Why CAC Withdrew Accreditation Of Lawyers, Protesting Over Delayed Service Delivery

*CAC Reverses Withdrawal After Appeal As Lawyers Question Legality

The Registrar General of the Corporate Affairs Commission has reversed the decision withdrawing the accreditation of six Lawyers, protesting against the poor service delivery of the Commission, TheNigeriaLawyer Confirmed.

Lawyers had taken to the Commission on 23rd and 27th of July, 2020 to protest against the undue delay in the CAC’s service delivery which inhibiting the business of Legal Practice.

Pursuant to the said protest, the Commission had written separate letters dated 10th day of August 2020 to some of the protesters notifying them of the withdrawal.

In a letter written by Onwuzurike Ebere on behalf of the CAC RG, addressed to Sunday Oghayei and Erin Ayokunle which was made available to TheNigeriaLawyer, it was stated that they “played a major role in disrupting and causing confusion in the peaceful activities of the Commission, thereby hindering Customers from accessing the Commission to conduct their normal activities, inciting the Customers against the Commission and behaving violently.

“In the light of foregoing, the Commission has directed that you be delisted from the Commission’s database as an Accredited User and your Accreditation card be surrendered to the Commission with immediate effect.

“Be guided accordingly”, the Commission stated.

RESPONSE OF THE NBA ABUJA BRANCH TO THE BLACKLIST

In reaction to the decision of the Commission delisting these Lawyers, the Chairman of the NBA Abuja Branch, Bulus Atsen had written to the CAC RG, appealing for the reconsideration of the decision of the CAC.

In the letter dated 12th day of August, 2020, the Chair said CAC RG had earlier acknowledged “that those protesting reserved the Constitutional right to protest.”

“In the light of the passage of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 2020, it will be good to have an inclusive reformed Corporate Affairs Commission under a new legal regime.

“It is on the premise of the above position that we appeal to your good conscience to reconsider the directive for the withdrawal of the accreditations of the lawyers referenced above. As a Registrar General who has always maintained an open-door approach to issues, we are optimistic that this appeal will receive a favorable consideration from your good office”.

CAC RE-CONSIDERATION OF THE DECISION

In another development, TheNigeriaLawyer gathered that the Corporate Affairs Commission later reconsidered the decision delisting the Lawyers.

In a chat with TheNigeriaLawyer, the CAC RG told our correspondent when contacted that we should “Find out from them if they are still delisted.”

Meanwhile, when TheNigeriaLawyer contacted one of the delisted Lawyers, he noted that the accreditation has been restored but added that it was under a very critical and traumatic experience.

LEGAL POSERS RAISED BY LAWYERS

In reaction to the decision of the Commission delisting some Lawyers because of protest, Lawyers have continued to raised questions as to the legality of the CAC decision.

A Lawyer who spoke to TheNigeriaLawyer on condition of anonymity for him not to be delisted by CAC, stated that the action of the Commission is illegal and unconstitutional.

This, he said, contravenes the constitutional right of every citizen to protest which has been affirmed by the highest Court of the land.

Similarly, another Lawyer who spoke to TheNigeriaLawyer added that she was flabbergasted by the decision of the Commission and as such, same is arbitrary and draconian.

Also, another Lawyer added that “are we really in a democracy?”.