News - News Agency Of Nigeria

Body of Benchers'll enforce discipline in legal profession – Awomolo (Page 1,666)

By Ebere Agozie

The Body of Benchers (BoB) will not fail in its duty to apply the Rules and enforce discipline no matter the status, position or rank of any legal practitioner involved.

The Body of Benchers is a statutory Body established by the Legal Practitioners Act, 1962 (as amended), Cap. L11 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

Section 3 of the Act stipulates that the Body of Benchers is the Legal Body of Practitioners of the highest distinction in the legal profession, which shall be responsible for the formal call to the Bar of persons seeking to become legal practitioners as well as disciplining of erring lawyers.

Chairman of the BoB, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo SAN, made this known in his key-note address at the ongoing 2024 Law Week of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Abuja Branch (Unity Bar) on Thursday in Abuja.

The law week is with theme: `Developing the Law to Attain National Stability and Development’.

He noted that corruption has reached alarming proportions in the legal profession and that the practice permits both the Inner and the Outer Bars.

“It is commonly believed that my colleagues of the Inner Bar perpetrate and involve themselves in unwholesome practices with impunity.

“I have challenged those I read and knew their authors on social media and I am waiting for proof on any of these allegations.

“There is need for all of us to be conversant with the Rules of Professional Conduct at the Bar published in 2023 and that are fundamental provisions that are a complete departure from all the previous Rules.

Awomolo, said that attainment of national stability and development can only be happen when the proper and the right instrumentality of the law is enacted, faithfully implemented, obeyed and enforced.

He noted that the law was only meaningful when it addresses the common goal of government of the people, by the people and for the people.

He said that Nigeria has remained stagnated, poorly governed, and underdeveloped because of a deficit in the quality of governance by the people we elected into political offices, and those appointed into public offices.

“The country’s problems include a dysfunctional socio-political structure, entrenched corruption, and an unproductive economy hence there is a dispute over whether Nigeria is a failed State.

“The late Fela Kuti’s words in his popular song “Suffering and Smiling” perfectly capture the Nigerian experience, highlighting the fact that problems persist, and continue to evolve in various forms.

“The country’s problems are not solved, but rather persisted.

“This has led to huge economic loss, massive brain drain and high loss of majority of Nigerian’s vibrant, intellectual and active youth in what is called the ‘Japa’ Syndrome.

“The effect of this unfortunate demographic loss in human resources manifest mostly in professional and technical sectors and industries because of the unemployment of educated and skilled youths’’.

Also speaking, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr Chris Uche said Nigerians had lost hope in the legal profession.

Uche, who was the Chairman of the event said the lecture would afford his learned brothers the opportunity to have a rethink and help the society.

“People have lost hope in this our profession, so we want to see how our gathering today will help to give us hope as lawyers.

“It has always been said that the judiciary is the last hope of the common man, but in recent times in this country that has become very debatable.

“This is an opportunity as practitioners to see how we can use the law to help the society, to help the country and also to help ourselves,’’ he added.

He, therefore, urged participants to be in the right frame of mind, have the right spirit to consume and to receive and to impact positively on the society.

Mr Afam Okeke, the Chairman of the Unity Branch in his address of welcome said the annual event was part of providing a platform to celebrate the vital role of lawyers in our society.

“It’s a time to reflect on our achievements, and contributions to the national discourse, and address challenges on our way to greater impact.

“The theme `Developing the Law to Attain National Stability and Development’ affords us the opportunity to evaluate our roles in upholding the rule of law and its impact on our society.

“Through this theme, we will once more be reminded of our shared commitment to justice, fairness, and the protection of fundamental rights’’. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

=======
Edited by Sadiya Hamza

Body of Benchers’ll enforce discipline in legal profession – Awomolo

By: isaac aregbesola

On: May 11, 2024

In: Food Security, Judiciary

With: 0 Comments

Body of Benchers’ll enforce discipline in legal profession – AwomoloContinue Reading

LASG equips 1,400 prospective retirees for seamless retirement

By: Folashade Adeniran

On: May 11, 2024

In: General News

With: 0 Comments

By Rukayat Adeyemi The Lagos State Government has equipped over 1,400 prospective retirees with the necessary knowledge and information to navigate their retirement processes seamlessly. Mr Bode Agoro, Head of Service (HoS), Lagos Sate Government, said this at the 26th Retirement Documentation seminar for prospective retirees of the stateContinue Reading

Inter-agency collaboration critical in protection of oil assets – Stakeholders

By: Philip Daniel Yatai

On: May 11, 2024

In: Defence/Security

With: 0 Comments

By Deborah Coker Stakeholders in the security sector on Friday in Abuja, stressed the need for inter-agency collaboration in the protection of Nigeria’s crude oil and gas assets. The stakeholders spoke as discussants at the two-day 13th National Security Seminar, organised by the Alumni Association of the National DefenceContinue Reading

FCTA disburses First Lady’s N10m grants to 20 women farmers

By: Philip Daniel Yatai

On: May 11, 2024

In: Health

With: 0 Comments

By Philip Yatai The Women Affairs Secretariat of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has begun the disbarment of N10 million grants to 20 women farmers in the FCT. The grant is under the First Lady, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Initiative’s (RHI) Women Agricultural Empowerment programme. Mandate SecretaryContinue Reading

Bello should’ve appeared in court even if arrest warrant illegally obtained – Judge

By: Philip Daniel Yatai

On: May 10, 2024

In: Judiciary

With: 0 Comments

By Taiye Agbaje A Federal High Court in Abuja has asked the former Governor of Kogi, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, to appear in court for his trial. Justice Emeka Nwite, in a ruling, held that even if an arrest warrant issued against him was illegally obtained, the defendant (Bello) should stillContinue Reading

Guns, bullets alone cannot end insurgency – Expert

By: isaac aregbesola

On: May 10, 2024

In: Defence/Security

With: 0 Comments

Dr Sani Abubakar, National Patron, Building Resilience Against Violent Extremism, Insurgency and Terrorism (BRAVE-IT), says the fight against security challenges in Nigeria will not end with guns and bullets.Continue Reading

Nigeria’s Defence Chief receives Prince Harry, Meghan in DHQ

By: isaac aregbesola

On: May 10, 2024

In: Defence/Security

With: 0 Comments

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry and Meghan have visited Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters, as part of a three-day private visit to Nigeria.Continue Reading

NIMC captures 107.3m persons in its database

By: Tosin Kolade

On: May 10, 2024

In: General News

With: 0 Comments

By Olasunkanmi Onifade The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) says it has so far captured over 107.3 million persons in the ongoing National Identity Number (NIN) enrolment. The Director-General, NIMC, Mrs Abisoye Coker-Odusote said this at the Maiden Media Interactive Session of the Commission on Friday in Abuja. Coker-Odusote saidContinue Reading

U.S. unveils 56 young Nigerians for 2024 Mandela Washington Fellowship

By: Philip Daniel Yatai

On: May 10, 2024

In: Foreign

With: 0 Comments

By Mark Longyen The U.S. Diplomatic Mission in Nigeria has unveiled 56 distinguished young Nigerians selected for the 2024 Mandela Washington Fellowship. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Mandela Washington Fellowship is a programme of the U.S. Department of State, with funding provided by the U.S.Continue Reading

Addressing Nigeria’s flood disasters through preparedness

By: Tosin Kolade

On: May 10, 2024

In: Features

With: 0 Comments

By Tosin Kolade, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) In Nigeria, flooding remains the most prevalent natural disaster, particularly affecting vulnerable communities residing along riverbanks and floodplains. The ramifications of floods extend beyond loss of lives and property, encompassing disruptions to agriculture, industrial productivity, infrastructure, and overall socio-economic stability, health andContinue Reading

Follows Us

Body of Benchers'll enforce discipline in legal profession – Awomolo (Page 1,666)