President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Paul Usoro, SAN, has
said that one of the significant achievements of his administration
this year is the introduction of the online payment platform for
the NBA bar practicing fee.
The NBA President made this statement while addressing the
National Executive Committee of the Bar, at the National
Secretariat in Abuja.
In the address sighted by TheNigerialawyer (TNL), the NBA President
promised that the online payment platform will be extended to cover
other payments of fees in the Association. He also highlighted
areas where the Bar has made significant progress, as well as areas
of focus of the administration.
ADDRESS BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE NIGERIAN
BAR ASSOCIATION (“NBA”) PAUL
USORO, SAN DELIVERED AT THE NBA NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
(“NEC”) MEETING HOLDEN AT THE NBA SECRETARIAT IN ABUJA ON 28 MARCH
2019
My Dear Colleagues
1. It gives me great pleasure to welcome you all to the 2018/2019
Quarter 3 NEC
meeting of our great Association. We thank the Almighty for journey
mercies from
our various destinations for this meeting.
This is the second NEC meeting of our
administration and it is interesting to observe how time flies:
almost seven months
of our tenure is already gone and we are left with a year and a
half to cram in so
much that must be achieved for the betterment of our members, our
Association and
the Nigerian society. So, what have we achieved in the months after
our last
Quarterly NEC Meeting that was held on 06 December 2018? I will in
the succeeding paragraphs give you, my dear colleagues, a summary
of our activities in the last several
months.
2. Last Quarter Significant Activities 2.1 Online
Payment Platform
2.1.1 One of our significant achievements this year has been the
introduction of online payment system for the payment of Bar
Practice Fees (“BPF”) by our members. Gone are the days when our
members had no choice but to queue at banking halls and go through
the tedious manual processes for the payment of their BPF. Now they
can make their payments online from the comfort of their homes or
wherever else they may be, at any time of the day or night
including weekends and even from outside Nigeria. The plan
which is already in the works is to extend this online payment
facility to cover payments for all other NBA National-related fees
and dues payable by our members and third parties.
2.2 Financial Accountability, Transparency
and Prudence
2.2.1 We have, at this NEC meeting, published the Management
Accounts of our Association for Quarter 2 of 2018/2019. That
is a promise kept and a statement made on the resolve of your
National Officers to be consistent in being financially
accountable and transparent in the management of the NBA’s
funds. Our commitment which you should hold us to is that,
not a Quarter will pass in the two years of our administration
without our publishing the NBA’s Quarterly Financial
Statement. One of the positive knock-on consequences and
effects of financial accountability and transparency is that it
forces prudence on the managers of the Association’s funds, knowing
as we do, that there must be an accounting to our members for every
expenditure that we make as published in the Financial
Statements. That fact is always present in our minds and, in
part, informs the prudent management of the Association’s funds by
this administration as you would find in our Q2 Management Accounts
which we would present to this august body
shortly.
2.3 Secretariat Reforms
2.3.1 As part of our campaigns, we had committed to institute
internal reforms in our Secretariat such that it would be
responsive to our members’ needs and serve the Association
better. The feedback I receive from our members almost on a
daily basis has been overwhelming in that regard. I have
heard from members how their problems were resolved in quick time
merely through phone calls to our Secretariat personnel. It
is no longer news that stamps are delivered to our members within
days of the orders being received at the Secretariat from the
Branches. The extremely few complaints that we have received
in this regard were resolved in quick time and always in a manner
that exonerated our National Secretariat of any blame or fault.
2.3.2 To enhance the Secretariat’s efficiency, we would be
placing before you, our NEC members, in the course of this meeting,
for your kind approval, a new fit-forpurpose organogram. One
of the innovations in the new organogram is the inclusion of the
position of an Internal Auditor. In any properly organized
establishment, the Internal Auditor is significant livewire
personnel for ensuring prudence and accountability in financial
management. His role is so central to achieving these ideals
such that no serious and successful organization operates in modern
times without the personnel that fulfills that role. In our
match towards the entrenchment of financial transparency,
accountability and prudence, we consider that position critical for
the NBA and we are counting on the support of the NEC in approving
the new organogram which includes that function.
2.4 Website Revamp
2.4.1 Work has started on the revamping and modernization of our
website. The NBA deserves a modern website with the right
customer experience, aesthetics and functionality and that is what
we are committed to unveiling by or before the next NEC
meeting. Websites, apart from serving as information portals
have their functional uses. Their interactive profile in
modern times allows for online resolution of problems and issues by
visitors to the website. These are attributes that absent but
which we will be introducing in our revamped and modernized
website.
2.4.2 Prior to now, separate standalone websites were created
each year for our Annual General Conference (“AGC”). From
this year, our AGC portal will be hosted in our NBA website and
there would be no need for the award of yearly contracts for the
creation of websites solely for our AGC event. Some of our
Sections currently have their own independent standalone websites
which are not linked to the NBA website. SPIDEL is the only one
without a website and the plan is for that Section to be housed and
hosted at the NBA website. Links would be created between the
modernized NBA website and the current standalone SBL and SPL
websites.
2.4.3 As earlier mentioned, the online payment platform which is
hosted at the NBA website would be enhanced to cover online
payments of all fees and dues to the Association. The website
enhancement would include the creation of an online platform for
ordering stamps in a manner that would ensure that branch dues and
other branch levies are fully paid and satisfied by the person
making the order as a condition precedent to the placement of the
orders. Let me quickly assure that we would, in expanding these
frontiers ensure that the Branches are fully carried along and
their concerns addressed and resolved.
2.5 2019 National Elections’
Monitoring
2.5.1 The 2019 National Elections have come and are gone albeit
with the rumbles remaining. We acquitted ourselves very well
in monitoring those elections and publishing objective, fact-based
reports thereon. As you would recall, the Osun State
Governorship elections provided us with a test-run in the
monitoring of this year’s elections and we did not lower nor
deviate from the high standards that that were set by our monitors
in that election. I must here thank all our members
countrywide who volunteered for the monitoring exercise and duly
sent their reports including photographic images to the National
Committee for compilation of our reports. For the
Governorship Elections that were held on 09 March 2019, the
Branches did not receive a dime from the National body and yet, our
members joyfully and enthusiastically volunteered and creditably
carried out their monitoring functions and sent reports to the
National Committee the end result of which is the final
Monitoring Committee Report that would be presented to NEC at
this meeting.
2.6 Welfare of Members
2.6.1 Our members have for some time now been clamouring for the
resuscitation of the life insurance cover that used to be in place
for our members, but which unfortunately was not renewed and was
therefore not operative in the last couple of years. We have
hearkened to the calls of our members and, apart from having
discussions with Leadway Assurance Plc, the company that originally
provided us with the insurance cover that became defunct, we have
held talks with WAPIC Insurance Plc, another reputable insurance
company. Both organizations have made presentations to us on
insurance covers that extend beyond life and include medical
expenses, temporary and permanent disabilities and critical illness
benefits. Their proposals have been uploaded and placed
before NEC for final consideration and approval. As soon as
approval is obtained, we would work to reinstitute this welfare
package for the benefit of our members.
2.7 Technical Committee for Conference
Planning (“TCCP”)
2.7.1 This year, we started the planning of our Annual General
Conference quite early. NEC had, during our 06 December 2018
meeting, graciously given me the anticipatory approval to
constitute the Committee which I did and would presently, in the
course of this meeting, present the membership list to
members. One of the innovations that we introduced in the
constitution of this year’s TCCP is that we appointed three
Chairmen from each of the NBA Zones as members of the Committee and
representatives of their respective zones. The Chairmen
directly feel the pulse of our members in the Branches and we
believe that those of them that have been appointed as members of
the TCCP would better appreciate the thought-process that goes into
the planning and organization of the AGC apart from their bringing
fresh and vibrant perspectives into the Committee’s work
schedule. We are confident that this year’s TCCP will deliver
on the promise of a world-class AGC that would be within the
economic reach of our members. The Committee would be
presenting their first report to NEC very shortly.
2.8 Rule of Law
2.8.1 Perhaps, the single most dominant and talked-about issue
in our professional life this year has been issues and matters
concerning our Chief Justice of Nigeria, Honorable Mr. Walter S N
Onnoghen, GCON (“Onnoghen CJN”). Our current travails as
represented by the Onnoghen CJN saga is too well known to all of us
and too painful to bear recounting. Suffice to state that
throughout this unfortunate and bewildering incident, the NBA has
stood on the side and in defense of the rule of law, the
independence of the judiciary and the principles of separation of
powers between the three arms of government. As we have
consistently pointed out, the Onnoghen CJN incident is but a
metaphor for these immortal and immutable principles. It
reminds us of how dangerously insecure the tenure of our judicial
officers is, by extension, how susceptible to attack the
independence of our judiciary is. These principles, we must
reiterate, have no political, tribal or religious colourations and
the positions of the NBA were impervious and blind to these
divisive and inhibiting considerations.
2.8.2 We must commend our members who stood up to be counted in
the struggle for the promotion and protection of the rule of law
vis-à-vis the Onnoghen CJN saga and it is our earnest hope that the
Executive arm of the Federal Government of Nigeria would see reason
not only to terminate the on-going ugly and self-immolating
spectacle at the Code of Conduct Tribunal but also find a way to
resolve all the surrounding issues relating to Onnoghen CJN in a
way and manner that would retrieve for us all and in our collective
interest what may be left of the shredded and tattered dignity of
our justice sector. The NBA remains unrelenting in its
campaign in this regard.
3.
Focus in the Coming Months
I must, at this point, highlight some of the significant issues
and activities that will engage our minds and occupy our time and
efforts in the coming months before our next NEC meeting:
3.1
Constitution and Electoral Review
3.1.1 NEC had graciously granted me an anticipatory approval for
the composition of the Constitution and Electoral Review
Committee. We would be publishing the composition of the
Committee in the next couple of days with matching orders for them
to consult with our members and Branches and come up with a
reviewed Constitution and Electoral process for our
Association. Similar to the composition of our TCCP, we would
ensure that representative Chairmen are appointed to this Committee
from the Branches. The Committee would have a timeline that
would ensure the presentation of the amended Constitution at our
Annual General Meeting that would be held during the AGC in August
2019.
3.2
Alternative Sources of Funds
3.2.1 Given the Association’s debt overhang as shown in our
Financial Statement, it is imperative that we have alternative
sources of funds. This is an area that we would be working
quite hard at in the coming months including raising funds from our
patrons and members. We would update NEC with our efforts in
this regard.
3.3 Clean Data
Capture
3.3.1 We have already started working on the verification of our
membership data as a prelude to creating a clean database of our
members which would be used for all purposes including but not at
all limited to our NBA elections. This was one of our
significant campaign promises and we are hoping to be largely done
with this project by or before the AGC in August 2019.
3.4 Young
Lawyers
3.4.1 In the coming days and months, we would pay more than the
ordinary
attention to issues concerning our young lawyers starting with
the constitution of the Council of the Young Lawyers Forum for
which NEC had graciously granted me an anticipatory approval during
the 06 December 2018 meeting. Happily, we have great
champions of young lawyers amongst the National Officers one of the
leading ones being Akorede Habeeb Lawal, our Assistant Publicity
Secretary. He could easily pass as one of the most
young-lawyers-centric members of our Team and he bubbles with
several ideas and thoughts concerning young lawyers most of which
he has shared with me and which we plan to implement in the coming
months.
3.5 Rule of
Law
3.5.1 The promotion and protection of the Rule of Law is the
lead motif of and for our Association. It permeates the
entirety of our professional lives and is not dated howsoever; it
is a principle and fight that is immutable and alive at all times
and demands eternal vigilance. We would continue to live up to our
commitment in this regard. In the coming months, we would beam even
more searchlight into the crevices of our national life where the
Rule of Law and its twin principle, the Fundamental Rights of our
people, may be under assault and in bondage. We would
continue to speak out in defense of these principles and will
equally commend the authorities when such commendations are
deserved
3.6 FRN v
Usoro
3.6.1 I cannot conclude this Address without updating you, my
NEC members, on my prosecution by the EFCC on allegations of money
laundering. I had presented to you during our 06 December
2018 NEC meeting the facts of this Charge. Those facts have
not changed howsoever. The Proof of Evidence which was subsequently
served on me does not contain any fact that contradicts the
position that I presented to you, to wit, that I am being
prosecuted for (a) professional fees totaling N1.1bn that were
legitimately earned and paid to Paul Usoro & Co
(“PUC”) by Akwa Ibom State Government
(“AKSG”) between 2015 and 2016; and (b)
professional fees totaling N300m that were paid to PUC by Governor
Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State for the benefit of our colleagues
who provided professional services to the Governor.
3.6.2 The PUC Bank Statement of Account that forms part of the
Proof of Evidence clearly shows that the N300m was duly paid to
those colleagues of ours who rendered those services to the
Governor. The N1.1bn was not and is not the property of AKSG
and nobody, apart from the EFCC, has claimed otherwise. The
N300m to the best of my knowledge was not paid from the coffers of
AKSG and no one apart from the
EFCC has so claimed. As the trial unfolds, we will keep
our members duly informed. 3.6.3 I must thank all our
members, from the depths of my heart, for the overwhelming support
and solidarity that Mfon and I have enjoyed and received from all
of you across the nation. You have seen this persecution for what
it is: a struggle for the soul of our profession and means of
livelihood and not just the persecution of Paul. We are so
very touched by your faith in us and your show of love, from
telephone calls, personal visits, text messages and other forms of
communication. I must also thank most sincerely, my team of
lawyers, led by our past President, Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN for
all their work on my behalf. We cannot repay you for this
show of faith and love for and in us. Our prayers is that the
Almighty will reward you all abundantly. We feel confident
that our collective efforts would be rewarded and truth will
ultimately out and we will all be vindicated.
3.6.4 Perhaps, I need to mention here that my current
persecution is not isolated. As a profession, we are under
siege. For the very first time, both in our country’s history
and in the history of our Association, the NBA Elections of 2018
has been the subject of purported investigation by the EFCC.
I do not believe that such an investigation is within the purview
of the EFCC, seeing as there was no financial or economic crime
that was alleged. I am also not aware that the EFCC has taken
as much interest in the activities of other professionals and their
associations as it has taken in our profession and our Association,
particularly in recent years. To put it mildly, our
profession and indeed the justice sector, I repeat, is under
siege. Even the Independent Corrupt Practice Commission
(“ICPC”) has taken to inviting our past Presidents
and General Secretaries for questioning over the contract award for
the construction of our National Secretariat.
3.6.5 But then, these agencies do not act alone; they act in
close collaboration with some of our members. The petition
that triggered the purported EFCC investigation into our 2018
Elections, for example, was written by one of our members.
Indeed, we have taken to reporting ourselves to the EFCC even in
internal matters of the Association which could be resolved
internally. We do need to rethink our ways and reassess our
circumstances in this regard, in our collective interest, for our
collective good and for the good of our profession and our
Association.
4.
Conclusion
4.1 In concluding, I must thank the President of the National
Industrial Court, Honorable Justice B A Adejumo, for graciously
sponsoring the cocktail that was held for our NEC members last
night, Wednesday, 27 March 2019. The Chief Judge of the
Federal Capital Territory, Honorable Justice Ishaq Bello, was kind
enough to provide us with the venue for the cocktail. Our gratitude
also goes to our
distinguished colleague, the Secretary to the Government of the
Federation, Mr. Boss Mustapha, who is partially sponsoring the
dinner event this evening for our members. Access Bank Plc
has also donated for the hosting of this NEC meeting and we thank
them most sincerely.
4.2 Once again, I thank all of you, my NEC members, for your
support and consistent encouragement. I wish us all fruitful
deliberations in this NEC meeting and a safe journey back to our
various Branches. Long live the Nigerian Bar
Association. Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Paul Usoro, SAN
President
Kwara Governor Abdulfatah
FAAC: As Kwara Gets N3.3bn for March, 16 LGAs to share
N2.4bn
By Alabidun Shuaib Abdulrahman
Kwara State Government said it has received a sum of
N3,307,918,431,91 as allocation from the Federation Accounts
Allocation Committee (FAAC) for the month of March, 2019.
The State Commissioner for Finance, Alhaji Demola Banu, made
this known in a statement he released to newsmen in Ilorin on
Thursday.
According to Banu, the State Government’s allocation was made up
of statutory receipt of N2,135,323,050.74bn, Value Added Tax (VAT)
of N901,610,816.11m, exchange gain of N4,725,434.41m, excess bank
charges of N25,193,474.21m, and foreign exchange equalisation
N241,065,656.44m.
He further explained that the 16 Local Government Councils in
the State are to receive N2,425,638,638,39 as allocation for the
month.
The Commissioner, however, clarified that the council’s
allocation comprises statutory allocation of N1,735,851,170.04bn,
VAT of N511,054,779.12m, exchange gain of N3,116,744.30m, excess
bank charges of N16,616,803.97m and foreign exchange equalisation
of N158,999,140.96m.