In a mild drama , another professional association of lawyers called to the Nigeria Bar surfaced yesterday, threatening to end the monopoly of the 89-year-old Nigerian Bar Association (NBA).
The association, known as the Law Society of Nigeria (LSN), is led by Mr. Kunle Ogunba (SAN).
LSN, which described itself as a “new sheriff in town” made its appearance through a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Douglas Ogbankwa.
But, already, the group hit stormy waters after LSN convener and founding secretary, Richard Oma Ahonaruogho (SAN), disowned Society’s executive.
He explained that he is adding that the purported executives of the LSN as announced are not known to the body.
The number of lawyers produced in the country was 197,105 as of July 2021.
Legal practitioners in Nigeria had been regulated solely under the umbrella of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) founded in 1933.
But there have been failed attempts to split the association, the last being the August 2020 move by two lawyers, Mr. Nuhu Ibrahim and Mr. Abdulbasit Suleiman, to form the New Nigerian Bar Association (NNBA).
Ogbankwa said in the statement that LSN emerged in a bid to redefine the ideas of the founding fathers of the legal profession.
He described the legal profession in Nigeria as having a chequered history spanning from “the sublime to the ridiculous”.
Ogbankwa said that LSN was established to keep the legal practice in Nigeria in line with international best practices.
“In redefining the ideas of the founding fathers of the legal profession in Nigeria, the LSN called the Nigerian Bar, has been established.
“This is in keeping with international best practices, which allow for an alternative, to ensure that lawyers thrive within the realm of those they have shared values with,” he said.
purported letter claiming to be that of the LSN are alien to the Law Society of Nigeria (NLS) and amount to the tort of passing-off.
“In conclusion on behalf of the Promoters of the Law Society of Nigeria (LSN) and as Founding Secretary, I hereby state categorically that NO EXECUTIVE has been appointed for the Law Society of Nigeria as at today, Sunday 30th October, 2022, and that the purported notice should be disregarded,” Ahonaruogho added.
