I have been asked by many non-lawyers what lawyers do when they gather every year at the NBA conferences. Some think it is a ritual where lawyers converge to renew their sacred Oaths, others feel it is a resurgence where lawyers are reminded of their role in the development of human society and the promotion of the brotherhood of man that transcends the sovereignty of nations.
We are seen by non-lawyers in made shades depending structurally by our dealings with lawyers. The ones who have engaged lawyers who handled their cases diligently leaves with a positive impression about the profession and the lawyers, conversely those whose cases were not properly handled or those who contributed to making their cases difficult for the lawyers to handle by their actions or inactions leaves with negative impression about us.

It is in the light of the aforementioned realities that I feel inspired to craft this article, reminding lawyers of their most trenchant obligations to society and why NBA conferences should lay more emphasis on this very crucial obligations. It is trite to note that every institution is a mental construct designed to enhance the greater good of the larger populace of the human society than any other interest. As long as man is the measure of all things and law remains the highest reasoning embedded by nature which permits what should be done and forbids the contrary, lawyers and the institution that regulates their conduct are thereby set up to at all times accentuate the positive, promote justice and assist the downtrodden to improve status of society.

This year’s NBA conference should among other things address issues particularly working against the common good of the Nigerian society and not to engage solely on elitist endeavors which government in Nigeria spent their time and resources on. If the judiciary is truly the last hope of the common man then her activities must at all times address the devious issues militating against his well-being. The common man have no place in the scheme of things, in the current Nigerian socioeconomic and dynamic structure. His life revolves around survival, government has since extricated herself from the plight of the common man. He in turn embraces religion and with little or no education he becomes susceptible to all kinds of ideologies that grows into questioning the sovereignty and order of the Nigerian state.

Lawyers at the conference should find a way of thinking through and recommend to government how best to manage the IDPs across the country which is the aftermath of insurgents attack on the common man. In one of my visits to the IDP I was confronted with a bigger problem. Most of the children born in and during the process of their displacement have not known any other way of life except for the situation they found themselves. There are no decent toilets at the IDPS, water is a luxury, security is porous and the hardship is endless. Government hasn’t done enough and I think lawyers should talk about this. Section 14 (2) of the 1999 constitution says,”

It is hereby, accordingly, declared that –

Sovereignty belongs to the people of Nigeria from whom government through this Constitution derives all its powers and authority;

The security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government; and

The participation by the people in their government shall be ensured in accordance with the provisions of this Constitution.

I am aware that the above provisions fall under chapter two of the constitution and the general rule is that matters thereon are not juticeable but if you know this that chapter two of the constitution is no longer what it use to be given that many independent legislations have sprang out of this part which by holistic extension and diligent process, actions can be deliberately found on this ground. If lawyers fail in this, just like the government, then it will be safe to say that we have not place to call society anymore. We would have failed the common man whose hope is anchored on the judiciary as the last of it all.

There’s an upsurge in the spite of kidnapping, the discoveries of kidnap dens and ritual killings across the country in recent times and the worse hit are the common men. To start with, at the risk of not making excuses for them, the police is underfunded, the criminal justice system suffers and the administration of justice is thereby dragged to the mud. Lawyers are therefore reminded to take a deeper look into the situation as a profession that watches after society and then proffer expedient solutions to the myriads of problems faced daily by Nigerian. If not for anything but for the fact that lawyers are equally victims of these ugly incidences in our societies.

The corruption in the judiciary has almost ruin the profession and this remains an embarrassing moment to us all. In the last two years, we have witness the decline in value and regard for the profession on account of corruption and this is to say the least most unfortunate. It was that bad that judges homes were raided at the dead of the night through what was referred to as ‘sting’ operation by the economic and financial crimes commission (EFCC). The allegation of corruption never succeeded because the commission was rather not coordinated or so it seems. But the bottom lines is that our constituency was ridiculed on account of allegations that was never further proven. One would rather had thought this year’s conference should be addressing and emphasizing these issues. Perhaps they will, it is important they do. The institutions of state must all uphold the tenet of civility for the purpose of promoting a better society.

Let us address the exploitation of lawyers by judicial officers. It is practically impossible to file a process in our courts or get anything done without giving gratification. The prosecutors wants bribe, the registrars won’t move until you move them. What about filing process? In Lagos State, filing at the magistrate and the high court’s costs so much that one is wondering if these charges were actually fixed by the state. The fees are out of this world and when you tell a client what the situation is they are sometimes discouraged from pursuing their cases. This year’s conference should address these issues dispassionately and let us have a proper judicial system that will respond to the needs and aspiration of lawyers, litigants and the larger Nigerian communities.

Evans Ufeli is a Lawyer in Nigeria; a public affairs analyst on Television and Radio, art enthusiast, writer and columnist. He is a human rights attorney championing the course for the liberation of the suffering masses of this world.

"Exciting news! TheNigeriaLawyer is now on WhatsApp Channels 🚀 Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest legal insights!" Click here! ....................................................................................................................... Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material and other digital content on this website, in whole or in part, without express and written permission from TheNigeriaLawyer, is strictly prohibited _________________________________________________________________ [Register Now] ILA Nigeria Branch Marks 10 Years With Infrastructure Financing As Theme For 7th Annual Conference The International Law Association - Nigeria Branch 7th annual conference on public-private partnerships for sustainable infrastructure financing, April 4-5 in Abuja. Details: https://ilanigeria.org.ng/conference _________________________________________________________________

Tel: 08066192650, 08033739869, 08061133497, info@hybridconsults.com, hybridconsult@yahoo.com