*Constitutes Electoral Reforms Committee To Be Headed By Ayo Akintunde, SAN
*Calls For Unity In The Bar
*Promises To Improve Welfare Of Lawyers
*Pledges To Ensure The Continuation Of The NBA Members’ Life Assurance Scheme.
The President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Olumide Akpata, has called on lawyers to unite as the work ahead of the Association is enormous.
He said this during his inauguration as the new president of NBA on the 28th of August, 2020
Akpata, in his inaugural speech made available to TheNigeriaLawyer (TNL), said he considers it a great honour and privilege on the epochal 60th anniversary of the NBA, “to be sworn in as the 30th President of the foremost professional membership association in Nigeria and the most influential network of legal practitioners in Africa.”
He attributed his emergence as President of the Association to God “Anyone who keenly followed the process that culminated in today’s event can attest to the fact that my election victory was neither my making nor that of any mortal. It was divinely orchestrated by the Lord Almighty, the creator of the universe who oversees the affairs of men, and in whom we live, and move, and have our being. I return all the praise to Him. I say this as someone who has, on more than one occasion, stood at the throes of death, and survived. I am grateful for the gift of life and convinced God who sees the end from the beginning, preserved my life for a day like this.” Akpata said
He appreciated his family for their support and his English teacher at Kings College Lagos and Prof. Azinge, SAN, who taught him jurisprudence at University of Benin
“I acknowledge the role of my family and, in particular, my dad, Dr Henry Ogieva Akpata who turned 80 on 29 May 2020. It was my dad who, after getting over his initial disappointment that I was not going to take after him and study medicine, ultimately guided me towards making a career choice to study law and as they say, the rest is history. He is watching online as I speak, and I am grateful to God that he is alive and well to see this day. I cannot help but wish that my dear mother who passed on 28 years ago when I was in my final year at the University of Benin, was also here with us today. Her death pushed me more to excel and become who I am today, and I am confident that she is looking down from heaven and beaming with pride.
“It is often said that the reward of the teacher is in heaven. Permit me to buck the trend and place on record the role played by my teachers in shaping me into who I am today. Watching today is Mr. Clement Chukwudifu who taught me English Language at King’s College Lagos, and who was one of those who told me early on that I would end up becoming a lawyer. I also recognise Prof Epiphany Azinge, SAN who taught me Jurisprudence at the University of Benin and who has remained my friend and mentor. He has been one of my staunchest supporters throughout my career and was very much in my corner during the election. I use them as a point of contact to represent my other teachers.”
He appreciated first employer, Dr. Mudiaga Odje, SAN, OFR, of blessed memory, and his law firm “The last twenty-five years of my life have been devoted to building, with my Partners, our law firm, Templars. It is just the interesting irony of life to see the firm which I helped in building, grow to become my life and a support base for me. I must single out for special recognition, the Managing Partner of Templars, who also doubles as my big brother, Oghogho Akpata with whom I have worked together for the past twenty-five years. I am also deeply grateful to all my Partners in the firm and in particular, Wale Atake, SAN; Mr Godwin Omoaka, SAN; Chike Obianwu; Inam Wilson; Ijeoma Uju; Dayo Okusami and the rest of the Templars team who have not only been my colleagues and friends, but also my family and my support base. I am truly appreciative of the role they have played, and continue to play, in my life. Indeed, it was the Partners that gave me their blessing to embark on this journey and without them it would have been virtually impossible to even dream about this. The entire firm stood by me throughout the election period and in recognition of the magnitude of the job at hand, they gave me their blessing to embark on sabbatical for the next 24 months to focus on the job. I cannot thank them enough.” He said
Akpata extended his appreciations to his Campaign Team, the Director General of the campaign, Tobenna Erojikwde, the Directors Deputy, Desmond Ogba (Templars Partner), and Branch Coordinators from all 125 Branches of the NBA. He said he is “eternally grateful to these group of people who in more ways than one, gave credence to the quote by Margaret Meade that I never get tired of referencing, which says, ‘[n]ever doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has’. Without a doubt, just by the fact of this election alone, we have already changed the narrative in the NBA.”
The other people he acknowledged were: Mr George Etomi; Mr Ama Etuwewe, SAN; Alhaji Femi Okunnu SAN, CON; Hairat Balogun OON; Chief T. J. O. Okpoko, SAN; Chief Oladipo Odujinrin, MFR; Prince Adeyemi Adefulu, MFR; Mr Henry Odien Ajumogobia SAN, OFR; Mr Austin Alegeh, SAN; Mr Olasupo Shasore, SAN; Mr Dele Belgore, SAN; Mr Aderemi Ogunsanya, SAN whose father Adebayo Ogunsanya, SAN also occupied this office; Mr. Emeka Ozoani, SAN, Mr Seni Adio SAN; Mr. Osaro Eghobamien, SAN, Mr. Oluseye Kosoko, Mr. Ayuli Jemide; Prof Kingsley Moghalu; Dr Joe Abah; and young lawyers for their support.
He did not forget to thank the immediate former president of the Association, and his Co contestants. He said he holds them in high esteem. “I must specially thank the outgone President, Mr Paul Usoro, SAN and the outgone National Officers for the role they played in navigating the affairs of our Association in the past two years. It has been a difficult year for everyone all over the world and it is to their credit that they did not crumble under pressure and were able to pilot the affairs of the NBA until the end. I also thank the Electoral Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association (ECNBA) headed by Mr Tawo E. Tawo, SAN. There were clearly moments of tension between me and the Committee, but I am gratified that they understood that those were borne out of a strong desire for things to be done the right way.
“In the same vein, I wish to, once again, appreciate Deacon Dele Adesina SAN, and Dr. Babatunde Ajibade SAN, against whom I had the privilege of contesting for the office of President. As I said in my acceptance speech, one thing that remained unshaken throughout the election process was my utmost respect for these distinguished and respectable gentlemen of the Bar who have contributed in very significant ways to the growth and development of our Association. I want to reassure them that my respect for them remains intact. Very importantly, I must restate that the election is over but the work ahead of us is immense. We must now unite as one family to achieve our common goal of revitalising the Bar and ensuring that our voice is heard as one strong family. I therefore intend to count on their support and counsel as we work towards Securing the Future through a United Bar that Works for All.”
The inaugural speech reads in part:
“It is apposite to begin the formal part of the address by tackling two major issues arising from the 2020 NBA election – the seeds of discord that were sown during the election campaigns and the issues pertaining to the election process itself.
“The Need for Unity at the Bar
I am not oblivious of the cleavages that emerged during the campaign and the attempt to pitch senior members of the bar against their younger counterparts. We were all witnesses to the widespread agitations against the holders of the enviable rank of Senior Advocates of Nigeria to the extent that some people were eagerly anticipating a revolution. In some ways, this was understandable, having regard to the issues that characterised the election and the uniqueness of my candidacy, being the first non-Senior Advocate of Nigeria to win an election as NBA President in thirty years. However, the elections are now over, and we must, of necessity, retrace our steps.
“One of the cardinal pillars of my campaign and on the basis of which I made myself available to run for this high office, was the promise to run an all-inclusive Bar. There is no gainsaying the fact that this necessarily includes giving due recognition and deference to the senior members of the Bar who are the builders of, and significant contributors to, our noble Association. Even as a candidate, I never saw myself as a harbinger of division between senior and young members of the Bar, but as bridge candidate to build better rapport between young and senior lawyers. This is a role I will approach will all seriousness.
“One of the first things I did after the result declaration was to call on my supporters to desist from joining issues or otherwise attacking other lawyers, especially senior members of the Bar, but instead to be magnanimous in victory. Permit me to repeat what I said in that publication. Ours is a noble profession that prides itself on a high sense of discipline, learning, respect for seniority and character for which its members are reputed. Let us therefore join hands to move the NBA forward. The mandate that I have from Nigerian lawyers is to work for all members of the Bar irrespective of who they voted for. There is so much work to be done to revitalise our Bar and make it work for everyone without discrimination.
“I am also not unaware of very recent events and agitations that have tended to divide our Bar along regional and religious lines. This is rather unfortunate for an egalitarian Association like ours. The Bar that I want to lead henceforth is one that is united on all fronts and that recognises that our diversity is, perhaps, our greatest strength. I plead with all Nigerian lawyers to bear this philosophy of unity in mind as we commence a new journey together today.
“This enormous task cannot be achieved if we continue to fan the embers of division at a time when we desperately need to unite and speak with one firm voice. We must be kind, magnanimous, respectful, and sensitive in our words and actions, as doing otherwise would be a great disservice to our vision of building a stronger and formidable Bar. Now is the time to come together because a divided Bar is a defeated Bar.
Electoral Reform
“It is pertinent to state categorically that, in my view, the 2020 Election – the voting and result of which were monitored live by a significant proportion of Nigerian lawyers and non-lawyers alike – was ultimately free and fair, and the result was, by all estimation, truly reflective of the will of Nigerian lawyers. The above notwithstanding, it would be remiss of me not to acknowledge that there were several glitches in the build up to the Election. As Nigeria’s foremost professional Association, our electoral process ought to be the standard for others to follow and should, to the extent humanly possible, be devoid of the glitches that we witnessed. It was with this in mind that I personally wrote two separate letters to the ECNBA Chairman on 20th July 2020 and 29th July 2020 to highlight the issues that threatened the conduct of a credible election and to recommend measures to immediately address those concerns.
“The consensus is that there is need to urgently review the 2020 elections and to institute urgent reforms of our electoral systems. Indeed, the Board of Trustees of the NBA in their letter of 19 August 2020 to Deacon Dele Adesina, SAN called for a major transformation of our electoral process and framework. Let me repeat what I said to the Board of Trustees in my letter to them in response to the petition of Deacon Dele Adesina, SAN; “as an Association that prides itself as Nigeria’s foremost and oldest professional membership organisation, we need to manage our electoral processes better. I pledged during the electioneering period to introduce an efficient data management system for the NBA and to follow that up with other institutional and structural reforms that would enable NBA to serve the benefit of its members and the Society. In the wake of the criticisms that trailed the Election, this is now a top priority issue for me.”
“One major complaint about the last election was the issue of the database of lawyers and resultant difficulties in coming up with a credible voters’ register. To address this, my administration will improve upon the membership portal introduced by the President Paul Usoro administration. Additionally, I am immediately constituting an Electoral Audit and Reforms Committee, comprising distinguished practitioners of the highest standards to audit our 2016, 2018 and 2020 elections and recommend reforms for our electoral systems and processes. The Committee is made up of the following lawyers each of whom I have already spoken to:
| S/No. | Name | Designation | NBA Branch |
| Ayo Akintunde, SAN | Chairman | NBA Lagos | |
| 2 | Mike Igini | Vice-Chairman | NBA Ikeja |
| 3 | Nnenna Ukoh | Secretary | NBA Enugu |
| 4 | Basil Udotai | Member | NBA Abuja |
| 5 | John Owubokiri | Member | NBA PH |
| 6 | Ama Etuwewe, SAN | Member | NBA Warri |
| 7 | Oludayo Olorunfemi | Member | NBA Ikere-Ekiti |
| 8 | Rotimi Ogunyemi | Member | NBA Lagos |
| 9 | Mas’ud Alabalewe | Member | NBA Kaduna/Barnawa |
| 10 | Hadiza Nasir Ahmad | Member | NBA Kano |
| 11 | Andrew Odum | Member | NBA Asaba |
| 12 | Altine Ibrahim | Member | NBA Damaturu |
“I pledge to implement whatever recommendations they come up with well ahead of time to ensure that the 2022 election is devoid of those glitches that we noticed in the 2020 election and that we truly set a standard that others will aspire to.
The Task Ahead
“I must share with you all a nagging concern that I kept ruminating about throughout the election period. There is an unfortunate erosion of the ethical values and professionalism that once characterised our Noble Association. Instead of devising means through which the Association can reengineer the profession, we have unwittingly enthroned an unhealthy appetite for over politicking at the Bar and some of us seem to now believe that holding office in the NBA is a short cut to achieving distinction in the profession. It appears that we have long paid lip service to the ethical values and disciplinary standards for which we were known. It is to our collective shame that we are on this sorry path. But this must stop. I am also worried about the lack of institutional capacity that the Association has suffered over the years. A lot of work needs to be done.
“As I informed the new national officers during our strategy retreat last weekend, hitting the ground running immediately will not be enough, we also need to hit it flying. Nothing short of that would match the expectations of our members and Nigerians. It is in this regard that I now restate the promises I made which are delineated into six areas of focus as discussed below.
I. Welfare of Lawyers
“The improved welfare for our members was a cardinal part of my campaign. I assure you today that those were not mere rhetoric. I hereby restate my promise to ensure that we improve on the welfare of our members along the lines that I promised in my manifesto.
“I also stated that it is at the core of my mandate to expand and deepen the market for legal services in Nigeria and consequentially improve the financial standing of our members. In the coming weeks I shall constitute an NBA Task Force to determine the scope of legal work that is statutorily prescribed to be the exclusive preserve of Nigerian lawyers and to work out modalities for ensuring that only members of our Association get to do such work. In recent times we have witnessed the brazen encroachments into our turf by other professions and private organisations like banks, consulting firms, property firms, amongst others. I will personally engage the leadership of these organisations and prevail on them to refrain from the practice of encroaching into areas that are the exclusive preserve of lawyers. In cases where this is not heeded, we shall not hesitate to challenge such encroachments in court. It is no longer business as usual.
“One hallmark of my administration shall be the constructive engagement with the heads of the major regulatory agencies to ensure better synergy with the NBA in the interest of our members. In this regard, one of my first tasks as President of our Association shall be to engage with the Registrar General of the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) to resolve some of the outstanding issues that led to the recent protests by members of our Association and to find a lasting solution to them. Criticisms from some quarters have also trailed the passage of Companies and Allied Matters Act 2020. We shall constructively engage with the CAC in this regard to allay the fears of our members and indeed the general populace. In this regard I must immediately commend the NBA Section on Business Law for their illuminating and timely Webinar on the CAMA 2020. More of such events will be promoted under my administration. Where however, there are provisions of the Act that cannot stand the test of time, the NBA shall not hesitate to advocate their urgent amendment so that they do not constitute a clog in the wheel of progress. This shall be the template to engage other regulatory agencies throughout my administration.
“On the vexed issue of the poor remuneration which has made the legal profession in Nigeria a laughingstock, I said during the campaign that the NBA can no longer afford to fold its hands in the face of this most unfortunate state of affairs. I hereby restate that the NBA under my leadership will devise measures to tackle this issue. I will in the coming weeks, establish an NBA Remuneration Committee to recommend feasible ways to improve the poor remuneration of legal practitioners.
“One of my major tasks as President of the NBA will be to table before the Legal Practitioners Remuneration Committee a request for the review of the Legal Practitioners (Remuneration for Legal Documentation and Other Land Matters) Order to reflect current economic realities. It is my strong belief that the standardisation of the fees charged by legal practitioners holds the key to the resolution to the poor payment of legal practitioners.
“On the NBA Stamp and Seal, I pledged in my Manifesto that the NBA under my administration shall issue at no costs, one pack of 24 Stamps to legal practitioners between 1-5 years of call, upon payment of practising fees. After due consultations, we have decided to extend the gesture by issuing two packs of 48 Stamps for free to all verified legal practitioners who pay their Bar Practising Fees not later than 31 March 2021. Those who require fadditional copies of the NBA Stamp and Seal would then free to request additional pages at extra costs to them. I also restate my promise to ensure further improvement on the Stamp and Seal application, collection process and the digitization of the stamp and seal.
“I also pledge to ensure the continuation of the NBA Members’ Life Assurance scheme. Considering our numerical strength, I will negotiate a more favourable deal with our current insurance policy provider for an upward review of benefits to members. We shall also institute a comprehensive health insurance scheme and establish a medical health fund to help deserving members subscribe to the scheme. In addition to the above, my administration will, working with the leadership of the various branches of the NBA, establish working relationship with good hospitals across Nigeria to agree discounts on bills for members of our Association.
“One major promise I made to Nigerian lawyers is to tackle the menace of harassment and brutality of lawyers by the security agencies. As I have said in the past, while it is part of the aims and objects of the NBA to promote and protect the fundamental rights of citizens, which we take very seriously, charity must necessarily begin at home and the NBA must take steps to forestall the breach of the fundamental rights of lawyers. For the past few years, there is hardly a month that passes without an incident of harassment of lawyers by men of the security agencies. This is completely unacceptable. While we are still on the case of Emperor Ogbonna a lawyer from Abia State who has been in custody despite being granted bail twice by the courts, we also heard just last week, of the case of a senior member of the Bar, Mr Paul Igwe, who was detained and brutalised by the Divisional Police Officer of Eastern Ngwa Police Division of the Nigerian Police also in Abia State. To say that lawyers have become endangered species is putting it mildly. This dangerous trend and we must immediately address.
“The NBA that I now lead will strengthen the NBA Human Rights Institute and also engage the heads of the various security agencies proactively and constructively from the outset, to set the tone for a collaborative and mutually beneficial relationship between their respective agencies and our Association. The engagements would secure assurances that any officer of the security agencies found to have abused a lawyer would be sanctioned and such sanction made public. Where these engagements fail, we shall not hesitate to bring our full weight as an Association to bear to challenge any instance of abuse and harassment of lawyers. It is also for that reason that I announce the setting up of a special Lawyers’ Defence Fund to cater for the free representation of lawyers who are financial members of the association and are victims of human rights violation by the securities agencies.
II. Capacity building for members
“At the core of my mandate for the NBA is the championing of a structured reformation of the system of legal education in Nigeria and actualise a system that produces knowledgeable, competent and ethically conscious lawyers. It is also top of my agenda to initiate programmes that are designed to enhance the capacity of Nigerian lawyers and equip them with the tools required to improve on their ability to meet the expectations of a highly sophisticated clientele. The truth is that we are not even scratching the surface in terms of what we can contribute to the servicing of not just the Nigerian economy but for the wider Africa in view of the coming into effect of the Agreement establishing the African Continental Free Trade Area.
“In this regard I promise to reconstitute the Board of the Institute of Continuing Legal Education (ICLE) and charge the Board with the responsibility for the operation of the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) programme of the NBA. Through the ICLE, the NBA will collaborate with the Sections and Fora regarding annual programming/plan of actions that would ensure effective coordination and delivery of capacity building programmes at the Branch and national levels. We shall also undertake a review of the Mandatory Continuing Legal Education Rules (MCLE Rules) 2007 to ensure that the Rules accord with modern realities, especially in a post COVID–19 world.
“My administration will engage actively with the Council of Legal Education (CLE) to promote and advance legal education in Nigeria. I pledge to commission a study with a view to submitting a proposal for the review and upgrade of the structure and content of courses taught in the law faculties of Nigerian universities and the Nigerian Law School.
“We will also set up a Committee to deliver on our promised mentorship initiatives across all NBA branches. I also announce today the establishment of the NBA Career Development Centre with the main objective of providing career guidance to our members. The Centre would be responsible for gathering information on skills and training gaps in the profession which would play a large part in determining the training programmes to be developed by the ICLE for providing trainings across the country.
III. Improvement of the system of administration of justice
“I listened with great delight as the highest-ranking legal practitioner in government, His Excellency Professor Yemi Osinbajo SAN (GCON) delivered an address on behalf of the President of Nigeria during the Opening Ceremony of our just concluded Annual General Conference. His Excellency hit the right notes and expressed views that are completely consistent with mine. I also listened to the address of the Chief Justice of Nigeria Honourable Dr. Justice Ibrahim Tanko Mohammed during the Conference and I am happy that we are thinking in the same direction.
“Mr President tasked the NBA and the Nigerian judiciary to come up with urgent reforms that will improve the justice delivery system in the country and decried the slow pace of trial of cases in our courts, the incidence of conflicting decisions by the courts and continuing triumph of technicalities over substance. His Excellency also advocated for the nomination of the best hands for appointment as Judges and Justices of the superior courts of record in Nigeria. In the same vein the Chief Justice of Nigeria lamented the filing of frivolous cases by lawyers.
“Thankfully, we need not go far in finding solutions to these seemingly intractable issues. The answer lies in effective collaboration among the Executive, the Legislative and the Judicial arms of Government, with the NBA as a key stakeholder. As I stated in my tweet to the President in response to his congratulatory tweet after my election victory, I am gratified by the President’s acknowledgment of the NBA as a crucial stakeholder in our democracy and on behalf of all lawyers in Nigeria, I accept the President’s offer of cooperation because it is a partnership that can only be beneficial to the Nigerian populace.
“I unequivocally throw my weight behind the call by the Honourable Chief Justice of Nigeria for the provision of speedy and qualitative administration of justice, the strengthening of the structures of the courts and the need to stamp out corruption from the judicial system.
“I am truly committed to doing all that we can to improve our system of administration of justice and my colleagues and I have set out a clear roadmap for achieving this. We will be unveiling this roadmap in the coming weeks.
“The necessary question that I am sure will be asked, is how the NBA under my leadership intends to achieve these reforms. As a first step, my first official duty will be to seek audience with President Muhammed Buhari, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, the leadership of the National Assembly, and the Honourable Attorney-General of the Federation. The purpose of these working visits will be to put forward practical ideas on behalf of the NBA for the reform of Administration of Justice in Nigeria. I am well aware that an important obstacle to achieving sustainable reforms in the sector is that we have done a lot of talking and limited implementation of the many reasonable proposals that have been agreed to by justice sector stakeholders over the years. I am determined to make progress on these issues during my tenure
“Charity, it is often said must begin at home. In proposing these reforms, it is important that we reawaken the culture of public interest advocacy in the NBA. It is regrettable that there are too few lawyers working in the public interest. We need to bring back the culture of pro-bono work in our association. Indeed, this in my view is critical to the role of the NBA in facilitating justice sector reform. As a first step, my administration will revisit the pro-bono declaration adopted by the NBA with a view to affirming its importance in the professional development of all members of the NBA. One of the proposals I will be suggesting to the CJN is to consider a special recognition scheme under which lawyers who can show concrete evidence of public interest advocacy are considered for elevation to the rank of Senior Advocate. It is my respectful view that the conferment of the rank of Senior Advocate must not simply be considered largely on the number of cases completed but on concrete contributions to the growth of Nigeria’s justice system.
“Very importantly, I am in complete agreement with the President that we need to do better in terms of the calibre and quality of legal practitioners appointed as judicial officers. The NBA will henceforth monitor compliance with the NJC Rules and Procedure for the selection and appointment of superior court judges strictly.
IV. Promotion and protection of the rule of law and respect for the fundamental rights of the citizenry
“The NBA under my administration will regain its position as the conscience of the Nigerian society. We must be the bulwark against tyranny and injustice in Nigeria, stand up against all forms of injustice, condemn unpopular government policies and check abuse of power. I promise you today that we shall not shy away from these responsibilities.
It is also my pledge today that the NBA under my administration shall restore the voice and glory of the Bar and the Bench. We shall as a matter of priority advocate for the proper funding of the judiciary to enhance its independence and the integrity of the Bench. The NBA that I am honoured to lead will exhibit zero tolerance for disobedience of lawful orders of courts and will not hesitate to take all legal steps available to it to protect, defend and maintain the rule of law in Nigeria.
“The NBA under my administration shall take seriously our mandate of promoting and protecting the fundamental rights of the generality of citizens. We shall also enter into partnerships with the Nigerian Judiciary and statutory bodies such as the National Human Rights Commission, Legal Aid Council of Nigeria, the Nigerian Police, the Nigerian Correctional Service and other stakeholders in the Nigerian Criminal Justice Sector, as well as international partners/donor agencies to undertake a holistic reform agenda of the Criminal Justice System in Nigeria. I welcome, and accept on behalf of the NBA, the recent call for collaboration, in this regard by the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation.
“Lastly, under my administration the NBA Law Reform Committee will be adequately resourced to play its role as a liaison between the NBA and the National Assembly; to represent the Bar at National Assembly public hearings, to make meaningful input into our laws for the betterment of the society and our profession. For too long we have shied away from that responsibility. That stops today. I accept the invitation of the Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives to partner with the National Assembly to reform our laws, through strategic amendments, in order to bring the Law up to global standard. Just yesterday, the Senate Ad-hoc Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution announced the commencement of the process for the further alteration of the Constitution and called professional bodies and interest groups to submit memoranda for that purpose. This form part of our first assignment, and I assure you that we will no longer be found wanting.
V. An All-Inclusive Bar
“My emergence as President of the NBA is a victory for the corporate counsel, law officers, lawyers in other forms of salaried employment; the police and military lawyers, etc and for the different segments of the legal profession who have long been seemingly treated as outsiders instead of as equal members of the Bar. Having once been a victim myself of such discrimination, I promised, and hereby restate, that the NBA under my leadership shall ensure that the different constituencies in the profession are given a voice. My Presidency has today ushered in a truly all-inclusive Bar.
“To this end, I will in consultation with other NEC Members table before the general meeting of the Association, an amendment to the NBA Constitution to accord statutory recognition to the Chairpersons of the NBA Women Forum, the NBA Young Lawyers’ Forum, the NBA Law Officers’ Forum and the NBA Corporate Counsel Forum. I will also lead the charge for the creation of an NBA Lawyers with Disabilities Forum and other important fora to ensure that all segments of our profession are carried along.
“I promise to ensure adequate representation of young lawyers in all appointments made in the two years of my administration. It is my long-held belief that it is impossible to have a conversation about the future of the legal profession without the young lawyers, who are the putative owners of that future, having a seat at the table. For an Association with a National Executive Committee of about 450 members, it is sacrilegious that there is no single statutory representation of young lawyers-constituency.
“To ensure that NBA programmes and schemes are better felt by majority of members, we shall pursue greater synergy between the national secretariat of the NBA and the leadership of the various Branches. We shall ensure that NBA programmes and activities, especially the capacity building and continuous legal education programmes, are spread round the country to give members and Branches a better sense of belonging. We shall also wholeheartedly support the activities of the various Sections and Fora of the NBA. As NBA President, I will provide immense support and the enabling environment for the smooth operation of the NBA Sections and Fora.
VI. Ethics and Discipline of Members
“Lastly, we shall champion an improvement in the disciplinary procedure in the legal profession. As a self-regulatory organisation, if we continue to take actions that erode the respect we once commanded from the public, we risk having the power to self-regulate taken away from us. My administration is determined to change the narrative. We shall work together with the Body of Benchers to instate a process that makes our members accountable.
“Another area that must not be overlooked is the need for the urgent review of our Rules of Professional Conduct and the amendment to the Legal Practitioners Act. These two fundamental documents must be reviewed to bring them into conformity with modern trends. They have held us back for too long. In this regard, my administration will table the extant Legal Profession Regulation Review Committee Report and the KPMG Diagnostic Report for consideration, before the NBA-NEC to enable us take appropriate next steps. We will need to partner with the relevant National Assembly Committees on Judiciary, Human Rights and Justice sector to ensure the quick passage of a new Legal Practitioners Act and work with the General Council of the Bar under the leadership of the Attorney General of the Federation, for the review of the Rules of Professional Conduct.”
Akpata concluded by saying that the promises and all other actions required to achieve the objectives of the NBA can only be achieved if the Bar builds an administrative structure that preserves the institutional memory of the Association beyond respective two-year administrations, ensures operational efficiency of the Association, enables effective branch and member liaison and achieves an efficient delivery of the programmes and projects undertaken by the NBA.
“Consequently, one of the first tasks that my administration will undertake would be to create an administrative structure that ensures that we are able to deliver on our blueprint for the progress of the NBA as an institution. To achieve this, I will require your cooperation and understanding.” He said
He once again appreciated the members of the Association for electing him. He said the election is not about him, but his passion for the progress of the Association.
“As I said on the day after the election, when I decided to throw my hat in the ring, I was certain that the election was not about me. I was driven by the passion to use my time, talent and resources to improve our Association by making it fit-for-purpose, beneficial to all members, and responsive to the needs of the society. The experience of the electioneering process reinforced this drive. I saw many Nigerian lawyers who had either lost faith or had never been interested in the NBA participate with utmost enthusiasm in the hope that things would become better.
“I restate that this victory is for our colleagues who have become disillusioned with the NBA and how the Association appears to be disconnected from the challenges that face its members. It is for the progressive lawyer who refused to accept the status quo and took firm steps to ensure that things are done better. Likewise, this victory is for non-lawyers and the general populace who took an unusual, but very keen interest in the conduct of our elections. By doing so, they lent credence to my long- held belief that the Nigerian society has always yearned for a legal profession and indeed a Bar that stands tall as an unwavering bastion of the rule of law, an advocate for the sanctity and independence of the judiciary, and a bulwark against tyranny and oppression.
“As I have consistently stated, it is out of immense respect for you, a deep understanding of the value of the mandate thrust upon me, an appreciation of the factors that have bedevilled our noble Association and with humility to the will of God, that I made myself available to serve our Noble Association and wholeheartedly accepted the mandate. I thank you, once again, for the confidence that you have reposed in me, and re-assure you that I shall do my best to deliver on your mandate. May God bless you all and may God bless the Nigerian Bar Association.” Akpata ended
