A new gazette by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, which supposedly weakens the powers of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, has caused division among some Senior Advocates of Nigeria and lawyers in the country.
Malami had amended the Rules of Professional Conduct for Legal Practitioners 2007, removing the requirement for the NBA stamp and seal on court processes.
The Rules of Professional Conduct for Legal Practitioners 2007 is amended by deleting section 9 subsection (2), section 10, 11, 12, and 13 of the rules.
Meanwhile, the NBA President, Olumide Akpata, in a statement, made it clear that as there had been no meeting of the Council of the Bar as required under the Legal Practitioners Act, there could not have been said to be an amendment of the Rules.
He urged lawyers to continue to carry out their activities as before and assured them that he is engaging with the Attorney General of the Federation and will ensure that the interests of lawyers are reflected in whatever amendments to be made.
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However, with the amendment of the process by Malami, the use of the stamps will no longer be necessary, this also implies that persons who are not members of the NBA, including non-lawyers, are allowed to submit court processes
Editor : Ena Agbanoma
