NBA Criticises Court Judgment Supporting Registration Of Rival Lawyers Association
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has expressed strong disapproval of a Federal High Court judgment in Abuja instructing the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) to register a new association for lawyers in the country, challenging the decision and announcing plans to appeal.
Established in 1933, the NBA has historically maintained its position as the exclusive organization for Nigerian lawyers, resisting attempts by other groups and individuals to form alternative associations.
However, in a ruling delivered on December 15, 2023, Justice Gladys Olotu mandated the CAC to register an alternative lawyers’ association in Nigeria, citing the right to peaceful assembly and association guaranteed under various legal provisions.
Addressing the judgment for the first time, NBA President Yakubu Maikyau (SAN) criticized the plaintiffs and the court for failing to involve the NBA in the lawsuit, depriving the association of the opportunity to present its stance.
Maikyau emphasized, “We should have been sued because the reason for the rejection of that registration was the Nigerian Bar Association.” He highlighted the NBA’s statutory recognition and its constitutional status, asserting the association’s right to participate in such legal proceedings.
Regarding the appeal process, Maikyau stated that both the CAC and the NBA would challenge the high court’s decision. He underscored the compulsory membership of all practicing lawyers in Nigeria in the NBA and criticized the court for not providing the association with the opportunity to defend its position.
While acknowledging the NBA’s silence on the matter until now, Maikyau downplayed the significance of the ruling, stating, “You didn’t hear from us because that thing is inconsequential. It does not scratch the lowest surface of the NBA. We are not perturbed.”
He concluded by affirming the NBA’s determination to contest the court’s decision at the Court of Appeal, reaffirming the association’s resilience and continued growth.
