The Federal High Court has ruled that the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) must register the proposed “Nigerian Law Society” (NLS) as requested by a group of lawyers including senior advocate Chief Bolaji Ayorinde.
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The CAC had previously rejected registration applications for the NLS on grounds that the name was too similar to the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA).
In his judgement last Friday, Justice G.K Olotu stated that the applicants’ rights to peaceful assembly and association were guaranteed under the constitution and could not be denied by the CAC. He further said there was no legal basis for the CAC’s claims that the NLS name would be misleading or lacked national spread.
The CAC, under former Registrar General Garba Abubakar, had also contended the NLS promoters should get NBA approval first. But Justice Olotu dismissed this argument given the NBA itself is an incorporated trustee rather than a governmental body.
With the court ruling decisively in the applicants’ favor, the CAC under its new leadership of Registrar General Hussaini Ishaq Magaji SAN is expected to formally register the Nigerian Law Society name as directed.
NLS publicity secretary Bayo Akinlade Esq decried the NBA’s opposition to the establishment of an alternative legal association to represent lawyers’ interests. He suggested it runs counter to the NBA’s own motto of “Upholding the Rule of Law” when it tries to intimidate members’ right to freely associate.
The NLS outcome points toward greater pluralism, competition, and dynamism within the legal profession in 2024. But the incumbent NBA leadership has yet to indicate whether it will continue efforts to thwart formation of the fledgling organization.
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