#2019 NBA-AGM: Non SAN Can Vie NBA Presidency, President, Gen Sec, Must Have Proven Integrity, Managerial Skills, As Agbakoba, SAN, Heads NBA-BOT, Other Matters Discussed

The President of NBA, Paul Usoro, SAN, has raised deep concern over the welfare of lawyers and said that the story of kidnapping and murder of members have been a huge concern to this administration.

Usoro, made this remark during the Annual General Meeting of the Association held on Thursday at Harbour Point, Wilmot Point Road, Off Ahmadu Bello Way, Victoria Island, Lagos.

He noted that they have constantly called families of deceased members to console them. He added that this is done not as a matter of duty but because it is the right thing to do. Speaking on the 2019-2020 plans, he stressed that it is basically to: focus more on them Young lawyers, establishment of the Young Lawyers Forum, also the Women’s Forum to be put together by next week; and the consolidation of Reforms and Gains of 2018-2019.

He also listed the amendment of the NBA constitution and the fact that NBA speaks up on topical issues more frequently. He also assured members of the restoration of insurance policy for NBA members.

Paul Usoro, SAN, also assured member of the bar that the current administration will conduct a credible and outstanding election by 2020. The NBA President also spoke on fast-tracking the application of stamp and seal. According to him, a total of 45,069 stamp and seal application was received during the period. This issue was raised following the issue of delay in receiving stamp and seal when applied for.

A member from Umuahia branch, Ifeyinwa, asked how the NBA can make a stamp and seal not to have an expiring date. He raised this issue with respect to the fact that stamp and seal get expired though not exhausted. Responding to the question, the NBA president said that the reason for the expiration of the bar stamp and seal is because it is a statutory provision that makes it annually; it is necessary because it checkmates quacks, and that if a lawyer passes on, anyone can take it if it does not expire.

The NBA President also paid a special tribute to all past NBA presidents who have been very supportive to this administration, as well as the past General Secretaries, and NEC members for consistently supporting NBA. He also thanked Branch chairmen for helping to make his work very easy.

During the presentation of the Report, it was observed that from the account, NBA generated only N574 million from NBA products. Commenting on it, Obafemi, SAN, noted that we can do a lot better by promoting the NBA products as it is hard to find any during this conference.

Chief Emeka Ngige, SAN, also asked about the debt inherited. He asked to know if the debts have been fully paid since we have about N 500 million in our fixed deposit. Responding, the President said, some of the debts have been settled; that they needed to verify the debts to make sure that we need to pay them. He also added that some have been negotiated not to be settled immediately, and that over N200 million have been paid so far.

Another Senior Advocate also raised the issue of the main source of income which is the bar practice fee. He said that the building of the Bar can generate income for the bar as well. Responding, the NBA President said that he is yet to look into that, but will do that as he has been mostly focused on corporate governance issues.

On the National Adviser’s Report, it was also stated that we do not have more than one disciplinary panel. He added that we need more, and that presently there are 25 petitions awaiting directions from the LPDC.

Speaking on the CAC Act, it was stated that the new Bill for the Amended CAC Act 2016 is awaiting presidential assent. The NBA was therefore urged to help in this regard to ensure the bill is passed, stressing that, it is a deliberate attempt to modernize company law and practice; that it introduces one man company, incorporation of Limited Liability Partnership, issued share capital introduction, business rescue & insolvency reforms. It was also observed that the commission has noticed slow pace of tech adaptation on stakeholders including lawyers. They have created a platform for tech training so everyone should take advantage of it.

It was also reported that Nigeria is expected to adopt reforms that are applicable in other climes, registering for a business online and getting all certificates online with ease; that more than 90 of registration are still being done by lawyers.
Still, on the report, the Section on Business Law from Pages 19 to 205 shows that a total of 19 different events were held in the last 12 months.

Another success of the administration is the fact that the signing of the AfCFTA was facilitated.

The Total numbers of trustees NBA is entitled to have are 9 It was affirmed that some of the elders that have served as trustees for the NBA so far, Alh Abdulahi Ibrahim SAN, Chief Wole Olanipekun SAN, Chief Okpoko — appointed in 2004 and till date is more than 12 years.

The Proposed new trustees for the adoption of members are: Olisa Agbakoba, SAN, JP Daudu SAN, Austin Alege, SAN, all past president of the NBA, Obafemi Adewale, Past General Secretary, Mr. Kanu Agabi SAN, Hajia Fatima Kwako. Away from that, it was resolved that Mr. Agbakoba Olisa, SAN will be the chairman of the Trustee of the NBA. It was also resolved that Trustees are to be appointed and serve for 6 years and another term of 6 years.

It was also observed that the NBA has not been filing the annual returns at the CAC for a long time. Hence, there is a need to do that and make it a regular activity.

It was brought to the notice of members that the appointment of auditors, the PWC, was on ground to maintain the accounts, so they couldn’t be the auditors.

It was resolved that Deloitte become the Auditor for 2019 – 2020 accounting year. This is because the former auditors have been with the NBA for over 4 years, so there is the need to have another organization to start auditing the account.

It was also argued that rather than continue to have August to July, before the period of review, let it be January to December.

Some fundamental errors by the auditors were discovered. This was because the period in review was the problem. But why they
were able to succeed in it is because they work with PWC for the accounts-checks.

It was added that the accounts are supposed to go to an Audit Committee, to NEC before it comes back to NBA.

So it was resolved that by December, the account will be audited for August to December by Deloitte and same will be presented during the AGM in August next year.

The NBA president was commended for showing very good leadership qualities. Speaking, Julius, Secretary, Ikorodu Branch, noted that since he has been attending AGM, this is the first time a lot of clarification has been made during account presentation. Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, also added that if we don’t commend when we should commend then we don’t have any moral ground to condemn when we should.

“Attending NBA meeting for 38 years, in all these years in terms of transparency, honestly, accountability, Paul Usoro, SAN, administration is the most outstanding,” he said.

Report of the first VP from Pages 104 to 106 of the annual report, 2nd Vice President from Pages 107 to 112 of the annual report, 3rd Vice President Report at from pages 113 to 119 of the annual report, were all adopted at the AGM.

On the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, the Director-General, Professor Adedeji Adekunle, SAN, reported that they had over 18 courses in several areas of law.

Areas of concerns for investors were addressed; there are 10 faculties but they lack infrastructure, lack resources to carry out their mandate.

Housed at the Supreme Court in Abuja, they hold Public lectures regularly and Publish journals regularly and that they ublished 6 journals in the year under review.

He recommends that they are given their own place in Lagos rather than squatting in Abuja.

Some of the Amendments adopted were that National officers ( President & Secretary) must be persons with proven administrative skills and experience and people that will not have need for financial rewards from the NBA but someone reasonably comfortable financially.

Former NBA Ikeja Chairman Monday Onyeka Ubani, pleaded with the NBA president to remove the financial part of the amendment because it may introduce discrimination in the system that only the rich can only be NBA president, but rather men with integrity, with proven administrative skills and experience. The President listened to the house and made the necessary adjustment by removing the part stating they must be financially well to do.

Financial stability was strenuously debated and countered then it was resolved that Proven integrity and managerial skills will be one of the criteria for vying for such office.
Other amendments include that the President and Secretary to be appointed will be persons that have reasonable accounting knowledge.

Suggestion by Mike Ozekhome that a candidate of the presidency need not be a SAN was adopted as well.

Duties were added to the Treasurer; National Officers shall meet once in every calendar month either in person or online.