Nigerian Law Society (NLS) Says It Stands Firm Amidst Challenges, Urges NBA To Embrace Dignity And Discipline
The Nigerian Law Society (NLS) has affirmed its commitment to conducting itself with “dignity and discipline” despite what it described as unprovoked attacks from the leadership of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and the Registrar-General of the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).
In a statement released on Saturday, titled “Lessons on Leadership from the Nigerian Law Society (NLS): What the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Can Learn”, the NLS provided updates on its ongoing quest for formal registration.
Signed by its Executive Director, Dr. Tonye Clinton Jaja, the statement detailed the challenges the organization has faced, including opposition from the NBA and the CAC.
The NLS, an emerging professional association of lawyers aiming to coexist alongside the NBA, has been embroiled in legal battles since December 2023, when a Federal High Court in Abuja ordered the CAC to register the NLS under Section 40 of the Nigerian Constitution. According to the NLS, the judgment sparked “relentless attacks” and “illegal provocations,” including defamatory publications, petitions to law enforcement agencies, and attempts to shut down its operations.
The statement accused the CAC’s Registrar-General, Hussaini Ishaq Magaji, SAN, of bypassing legal avenues and resorting to extra-judicial methods to undermine the NLS. It noted that petitions from Magaji to agencies such as the Department of State Services (DSS) and Nigerian Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) had not succeeded, as NITDA refused to act without a court order.
Despite these challenges, the NLS highlighted its commitment to resolving disputes legally, submitting complaints to courts and the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC). The organization also engaged with the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice to formally address the actions of the CAC.
The NLS emphasized the “maturity” demonstrated by its leadership under President Mela Nunge, SAN, in managing internal and external challenges. It contrasted this with the NBA, which has recently faced public disputes, including controversies surrounding its forthcoming national conference in Port Harcourt.
In August 2024, the NLS reported Magaji to President Bola Tinubu over alleged human rights violations, accusing him of using law enforcement agencies to harass NLS members instead of awaiting the outcome of ongoing legal proceedings.
The NLS’s letter to President Tinubu stated, “As a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, the Registrar-General ought to understand that when a lawsuit is before a court, complaints should be submitted to the court, not through extra-legal means.”
The NLS reiterated its resolve to uphold professionalism and legal principles, urging the NBA to adopt similar values. It also expressed confidence in the judiciary’s ability to resolve the disputes fairly.
