Nine (9) committees have been inaugurated to handle various
areas of interest in the Nigerian Bar Association. Mr. ABUBAKAR
BALARABE MAHMOUD, OON, SAN, President of the Nigerian Bar
Association made this clear on the 17th of July, 2017,
during the inauguration ceremony of the committees at Reiz
Continental Hotel, Abuja. The speech which was made available to
TheNigerialawyers, contained the essence of the inauguration and
what the Nine committees are intended to achieve in no time.
According to him, “The establishment of
Committees is fundamental to ensuring a more active Bar as it is
not possible for the National Officers or the Secretariat to deal
with all activities and functions of a Bar. In addition, the use of
Committees allows lawyers who have interest and expertise in a
particular area to focus on specific issues.”
The Nine committee that were inaugurated are the NBA Welfare
Committee, Human Rights Institute Governing Council, NBA
Anti-Corruption Commission, NBA Election Working Group, Criminal
Justice And Law Reform Committee, NBA Editorial Board, NBA
Legislative Advocacy Committee, Young Lawyers Forum, and the NBA
Prosecution Team.
In listing their references, the president outlined the mandates
of the various committees and how their formulation and
implementation will achieve the desired objective of their
inauguration. According to him the NBA WELFARE
COMMITTEE is mandated to formulate a blue print/strategy
on the welfare of lawyers, to draw up an action plan for the
implementation of the NBA Welfare blue print, to implement the NBA
welfare policy and blue print, to effectively look into matters
which include designing a nationwide insurance policy to cover the
risk to which legal practitioners are exposed to in the course of
performance of their duties such as accidents, death, whether by
natural causes or other means, to formulate a sound, pragmatic
welfare package for young lawyers that will accommodate matters of
pupilage, remuneration, work ethics, and integration into the legal
profession and encourage specialization into the various areas of
practice, etc., to effect where necessary, the establishment of the
lawyers’ cooperative societies at the branch levels of the NBA to
help members overcome some financial burdens, to Implement the
pension scheme and insurance scheme policies as laid down by the
Welfare Trust Foundation, to effect practical ways of acquiring
funding particularly for mid level legal practitioners, to cover
their everyday need such as car loans, soft loans for the
acquisition of a law office and/or law office equipment, law books
subsidy, etc, to sensitize and implement the NBA Healthcare
Management Scheme, and other approved tasks and assignments that
will assist the Committee in achieving their overall mandate.
The Human Rights Institute Governing Council according to the
President is expected to promote protect and enforce human right
using every means available in line with its stated mandate. This
is needed at this time when the country is confronted with
different human right challenges so he affirms.
The NBA ANTI-CORRUPTION COMMISSION is also
another committee mandated to deal with the problem of Corruption
facing Nigeria. According to the president, many agencies have
already been established to combat graft, but not many successes
have been achieved so far. He emphasized the fact that corruption
is also a problem facing the legal profession hence the need for
the commission to address graft matters in that light. Thus
he stated the duty or mandate of the commission which are: to work
with the 125 branches of the NBA to set up an Anti-Corruption
Committee in each Branch, set and maintain the highest standards of
conduct aimed at avoiding corrupt practices at the Bar and the
Bench, establish formal and transparent mechanisms for applying
anti-bribery and corruption prevention measures, monitor and
investigate allegations of corruption leveled against members of
the Bar and Bench, identify practitioners who carry out corrupt
activities in the legal profession and justice system and forward
their names and evidence of corruption practices to the relevant
agencies for prompt action and prosecution, identify corrupt
practices and factors or circumstances that promote corruption in
the Bar and Bench, organize roundtable/stakeholders meeting on the
negative impact of corruption on the economy for the
Anti-Corruption Day, the 9th of December 2017, develop and
facilitate policy dialogue and anti-corruption training
courses/workshop for stakeholders in the fight against corruption,
develop feedback mechanism from anti corruption agencies and the
general public and to do all things necessary to ensure a
corruption free society.
Another area of interest is the YOUNG LAWYERS
FORUM which is targeted at the welfare and interest of
young lawyers. According to the president, this Forum is covered by
the Bye-Laws enshrined in the NBA Constitution which govern the
affairs of Sections/Institutes/Forums. He stated that the term of
reference of this forum is to formulate policies that will further
the interest of young lawyers of the NBA, to promote and protect
the interest of young lawyers in Nigeria, to advocate for the
welfare of young lawyers in Nigeria and to design and advocate for
mentorship programme young lawyers.
The NBA PROSECUTION TEAM according to the
president is to prosecute lawyers against whom prima facie case of
professional misconduct has been established. To achieve this, the
Team is expected to work with the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary
Committee in achieving its objectives. Other committees
include the NBA Election Working Group, NBA Editorial Board, NBA
Legislative Advocacy Committee and the Criminal Justice and Law
Reform Committee.
The Criminal Justice and Law Reform Committee, according to him,
is mandated to ensure that law enforcement policies and practices
employed to investigate, charge, and prosecute individuals are
appropriate and accurate, to organize conferences, colloquium,
workshops and roundtable that will ensure an effective system by
making policy makers, evaluate and propose recommendation for a
better criminal justice system in Nigeria, to study and come out
with recommendations on the Administration of Criminal Justice Bill
worked upon by the Panel on Implementation of Justice Reform set up
by the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation, to
redefine the roles of Security and Anti Crime Agencies in the
attainment of Criminal Justice, to unify, harmonize and modernize
the criminal code and the penal code, and keep them relevant to the
needs of our contemporary society, to identify obstacles in the
apprehension and prompt prosecution of offenders, and to
formulate practice direction for prosecutors, and a total revamp of
criminal trials with a view to enhancing the speedy dispensation of
justice. In his words he said:
“Although much work has been done in the area of
Criminal Justice reform which has culminated in the enactment of
the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, much work still
needs to be done. And that is why the Criminal Justice Reform
Committee is very important. This Committee will also conduct audit
of certain laws with a view to identifying those that need reform.
So law reform is a key part of this Committee`s assignment. This
Committee is expected to work in consultation with government
institutions and Civil Society Organizations.”
The president concluded by reiterating the importance of
committee work to the scheme of activities of the current
administration. According to him:
“The reports you turn in will not be left gathering dust in
the archives. They will be implemented, either at the level of your
national officers or NEC or Conference or even relevant National
Institutions. It is the desire of this administration to support
its Committees to fulfill its mandate. The National Secretariat
will be available to support the work of the various Committees. I
thank you all for coming. Your assignment with the greatest respect
begins now”.
Nine (9) committees have been inaugurated to handle various
areas of interest in the Nigerian Bar Association. Mr. ABUBAKAR
BALARABE MAHMOUD, OON, SAN, President of the Nigerian Bar
Association made this clear on the 17th of July, 2017,
during the inauguration ceremony of the committees at Reiz
Continental Hotel, Abuja. The speech which was made available to
TheNigerialawyers, contained the essence of the inauguration and
what the Nine committees are intended to achieve in no time.
According to him, “The establishment of
Committees is fundamental to ensuring a more active Bar as it is
not possible for the National Officers or the Secretariat to deal
with all activities and functions of a Bar. In addition, the use of
Committees allows lawyers who have interest and expertise in a
particular area to focus on specific issues.”
The Nine committee that were inaugurated are the NBA Welfare
Committee, Human Rights Institute Governing Council, NBA
Anti-Corruption Commission, NBA Election Working Group, Criminal
Justice And Law Reform Committee, NBA Editorial Board, NBA
Legislative Advocacy Committee, Young Lawyers Forum, and the NBA
Prosecution Team.
In listing their references, the president outlined the mandates
of the various committees and how their formulation and
implementation will achieve the desired objective of their
inauguration. According to him the NBA WELFARE
COMMITTEE is mandated to formulate a blue print/strategy
on the welfare of lawyers, to draw up an action plan for the
implementation of the NBA Welfare blue print, to implement the NBA
welfare policy and blue print, to effectively look into matters
which include designing a nationwide insurance policy to cover the
risk to which legal practitioners are exposed to in the course of
performance of their duties such as accidents, death, whether by
natural causes or other means, to formulate a sound, pragmatic
welfare package for young lawyers that will accommodate matters of
pupilage, remuneration, work ethics, and integration into the legal
profession and encourage specialization into the various areas of
practice, etc., to effect where necessary, the establishment of the
lawyers’ cooperative societies at the branch levels of the NBA to
help members overcome some financial burdens, to Implement the
pension scheme and insurance scheme policies as laid down by the
Welfare Trust Foundation, to effect practical ways of acquiring
funding particularly for mid level legal practitioners, to cover
their everyday need such as car loans, soft loans for the
acquisition of a law office and/or law office equipment, law books
subsidy, etc, to sensitize and implement the NBA Healthcare
Management Scheme, and other approved tasks and assignments that
will assist the Committee in achieving their overall mandate.
The Human Rights Institute Governing Council according to the
President is expected to promote protect and enforce human right
using every means available in line with its stated mandate. This
is needed at this time when the country is confronted with
different human right challenges so he affirms.
The NBA ANTI-CORRUPTION COMMISSION is also
another committee mandated to deal with the problem of Corruption
facing Nigeria. According to the president, many agencies have
already been established to combat graft, but not many successes
have been achieved so far. He emphasized the fact that corruption
is also a problem facing the legal profession hence the need for
the commission to address graft matters in that light. Thus
he stated the duty or mandate of the commission which are: to work
with the 125 branches of the NBA to set up an Anti-Corruption
Committee in each Branch, set and maintain the highest standards of
conduct aimed at avoiding corrupt practices at the Bar and the
Bench, establish formal and transparent mechanisms for applying
anti-bribery and corruption prevention measures, monitor and
investigate allegations of corruption leveled against members of
the Bar and Bench, identify practitioners who carry out corrupt
activities in the legal profession and justice system and forward
their names and evidence of corruption practices to the relevant
agencies for prompt action and prosecution, identify corrupt
practices and factors or circumstances that promote corruption in
the Bar and Bench, organize roundtable/stakeholders meeting on the
negative impact of corruption on the economy for the
Anti-Corruption Day, the 9th of December 2017, develop and
facilitate policy dialogue and anti-corruption training
courses/workshop for stakeholders in the fight against corruption,
develop feedback mechanism from anti corruption agencies and the
general public and to do all things necessary to ensure a
corruption free society.
Another area of interest is the YOUNG LAWYERS
FORUM which is targeted at the welfare and interest of
young lawyers. According to the president, this Forum is covered by
the Bye-Laws enshrined in the NBA Constitution which govern the
affairs of Sections/Institutes/Forums. He stated that the term of
reference of this forum is to formulate policies that will further
the interest of young lawyers of the NBA, to promote and protect
the interest of young lawyers in Nigeria, to advocate for the
welfare of young lawyers in Nigeria and to design and advocate for
mentorship programme young lawyers.
The NBA PROSECUTION TEAM according to the
president is to prosecute lawyers against whom prima facie case of
professional misconduct has been established. To achieve this, the
Team is expected to work with the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary
Committee in achieving its objectives. Other committees
include the NBA Election Working Group, NBA Editorial Board, NBA
Legislative Advocacy Committee and the Criminal Justice and Law
Reform Committee.
The Criminal Justice and Law Reform Committee, according to him,
is mandated to ensure that law enforcement policies and practices
employed to investigate, charge, and prosecute individuals are
appropriate and accurate, to organize conferences, colloquium,
workshops and roundtable that will ensure an effective system by
making policy makers, evaluate and propose recommendation for a
better criminal justice system in Nigeria, to study and come out
with recommendations on the Administration of Criminal Justice Bill
worked upon by the Panel on Implementation of Justice Reform set up
by the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation, to
redefine the roles of Security and Anti Crime Agencies in the
attainment of Criminal Justice, to unify, harmonize and modernize
the criminal code and the penal code, and keep them relevant to the
needs of our contemporary society, to identify obstacles in the
apprehension and prompt prosecution of offenders, and to
formulate practice direction for prosecutors, and a total revamp of
criminal trials with a view to enhancing the speedy dispensation of
justice. In his words he said:
“Although much work has been done in the area of
Criminal Justice reform which has culminated in the enactment of
the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, much work still
needs to be done. And that is why the Criminal Justice Reform
Committee is very important. This Committee will also conduct audit
of certain laws with a view to identifying those that need reform.
So law reform is a key part of this Committee`s assignment. This
Committee is expected to work in consultation with government
institutions and Civil Society Organizations.”
The president concluded by reiterating the importance of
committee work to the scheme of activities of the current
administration. According to him:
“The reports you turn in will not be left gathering dust in
the archives. They will be implemented, either at the level of your
national officers or NEC or Conference or even relevant National
Institutions. It is the desire of this administration to support
its Committees to fulfill its mandate. The National Secretariat
will be available to support the work of the various Committees. I
thank you all for coming. Your assignment with the greatest respect
begins now”.