Efforts by the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to remove
charlatans and incidents of ‘charge and bail’ lawyers within its
ranks received a boost last week when the five branches of the
association in Ogun State met and passed a resolution to that
effect.
The five branches agreed to address the malaise of touting and
prevailing quackery practices at magistrate courts in the state.
This came after a “thorough debate” at a meeting convened by the
head of Ogun State judiciary on August 20, 2019.
Chairman of the Abeokuta Branch, Emmanuel Olu-Alade, in a
statement, said: “Lawyers are now advised to lodge written
complaints of extortions and unfair practices by court officials to
the Chief Judge directly, the Chief Registrar or through their
branch officers. Payment of money for typing of verification
affidavit has now been abolished as it is no longer the
responsibility of lawyers or their client to assist court officials
in the performance of their duties in respect of perfection of bail
application.
“Verification sum of N2,000 only will be paid where the court
official will carry out his assignment through public
transportation and where counsel or his client is ready to provide
means of transportation, then no money is required and/or expected
to be paid. Lawyers or their clients are now at liberty to hire
photographer of their choice for verification exercise or any other
assignment where the court requires photographs.
“Inordinate delay by court officials in the presentation of bail
bonds to Magistrates or their duties should be promptly reported.
Lawyers are no longer allowed to convert and/or turn the court
premises into their Chambers or consulting room.
“Lawyers’ clerks are no longer permitted to loiter around or
hang around court premises while anyone in possession of lawyers’
bail bond or in an unauthorised or undignified manner while acting
for a legal practitioner shall be dealt with accordingly. The
search light shall be beamed on our colleagues who collaborate with
Law enforcement officers for referrals. The above will be
implemented in Abeokuta immediately while the Branch Code of
Conduct Task Force is ordered and authorised to see that all these
resolutions are complied with and without delay. The Branch
disciplinary committee should brace up.
“Already, we have penciled down the names of some of our
colleagues and their clerks, who will serve as examples for
others.”