*Warns Defaulters Of Professional Consequences

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has firmly declared that it will neither suspend nor abolish the Mandatory Continuing Professional Development (MCPD) programme, affirming its commitment to uphold the provisions of the Rules of Professional Conduct for Legal Practitioners (RPC) 2023 and the NBA MCPD Rules 2025.

NBA President, Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, made this known in a strongly worded statement on Wednesday, asserting that the Association is “irrevocably committed to giving effect to the mandatory provisions” of the law governing lawyers’ professional development in Nigeria.

“These provisions appeared as far back as 2007 in the Rules of Professional Conduct but were never strictly enforced. That era is over,” Osigwe stated.

He warned that non-compliance with the MCPD requirement would carry consequences, stressing that any lawyer who fails to abide by the mandatory provisions would be deemed to have voluntarily opted to suffer the resulting professional disabilities.

“The Rules of Professional Conduct are not suggestions. They are subsidiary legislation made by the General Council of the Bar pursuant to powers conferred under Section 12(4) of the Legal Practitioners Act,” Osigwe said. He cited judicial authorities including DIN v. AGF (1988) 4 NWLR (Pt. 87) 147 and Ishola v. Ajiboye (1994) 6 NWLR (Pt. 352) 506, to reinforce the legal status of the rules.

Reiterating the NBA’s statutory role, Osigwe emphasized the Association’s duty to regulate lawyers, enforce legal standards, promote law reform, and uphold human rights and the rule of law. He dismissed online criticisms and legal threats as “distractions,” insisting that the NBA would not be deterred from enforcing compliance.

“No amount of social media abuse or threats of lawsuits will stop the NBA from implementing the Continuing Professional Development programme. The rules must be obeyed,” he declared.

The NBA president reminded legal practitioners of their foundational duties, as encapsulated in Rule 1 of the RPC: “to uphold the rule of law, promote justice, maintain high professional standards, and avoid conduct unbecoming of a legal practitioner.”

He urged all lawyers to take advantage of various training opportunities—especially free programmes provided by the NBA Institute of Continuing Legal Education (ICLE) and accredited bodies—to meet the required minimum five CPD hours annually.

“Attendance is not compulsory at any particular training. Lawyers are free to choose their preferred accredited courses. Many are free. The important thing is to fulfil the minimum credit hours,” Osigwe clarified.

NBA President Declares MCPD Enforcement Non-Negotiable

Concluding, he reminded all lawyers of their higher calling: “We owe allegiance to the cause of truth and justice. Let us not knowingly conceal facts or make baseless accusations. We must all strive to meet the ethical and professional standards expected of us.”

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