A U.S.-based Nigerian attorney, Christian Oronsaye, has called on the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to take bold steps toward expanding the frontiers of legal practice in Nigeria, warning that the profession remains unprofitable and underdeveloped when compared to global standards.
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In an interview with Tribune Online on Tuesday, Oronsaye, who is licensed to practice law in both Nigeria and the United States, criticized the NBA for failing to adequately modernize and commercialize legal practice, especially for younger lawyers entering the field.
Oronsaye, a First Class graduate and Best Graduating Student of the Nigerian Law School, noted that legal practice in the United States thrives on continually expanding rights and tort processes, while the Nigerian system remains largely restricted to public service or narrowly defined private practice.
“My recommendation to the Nigerian Bar Association is to start identifying opportunities to broaden legal practice,” Oronsaye said.
“Having worked in Nigeria, I believe the Bar Association has not succeeded in making the profession profitable.”
He argued that U.S.-based lawyers often refer to themselves as “the gangsters” of the legal world—not out of malice, but because of their ability to push boundaries, identify legal gaps, and enforce individual rights in innovative ways.
“There is always some form of tort process in the U.S. that continues to expand legal rights almost every day,” he added.
In contrast, Oronsaye lamented that Nigerian lawyers face severe limitations in accessing justice for their clients. He cited the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) as examples where legal standing and procedural barriers prevent individuals and communities from holding institutions accountable.
“Aside from filing a fundamental rights case, it is difficult to sue the EFCC for failing to investigate or for mishandling a case,” he explained.
“Take the NDDC, for example. It seems only the government can sue the agency when it fails to fulfil its mandate, rather than the affected communities it is meant to serve.”
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