My Ernest Advice To Our New President Elect Of NBA.

Congratulations to our newly Elected NBA president, as He was sworn in on Friday, the 28th day of August,2020. As  the  30th president elect of Nigeria Bar Association.

During his inaugural speech, He announced that free NBA Seals will now accompany our Bar Practice Fees. 

This  direction made by the NBA President on inclusion of 2packs of NBA seal to accompany the payment of Bar practicing fee, is a welcome development and a good way to kick start a good administration, this will go a long way in unifying all  members of the Bar.

And I believe that if all things being equal,the lost glory and due adherence to the rule of law  will be rejuvenated.

However , Mr. President ,may it please you Sir to also take further and urgent steps in restoring back to life the decaying areas in our profession.

firstly Sir,  I urge you to look into the unimplementation and non regulatory issues of our statutory charges as contend in the legal practitioners act and that of Rpc, visa-vis to unifying the charges of legal practioners on legal documents, especially, the ten percent property charges mandated by the profession, which has turn out to be a laughing point by non lawyers who engage lawyers without prestige.many lawyers now carry out  transaction like market women,who will engage there customers in a long price debate as if we are now selling ogbono in the market.

Mr President should also treat as a matter of  urgency,the following instances and take adequate steps in solving same; 

*How can a lawyer charge twenty thousand naira  N20,000 on a land transaction of about three million  naira ,instead of the charging 10 percent of the purchase price ,about 300,000 naira, as prescribed in the legal practitioners act. The Estate surveyor and the Estate agents does not bend Conners on their charges, the 10 percent agent fee must be paid or else the Estate agents will bypass the transaction but this is not same on our own part. 

I suggest sir that we should adopt a position where a certain percentage goes to the NBA upon every transaction processed by the Bar.

*Many lawyers now sell their seal to non lawyers who now even carryout legal practioners duties themselves.

* Some court Clark's and  registrars of court now assume the duties of a legal practioners by  preparing and filing court processes and later give same to a lawyer to defend or prosecute in court. As against the rules of professional conduct.

*The corporate Affairs commission now make regulations that jettison the use of lawyers incorporate registration or practice. We all know that corporate practice is one of the areas in law, a lawyer can engage his practice on daily basis, but the it is gradually fading off, as non lawyers now do there things without engage a lawyer .

*Respectfully sir,There is need for more  innovation on productive areas a lawyer can engage his practice . I.e New practice areas and expanding the existing frontiers of law practice should be our focal point amongst other quality areas for the betterment of Bar.

* I urge sir to school call to other ,the security operatives in the country and engage them in a meeting to quashing this everyday molestation of lawyers ,who work Ernestly in representing there client so as to make  a living.

In furtherance to this advice, I wish to Welcome every member of the bar to a new era. Let's join hands and make our profession better, attractive and prosperous as a Noble, proficient and prestigious profession.  

Once again Congratulations to you sir on your inaugulation as the 30th president elect of the most prestigious Association in the world.

OCHILI Michael Esq.