The Nigerian Bashed Association (NBA)

Peter Simons

” *Conscience is an open wound, only the truth can heal it*

“-Usman Dan Fodio.

As I write this piece, Nigeria Lawyers who are lucky to pay , the exorbitant NBA Annual General Conference Fees are regurgitating their Chambers , having just returned from a chaotic Annual National Conference of the Association, at the Marshy and Shantie “Eko Atlantic City”

Truth be told, our revered Association is in ruins! The recently conducted National NBA Elections ,were conducted in the most tardy manner ,with an epileptic arrangement ,which tended towards almost a ruse! I wonder where we can muster the conscience to criticize the Nigerian General Elections, when we are unable to conduct ours,without hiccups and rancour !

The activities of the Association leaves much to be desired!
Members cumulatively churn out billions of naira,every year , as Bar Practising fees and Annual General Conference Fees and there is little to show for same.This despite the gargantuan sponsorships and freebies from the Public and Private Sectors.

Why should members pay separately for Stamp and Seal, When they have paid for Bar Practising Fees?
What is the singular benefit from the Association of paying your Bar Practising Fees? The answer is, Apart from your Practise Licence and two sheets of stamp, there’s nothing else you get from the Association.How come the stamp is as much as it is , when you can buy a full newspaper with all the costs for Two Hundred Naira .The Price of the Stamp is fraudulently too high .

All over Nigeria , Members of the Association were victims of brutal Police force and chicaneries and the National Leadership of the Association, idled by .Inibehe Effiong has been a victim of Judicial Terrorism from Justice Margeret Ekpo of the Akwa Ibom State High Court and the Association after going on a wild goose chase of going to Uyo and achieving nothing , resorted to being news analysts.

The Association cannot even enforce proper remuneration for its members. The Nigeria institution for Estate Surveyors has a template and has been able to get the regulatory Authorities to enforce their Bill of Charges, which is uniform, Nation Wide. We the custodians of the Law ,cannot even get Lawmakers and/or Regulatory Authorities to make our Bill of Charges obligatory for clients!
The truth is, the way the profession is presently structured,if you did not have passion for it as a young lawyer, you are likely not to thrive in it.

The Association used to be the voice of the voiceless and the defense of the defenseless, not anymore!
Government and its institutions, glide in one impunity or the other and all we do is watch, aside for feeble statements being issued.

Some years ago, at the Opening of our Annual General Conference at the International Conference Centre ,Abuja,President Muhammadu Buhari ,had the temerity to state in the midst of Lawyers ,that the Rule of Law is subject to National Interest !The then President of the NBA did not refute the Statement ,right there ,he failed to Stand up to be Counted !
What a shame!
We have turned into lackeys of government, a willing partner in the now trivurate of oppression, while society bleeds and citizens weep!
Our members are even victims of police brutality, shenanigans and high handedness, while we put up feeble defense and tactless statements, that further embolden the oppressors and their collaborators.

The Attorney-General of the Federation, issues a statement rationalizing the disobedience of a Court Order, the NBA watches and our silence supports his legal debauchery!By his conduct and comments ,the Attorney General should be facing the L.P.DC., for Professional Misconduct! Instead in midst of his affront on the Law ,we call him to address us,to give an official endorsement on his desecration of the Rule of Law and the Temple of Justice !

We want a new Bar Association or Law Society , where the government will shiver at our sneeze and quiver when Lawyers speak!
We want a new Bar Association or Law Society where Lawyers get paid as per their Bill of Charges, duly authenticated by legislation ,so that Lawyers will thrive.

The Leadership of the current Association, imposes high Fees on Lawyers ,without making any effort to improve the earning capacity of its Members ;
We want a new Bar Association ,that will reduce the overtly exorbitant Fees ,being charged for different schedules of payment and Conferences and that will give Lawyers value for their money paid for Conferences and Practising Fees.

Just take a look at the hassles Lawyers went through to get bags given for this year’s Conference, in Lagos .A comparative analysis of Fees for Conferences of other Professional Associations ,shows that they pay far less ,for far more better services and Conferences!
We want a new Bar Association or Law Society that will fight for the rights of the oppressed and battle for dearth of oppressors, on a sustained level!

Lawyers are the conscience of society.They show the light for others to follow.Lawyers are now being called Thieves with out investigation and the toga stays with them for ever .Indeed the real thieves are those who collected One Hundred Thousand Naira ,to do the bidding of a few in a Pre-Conference NEC, in order to advance the ego one man.

The thieves are those who ran electronic manipulation of the Lawyers’ elections and foist on Lawyers what they want .The thieves are those who do not carry out an audit of Branch Finances or cook the books of national finances .

This is the new reality .This the embarrassing Nigerian Bashed Association.An Association that say they promote the rule of law , but discards Court Processes.If Lawyers could disregard the Courts , what do you want lay men to do ?If Lawyers who may not have been present ,when a looting orchestrated by incompetence occurred, are called Thieves, how do Lawyers represent the real thieves in Court or the Police Station.What happened to fair hearing .At this point , Lawyers are becoming the bane of Society.The Leaders of the Association must rise the redeem the name , honour and nobility Lawyers are known for.Time for a new Bar Association or Law Society.