By Editor
*Division of Abuja Branch into Garki And Nyanya Branches; *Creation of Surulere Branch in Lagos; *Retention of AGC 2021 Reg. Fees for NBA-AGC 2022.
The National Executive Council of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has approved the splitting of the NBA Abuja Branch popularly known as Unity Bar.
The decision was made at the ongoing NEC meeting which commenced on 8th of June at Ilorin, the state capital of Kwara State and will end today being 9th of June, 2022.
The new branches are Garki Branch and Nyanya Branches. According to the NBA President, Olumide Akpata, Garki Branch was created to solve the lingering crisis in Abuja.
On the other hand, Nyanya Branch and Surulere Branches where created out of Abuja and Lagos Branches for easy administration as a result of the large population of lawyers in those branches.
Meanwhile, the conference fees for 2021 was retained and Chimamanda Adichie was approved as keynote speaker for the 2022 AGC.
In 2021 fees for Young Lawyers were N15, 000 or N7, 500 for physical or virtual. Late registration however was N45, 000
Lawyers of 6-10 years post call paid N22, 500 while Senior Advocates of Nigeria paid N190, 000.
One of the aspirant for the 2022 NBA Elections, Felix Chukwuma Ashimole, was chased out of the venue and the NBA NEC also responded to Muslim Lawyers Association, MULAN. The NBA NEC stated that condemning Deborah for blasphemy against the Prophet when she has not been tried by a court and found guilty, negates the presumption of innocence that we lawyers preach.
Furthermore, it was noted that Over 62, 000 lawyers pay their practising fee as and when due but the Supreme Court registrar refused to pay over N900, 000,000 (nine hundred million Naira) to NBA on the basis that such payment can only be made in December and not the usual ending of March. This has some worth crippled the finances of NBA. Some powers that be are interfering in NBA politics and is now using the Supreme Court registrar to frustrate the NBA. Reasons why the usual 10% has not been remitted to branches.