The prestigious rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria
(SAN), has over the last two years come under attack from within
and outside the legal profession.
While the political class try desperately to drag our learned
silks into their acrimonious diatribe, some members of the noble
legal profession have joined in this act.
I recently read an article online titled ” NBA Presidency :Time
for a paradigm shift” by one Jose Mourinho Ifeanyi Agwuncha,
questioning the propriety of a silk leading the national bar and I
was bemused by the illogical argument proffered by the writer who
obviously is executing a poorly scripted hack job.
While it is a fact that every profession or institution has its
own share of bad eggs, it will be uncharitable for us to try to
destroy such profession or institution for that singular reason. At
the moment, our judiciary has come under attack due to the actions
of some members of the bench, do we do away with the judiciary and
deny the common man justice? The Nigerian police is notorious as a
result of infamous acts or omissions of some bad crops within the
establishment; will it be logical to call for the disbandment of
the police? Today our democracy cannot be said to be the model of
constitutional democracy, yet we will not sacrifice it for any
other form of government.
It’s true that some holders of the revered title of Senior
Advocates of Nigeria, act in manners not compatible with the said
title. The institution is trying to cleanse itself and never
hesitate to wield the big stick when necessary . We cannot forget
in a hurry, Chief Caleb Kalejaiye who was stripped of the title of
SAN for acting in a manner that demeaned the title. Just last week
another silk, Beluolisa Nwofor was also stripped of the title. This
gives credence to the deliberate attempt by the institution to
cleanse its stable, which is highly commendable.
The rank of Senior Advocate is one, every legal practitioner
worth his onion, aspires to attain. I am very sure the writer and
his acolytes in the profession nurse this ambition too, so trying
to cause disaffection amongst legal practioners is very
unfortunate. The timing for advocates of this position is not only
suspicious, but a deliberate attempt to polarise our dear
association like what is happening at the Unity bar today.
The writer alludes that holders of the office of President of
NBA, since 1998 till date, with the exception of only one have been
Senior Advocates of Nigeria. Very true! It is only rational that
every society should throw up its best to lead and NBA is no
exception. Before the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria was
established, the bar has always elected from amongst it’s best to
lead and that tradition has continued, and shouldn’t be sacrificed
on the altar of personal interest.
Over the years, elections in to offices of national executive
committee of NBA have always been conducted and every qualified
legal practitioner given the opportunity to contest for any office
he so desires, as far as he meets the stipulated requirements as
provided for in the association’s constitution.
In 2012, Okey Wali SAN, contested for president with Emeka Ngige
SAN and Blessing Ukiri. They all stood for the election and Okey
Wali emerged winner.
In 2016, Augustine Alegeh SAN, contested against Oladele Adesina
SAN, Olufunke Adekoya SAN, Adeniyi Akintola SAN and Osas Erhabor.
In all these instances the issue of dichotomy between non Senior
Advocates and members of the inner bar never reared its ugly head
for once.
Why has the issue of Senior Advocates contesting for NBA
presidency become a topical issue all of a sudden?
Why are we trying to create the wrong impression? The truth be
told, every legal practitioner in Nigeria aspires to be a Senior
Advocate of Nigeria; in fact it is the peak of legal practice.
Seniority in the legal profession according to my legal method
lecturer, is an article of faith. It is wrong for anyone to try to
pitch the younger generation of legal practioners against the older
generation. It will crumble like a pack of cards.
The NBA Abuja Branch (Unity bar) at present, has known little or
no peace, since a cabal in desperate attempt to foist themselves in
office polarised the bar by selling the paradigm shift story to
cause disaffection in a once United bar.
It is funny how people desperately try to hide the truth. It’s a
fact that a good percentage of silks in Nigeria endevour to protect
and mentor the younger generation of lawyers in the country. A
young lawyer once told me how a senior advocate took him to a
meeting with a sitting governor in the northern state and allowed
the young lawyer handle the meeting like a partner. There are
several SAN who have gone out of their ways to develop young
lawyers believing in their abilities and projecting their
talents.
It’s totally wrong to try to change the narrative by twisting
facts, I wonder who is afraid of Senior Advocates to the extent
that he wants to blackmail them.
Like it happened in the just concluded NBA, Uyo branch where
same card was played, the young lawyers decern the truth and stuck
tenaciously to it, at the end objective reasoning triumphed over
cheap blackmail.
Bar Sam Etuk
(Guest writer)
The prestigious rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria
(SAN), has over the last two years come under attack from within
and outside the legal profession.
While the political class try desperately to drag our learned
silks into their acrimonious diatribe, some members of the noble
legal profession have joined in this act.
I recently read an article online titled ” NBA Presidency :Time
for a paradigm shift” by one Jose Mourinho Ifeanyi Agwuncha,
questioning the propriety of a silk leading the national bar and I
was bemused by the illogical argument proffered by the writer who
obviously is executing a poorly scripted hack job.
While it is a fact that every profession or institution has its
own share of bad eggs, it will be uncharitable for us to try to
destroy such profession or institution for that singular reason. At
the moment, our judiciary has come under attack due to the actions
of some members of the bench, do we do away with the judiciary and
deny the common man justice? The Nigerian police is notorious as a
result of infamous acts or omissions of some bad crops within the
establishment; will it be logical to call for the disbandment of
the police? Today our democracy cannot be said to be the model of
constitutional democracy, yet we will not sacrifice it for any
other form of government.
It’s true that some holders of the revered title of Senior
Advocates of Nigeria, act in manners not compatible with the said
title. The institution is trying to cleanse itself and never
hesitate to wield the big stick when necessary . We cannot forget
in a hurry, Chief Caleb Kalejaiye who was stripped of the title of
SAN for acting in a manner that demeaned the title. Just last week
another silk, Beluolisa Nwofor was also stripped of the title. This
gives credence to the deliberate attempt by the institution to
cleanse its stable, which is highly commendable.
The rank of Senior Advocate is one, every legal practitioner
worth his onion, aspires to attain. I am very sure the writer and
his acolytes in the profession nurse this ambition too, so trying
to cause disaffection amongst legal practioners is very
unfortunate. The timing for advocates of this position is not only
suspicious, but a deliberate attempt to polarise our dear
association like what is happening at the Unity bar today.
The writer alludes that holders of the office of President of
NBA, since 1998 till date, with the exception of only one have been
Senior Advocates of Nigeria. Very true! It is only rational that
every society should throw up its best to lead and NBA is no
exception. Before the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria was
established, the bar has always elected from amongst it’s best to
lead and that tradition has continued, and shouldn’t be sacrificed
on the altar of personal interest.
Over the years, elections in to offices of national executive
committee of NBA have always been conducted and every qualified
legal practitioner given the opportunity to contest for any office
he so desires, as far as he meets the stipulated requirements as
provided for in the association’s constitution.
In 2012, Okey Wali SAN, contested for president with Emeka Ngige
SAN and Blessing Ukiri. They all stood for the election and Okey
Wali emerged winner.
In 2016, Augustine Alegeh SAN, contested against Oladele Adesina
SAN, Olufunke Adekoya SAN, Adeniyi Akintola SAN and Osas Erhabor.
In all these instances the issue of dichotomy between non Senior
Advocates and members of the inner bar never reared its ugly head
for once.
Why has the issue of Senior Advocates contesting for NBA
presidency become a topical issue all of a sudden?
Why are we trying to create the wrong impression? The truth be
told, every legal practitioner in Nigeria aspires to be a Senior
Advocate of Nigeria; in fact it is the peak of legal practice.
Seniority in the legal profession according to my legal method
lecturer, is an article of faith. It is wrong for anyone to try to
pitch the younger generation of legal practioners against the older
generation. It will crumble like a pack of cards.
The NBA Abuja Branch (Unity bar) at present, has known little or
no peace, since a cabal in desperate attempt to foist themselves in
office polarised the bar by selling the paradigm shift story to
cause disaffection in a once United bar.
It is funny how people desperately try to hide the truth. It’s a
fact that a good percentage of silks in Nigeria endevour to protect
and mentor the younger generation of lawyers in the country. A
young lawyer once told me how a senior advocate took him to a
meeting with a sitting governor in the northern state and allowed
the young lawyer handle the meeting like a partner. There are
several SAN who have gone out of their ways to develop young
lawyers believing in their abilities and projecting their
talents.
It’s totally wrong to try to change the narrative by twisting
facts, I wonder who is afraid of Senior Advocates to the extent
that he wants to blackmail them.
Like it happened in the just concluded NBA, Uyo branch where
same card was played, the young lawyers decern the truth and stuck
tenaciously to it, at the end objective reasoning triumphed over
cheap blackmail.
Bar Sam Etuk
(Guest writer)
Read more https://nairalaw.com/who-is-dividing-the-bar/