

10 hours ago
Palliative: Minister commences door-to-door verification of names on social register in Lagos

Palliative: Minister commences door-to-door verification of names on social register in Lagos

14 hours ago
Strike: Labour in ‘make or mar’ meeting with FG

BREAKING: Labour suspends planned indefinite strike for 30 days

22 hours ago
JUST IN: CSU finally releases Tinubu’s academic records to Atiku, authenticates certificate

JUST IN: CSU finally releases Tinubu’s academic records to Atiku, authenticates certificate

22 hours ago
Subsidy removal: NLC holds national protest February

JUST IN: Maritime union directs members to resume, says NLC strike cancelled

24 hours ago
Strike: Labour in ‘make or mar’ meeting with FG

Strike: Labour in ‘make or mar’ meeting with FG

1 day ago
Residents ask Makinde to declare state of emergency on Ibadan roads

Residents ask Makinde to declare state of emergency on Ibadan roads

1 day ago
Olubadan speaks on children’s allegations against younger brother, threatens to disown them

Olubadan speaks on children’s allegations against younger brother, threatens to disown them

1 day ago
EFCC uncovers fresh $72.8m linked to ex-petroleum minister

Alleged £100,000 bribery: Ex-petroleum minister, Diezani gets £70,000 bail in UK

1 day ago
Jubilation as  Osun community gets power supply after 91 years

Jubilation as Osun community gets power supply after 91 years

1 day ago
Election: Tinubu, Atiku shift legal battle to Chicago

Lawyer: Tinubu’s academic documents not useful in Atiku’s Supreme Court appeal

2 days ago
Nigeria @63: We must  build a country free from corruption, inequality, injustice- Adelabu

Nigeria @63: We must build a country free from corruption, inequality, injustice- Adelabu

2 days ago
Independence Day: No transformation comes without pains- Sen Akanbi

Independence Day: No transformation comes without pains- Sen Akanbi

2 days ago
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise
Tuesday, October 3, 2023
Newspeakonline
  • Home
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Technology
  • World
    • Africa
    • Americas
    • Asia
    • Europe
  • Opinion
  • Interview
  • Newspeak ExclusivesNew
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Technology
  • World
    • Africa
    • Americas
    • Asia
    • Europe
  • Opinion
  • Interview
  • Newspeak ExclusivesNew
No Result
View All Result
Newspeak
UBA
Home News

President: Why NBA shunned call to bar ceremony of 4,711 new lawyers

admin by admin
December 7, 2022
in News
Reading Time: 5 mins read
0
President: Why NBA shunned call to bar ceremony of 4,711 new lawyers
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on WhatsAppShare on Telegram

>

Akinwande Soji-Ojo

RelatedPosts

Senior advocate berates ex-NBA president, Agbakoba over comments on judiciary 

NBA flays Tinubu over comment,says only courts can determine what is ‘illegal’

NBA demands justice for Lagos lawyer killed by policeman

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), has explained why it boycotted the call to bar ceremony of 4,711 new lawyers that were admitted into the legal profession, on Tuesday.

In a statement signed by its National President, Mr. Yakubu Maikyau (SAN), the legal body said its decision to shun the ceremony, was based on the refusal of the Chairman of the Body of Benchers (BoB), Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), to resign from his position.

Maikyau said he had in a letter asked Olanipekun to step aside as leader of the BoB, following a claim by a leading partner in his chamber, Ms. Adekunbi Ogunde, that he influences judges to deliver favourable judgements for his clients, adding that he also copied the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Olukayode Ariwoola.

In view of the weighty nature of Ogunde’s claims and the negative impact it has on the overall image and integrity of the legal profession in the country, the NBA president said he asked Olanipekun to allow his Vice Chairman, Justice Mary Odili (Rtd) to preside over the call to bar ceremony scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday.

“In that letter, I requested the Chairman of the BoB to recuse himself from presiding over the Call to Bar Ceremony scheduled for 6 and 7 December 2022, for reasons clearly articulated therein.

“I sent the letter to the Chairman and all Benchers by email on 4 December 2022, I also submitted a hard copy of the letter on 5 December 2022 to the Secretary of the BoB along with one hundred and fifty (150) copies of the letter for circulation to all Benchers.

“It would be recalled that my predecessor-in-office had, on 22 July 2022, written to the Chairman of the BoB to recuse himself from office on the same grounds set out in my letter, but the Chairman refused to acknowledge the said letter nor bring it up for consideration more than 5 months since its delivery to the BoB.

“My present letter is to bring to attention the earlier call made by my predecessor and to emphasise the damage being done to the legal profession by reason of our collective silence over such devastating issue, with the expectation that the Chairman will see reason to show remorse and for the BoB to ask the Chairman to recuse himself knowing that no one is bigger than the legal profession.

“At the meeting of the BoB held on 5 December 2022, I drew the attention of the Chairman to my letter and called for deliberations on same since it directly impacts on the propriety of the Chairman presiding over the Call to Bar ceremony, but this was not done nor were the hard copies of the letter distributed to the Benchers.

“The meeting of the BoB was adjourned to January 2023, on a date to be fixed by the Chairman.

“In the circumstances therefore, having regard to my firm persuasion that the matters raised in my letter should have led the BoB to ask the Chairman to recuse himself in the interest of safeguarding the integrity of the Legal Profession, I am in good conscience unable to attend and participate in the Call to Bar Ceremony.

“The NBA under my leadership cannot be part of the ceremony superintended by the current Chairman of the BoB for all the reasons stated in my letter under reference.

“To do so will be to endorse, celebrate or condone a practice that I consider unwholesome and unprofessional, by virtue of the Rules of Professional Conduct for Legal Practitioners 2007.

“The NBA under my leadership remains committed to the protection of the integrity of the Bench and the Bar and will not shirk that responsibility.

“I assure all members of the NBA that the sole motivation for my letter to the BoB is my conviction on the need to salvage the image, reputation, and integrity of the legal profession in Nigeria, which has been negatively impacted by the email by Adekunbi Ogunde, a Partner in the Law Firm of the Chairman of the BoB.

“I congratulate our colleagues – the new wigs, for the great feat they have attained by fulfilling the requirements for joining the noble profession of Law.

“I pray that God Almighty will keep and preserve them as they contribute their quota in building the legal profession and the nation at large.

“The NBA remains committed to the protection of our legal space and shall spare no effort to stop any external incursions or actions amongst members that can destroy our dear profession of law.

“Be assured of our support and preparedness to provide sincere mentorship to you through colleagues who have distinguished themselves in various fields of legal practice and exhibited high regard for ethics and professionalism,” Maikayu added.

However, speaking that the call to bar ceremony on Tuesday, Olanipekun maintained that though the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) is under his chairmanship, he stressed that the committee operates independently and “not controlled in any way or manner by either the Body or its chairman.”

“Howbeit, may I caution that proceedings before the LPDC should not be politicised, sensationaliaed, publicised and advertised in advance or while the proceedings are ongoing by complainants for whatever reason howsoever, as so doing, negates the principle of fair hearing, which all lawyers subscribe to.

“This is apart from the fact that such steps might pre-empt and prejudice the proceedings band decisions of the LPDC,” he said.

Also speaking, the Director General of the Nigerian Law School, Prof. Isa Hayatu Chiroma (SAN) said the 4, 711 new lawyers that were admitted into the bar on Tuesday, met all the required conditions that were set by the Council of Legal Education.

The BoB is a statutory body that is responsible for the formal call to bar of persons seeking to become legal practitioners as well as disciplining of erring lawyers.Members of the body are categorised into Benchers and Life Benchers.

Related

What’s your Reaction?
Like
Like
0
Dislike
Dislike
0
Laugh
Laugh
0
Angry
Angry
0
Sad
Sad
0
Accurate
Accurate
0
0 Shares
Facebook Twitter WhatsApp Linkedin Messenger
×

Share this post!

Facebook Twitter WhatsApp Linkedin Messenger Telegram Tumblr
Tags: BoBNBAWole Olanipekun

Recent Posts

Pregnant woman, two children tricycle rider killed as LASTMA official drags steering with motorist

Pregnant woman, two children tricycle rider killed as LASTMA official drags steering with motorist

October 3, 2023
Security clearance: FG deregisters Ohanaeze, ACF, others

23-year-old lady who threatened suicide bombing over Kano guber judgement arrested by DSS

October 3, 2023
Fanfare as Yoruba youths celebrate Yoruba National Day

Fanfare as Yoruba youths celebrate Yoruba National Day

October 3, 2023
Palliative: Minister commences door-to-door verification of names on social register in Lagos

Palliative: Minister commences door-to-door verification of names on social register in Lagos

October 3, 2023
Strike: Labour in ‘make or mar’ meeting with FG

Strike: Labour in ‘make or mar’ meeting with FG

October 2, 2023
Residents ask Makinde to declare state of emergency on Ibadan roads

Residents ask Makinde to declare state of emergency on Ibadan roads

October 2, 2023
Olubadan speaks on children’s allegations against younger brother, threatens to disown them

Olubadan speaks on children’s allegations against younger brother, threatens to disown them

October 2, 2023
EFCC uncovers fresh $72.8m linked to ex-petroleum minister

Alleged £100,000 bribery: Ex-petroleum minister, Diezani gets £70,000 bail in UK

October 2, 2023
Next Post
PERFORMANCE TRACK: Hon Akin Alabi constructs, furnishes nine classrooms at St Paul Anglican Primary School, Olodo

PERFORMANCE TRACK: Hon Akin Alabi constructs, furnishes nine classrooms at St Paul Anglican Primary School, Olodo

Leave a ReplyCancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Newspeakonline

© 2023 Newspeak & Associates

Navigate Site

  • Breaking News
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Interview
  • Newpeak Magazine
  • Newspeak Exclusives
  • Politics

Follow Us

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Latest News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Technology
  • World
  • Opinion
  • Interview
  • Newspeak Exclusives

© 2023 Newspeak & Associates

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
Newspeak We would like to show you notifications for the latest news and updates.
Dismiss
Allow Notifications