Suit On Extension Of IGP’s Tenure: Purported Amended RPC, 2020 Which Deletes Stamp And Seal Resurfaces To Intimidate NBA [DOWNLOAD]

The purported amended Rules of Professional Conduct (RPC) which deleted provisions relating to the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) “Stamp and Seal” provision, BPF for Government Lawyers has resurfaced.

A source told TheNigeriaLawyer that the gazetted copy was deliberately brought out to intimidate NBA for filing suit against president Buhari for extending the tenure of Mohammed Adamu as Inspector-General of Police.

The purported amended RPC 2020 is duly gazetted and included into the LFN, 2020. It provides that “the Rules of Professional Conduct for Legal Practitioners, 2007 is amended by deleting the following rules, namely: 9(2), 10, 11, 12 and 13”

Rule 9(2) prohibits legal practitioners from claiming that he has paid his Bar Practicing Fees (BPF) when he is actually in default. Rule 10 deals with stamp and Seal. Rule 11 provides for Mandatory Continuing Legal Education, Rule 12 provides for Annual Practicing Certificate and Rule 13 provides for Notice of Legal Practice upon setting up a private legal practice

TheNigeriaLawyer recalls that the President of the NBA, Olumide Akpata, had called on Nigerian lawyers to remain calm over the unilateral amendment of the RPC by AGF without proper due process as provided by the rule.

Mr. Akpata stated that the RPC is yet to be amended in line with the conditions stipulated by the Legal Practitioners Act noting that no meeting had been convened for the amendment of the Rules and therefore, the purported amendment cannot be said to be true while noting that he is engaging the Attorney General of the Federation closely.

Recall also that Akpata had assured leaders of the NBA, during the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of NBA which held on Tuesday, 15th December, 2020
that the status quo would be reverted and that the same position was re-affirmed to him by the Solicitor General of the Federation.

He went further to say that he believes the AGF will not make such a weighty commitment to the NBA and not fulfill it. So the Association should expect the official announcement shortly.

Former 2nd Vice president of the Nigerian Bar Association, Monday Onyekachi Ubani, was also prevailed upon by the leadership of NBA to withdraw the suit he filed against the AGF over the unilateral amendment of the RPC.

Click Here To Download The Gazetted Copy In PDF