The Attorney-General of Lagos State, Lawal Pedro (SAN), has expressed his office’s readiness to collaborate with the Society for Notaries Public (SNP) to promote trust and uphold the sanctity of legal documents. He made this commitment while receiving Council of the SNP, led by its President and Master of Notaries-in-Council, Chief (Mrs.) Marlies Allan; the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Mr. Wale Adekola; and the Honorary Secretary, Bamofin Muyiwa Ayojimi. Other council members present at the meeting included Prof. Gbenga Akingbehin, Mrs. Folashade Alli (SAN), Mr. Chukwudi Adikwu (SAN), Mr. Alex Muoka, Mr. Isah Buhari, and Mr. John Dong.
Pedro highlighted the significance of SNP’s membership, which comprises Nigerian Bar Association members and Senior Advocates of Nigeria, noting that it underscores the seriousness of their mission and its potential impact on the nation’s legal framework. He emphasized the critical role of notaries in reshaping legal practice in Nigeria, drawing comparisons to jurisdictions like Canada, the UK, France, and the United States, where notaries have helped curb document fraud, particularly in real estate transactions.
“What would our society look like without the assurance of trusted legal documents? It would be a society rife with uncertainty, mistrust, and vulnerability to fraud,” Pedro remarked. He reaffirmed his office’s willingness to collaborate with the SNP, stating, “By working together, we can make significant strides in enhancing the quality of notarial practices in Lagos State and Nigeria.”
Speaking on behalf of the SNP, its President, Chief (Mrs.) Marlies Allan, detailed recent initiatives aimed at professionalizing notary services in Nigeria, particularly through technology-driven solutions. She informed Pedro of SNP’s partnership with the Supreme Court and its technology partner, To-Note, to launch a software application designed to enhance the credibility and efficiency of notarial services. Additionally, she revealed SNP’s plans to establish practice guidelines and a centralized database for notaries to combat quackery in the profession.
“We are engaging with relevant government agencies to strengthen the credibility of notarial services. The Society has also initiated discussions with foreign embassies in Nigeria that currently do not recognize our Notaries Public, ensuring that due recognition is granted,” Allan stated.
Outlining specific areas for immediate collaboration, Allan urged Pedro to ensure that Jurat witnessing in registrable deeds is carried out exclusively by professional notaries, thereby preventing unauthorized individuals from performing this function. She also sought his support in integrating SNP’s/ ToNote,s remote notarization platform with the Lagos State Judiciary’s IT system to enhance accessibility and efficiency in notarial services
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