Every lawyer in Nigeria agrees that the legal profession is facing a myriad of challenges. As numerous as the problems facing us may be, there is a fundamental one at the root of all the problems and that is erosion of public confidence in the legal process in Nigeria. The main cause of this is that over the years, the Nigerian Bar Association has woefully failed to checkmate the excesses and lawlessness of the government. The Bar has become a toothless bulldog, nay a teddy bear.
Interestingly, all of us in legal practice are affected, no matter your area of specialization. The foreign investor will be less likely to consider FDI or FPI in Nigeria since the legal process is flawed. Even an indigenous investor is more inclined to take his money elsewhere. People are fast losing faith in resolving their disputes through any formal lawful means like Litigation, arbitration, mediation, etc. Otherwise, how else can one explain that an Award – which is a product of an arbitration duly consented to by parties would be a subject of an appeal that will last between 15 – 20 years? Or how else can one explain the difficulty in successfuly enforcing a judgement against the government or it’s agency? Clearly, the implication and effect of the above is that income level amongst practicing lawyers in Nigeria is steadily dropping. Even the big law firms are affected, little wonder they are not quick to recruiting more lawyers any longer. How often these days do you see job adverts of a vacancy in top and middle tier law firms in Nigeria?
Our focus in this coming NBA National Election should be to elect someone who will bring back the lost glory of the Nigerian Bar Association as a foremost watchdog of the government. Public confidence in the legal process must be restored. Governments and individuals alike must be made to have respect for the law. That way, more poeple will have need for lawyers in both transactional practice and dispute resolution. This will translate to more money for lawyers and the issue of low pay will gradually become a thing of the past.
No matter the specialist skills you acquire, they won’t translate to money if there are no briefs. The level of capital flight currently taking place in Nigeria is alarming.
The Nigerian Bar Association needs a President that can speak truth to power. The Bar needs a fearless leader, one with a consistent record of championing respect for the Rule of Law. That is the most important thing at the moment. Once that is achieved, subsequent administrations can consolidate on that and improve on it just like subsequent administrations have done in the area of Section on Business Law, Mandatory Continuous Legal Education and Stamp and Seal (albeit to a minimal extent) introduced understand the Wole Olanipekun SAN & Dele Adesina SAN leadership.
Deacon Dele Adesina SAN is not a newcomer to the Bar Every lawyer in Nigeria agrees that the legal profession is facing a myriad of challenges. As numerous as the problems facing us may be, there is a fundamental one at the root of all the problems and that is erosion of public confidence in the legal process in Nigeria. The main cause of this is that over the years, the Nigerian Bar Association has woefully failed to checkmate the excesses and lawlessness of the government. The Bar has become a toothless bulldog, nay a teddy bear.
Deacon Dele Adesina SAN is not a newcomer to the Bar leadership. His records in terms of fighting for the enthronement of the rule of law and speaking truth to power are there for all to see. When the DSS invaded the houses of some Justices of the Supreme Court at night and most lawyers were silent for fear of losing government briefs or being persecuted by the government, Dele Adesina spoke out publicly and condemned it. For each time the government has disobeyed court orders with impunity, Dele Adesina has spoken up in condemnation of same. Imagine what he would do if he emerges as President of the Bar.
I support Dele Adesina SAN because I believe he is the best man for the job at this point in time. Experience is unquanfiable at this time. There is no time for Trial and Error. We must get it right.
Wouldn’t you rather support him too?
Obinna Akpuchukwu
