Former Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) official and senior lawyer, Mr. John Aikpokpo-Martins, has issued a strong warning to members of the legal profession, describing the proposed amendment to the Legal Practitioners Act (LPA) currently before the National Assembly as “a perilous development” and “a threat to the very foundations of the NBA.”
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In a widely circulated statement dated December 18, 2025, titled “RE: THE AMENDMENT OF THE LEGAL PRACTITIONERS ACT; A THREAT TO THE NBA,” Aikpokpo-Martins urged lawyers to vigorously oppose the bill during the public hearing scheduled for the same day.
He described the proposed legislation as a disguised attempt to “emasculate” the NBA, drawing parallels to a similar bill that was successfully defeated during the administration of former NBA President Olumide Akpata.
Key provisions highlighted by Aikpokpo-Martins as particularly dangerous include:
- Demotion of the NBA President in Court Precedence
Section 7 of the bill reportedly places the NBA President below State Attorneys-General, Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs), and Life Benchers in the order of precedence in court proceedings – a move he called “a deliberate affront to the dignity of the office.” - Financial Threat to the NBA
The bill allegedly omits the current Section 8(4)(c) of the LPA, which guarantees the NBA nine-tenths of annual practising fees collected from lawyers. Aikpokpo-Martins warned that removing this provision could lead to “financial asphyxiation” of the association. - Transfer of Regulatory Powers
Section 14 of the bill is said to transfer the issuance and renewal of practising licences from the NBA to the Body of Benchers, effectively stripping the association of a critical regulatory role over the legal profession.
“The stakes are high. Silence is not an option,” Aikpokpo-Martins stated, calling on NBA members attending the public hearing to robustly defend the existing provisions that protect the association’s autonomy and financial independence.
As the National Assembly proceeds with the public hearing today, the legal community awaits further developments on the controversial bill.
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