The President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, has unveiled comprehensive reforms aimed at strengthening the legal profession and justice system during the NBA National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Akure.
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In his executive report delivered on Thursday, Osigwe highlighted several critical issues facing the legal profession, including the need for mandatory continuing professional development, disciplinary reforms, and measures to combat forum shopping and judicial harassment.
Key Reform Initiatives:
Professional Development and Discipline
– Introduction of Mandatory Continuing Professional Development (MCPD) Rules requiring lawyers to earn five credit hours annually
– Establishment of Regional Disciplinary Panels across six geo-political zones
– Creation of branch-level committees to monitor lawyers’ dress code compliance
– Implementation of NBA Human Rights Attorney Support Network for rapid response to lawyers’ rights violations
Judicial Independence and Reform
– Criticism of governors’ public presentation of gifts to judges as undermining judicial autonomy
– Call for minimum three-year judicial posting periods to ensure stability
– Advocacy for elimination of onerous bail conditions, particularly civil servant surety requirements
– Push for merit-based judicial appointments and automated case assignment systems
Law Enforcement and Security
– Condemnation of police harassment of lawyers at stations
– Criticism of multiple checkpoints and roadblocks causing accidents and extortion
– Proposal for review of checkpoint practices nationwide
Recent NBA Activities:
– Successful intervention in securing release of detained lawyer Kelvin Okorie
– Collaboration with anti-money laundering initiatives
– Partnership with CIG Motors for subsidized vehicles for NBA members
– Active participation in election observation mission to Ghana
The NBA President emphasized the need for the judiciary to maintain independence, stating, “It is unconstitutional for members of the executive arm or Governors to give gifts to judges. The judiciary should decline such acts of ‘benevolence,’ as judges must not condone practices with potential hidden agenda.”
On criminal justice reform, Osigwe noted, “The practice of imposing onerous bail conditions has given rise to a black market in securing civil servants as sureties. No criminal justice system should impose conditions which result in such criminality.”
Technology and Modernization
– Support for National Case Management System (NCMS) implementation
– Development of NCMS E-filing Mobile App
– Push for increased IT skills among legal professionals
The NEC meeting, being held at the International Cultural and Event Centre, Akure, continues with deliberations on these reforms.
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The gathering marks the second NEC meeting under the current NBA administration and has drawn participation from branch chairmen and senior lawyers across Nigeria.
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