posted December 12, 2023
The SPA Ajibade Business Luncheon in Lagos, Nigeria, has once again, directed focus on the imperative for Nigerian lawyers to embrace change in order to enhance the quality of their services and elevate their societal standing.
This was the position canvassed at the 16th Annual Business Luncheon, sponsored by SPA Ajibade, which featured a panel of experts who delved into the theme, “The Regulation of Legal Practice in Nigeria: Charting a way forward.”
Chief Anthony Idigbe, the guest speaker and Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association’s Legal Profession Regulation Review Committee, set up during the time the former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Abubakar Balarabe Mahmoud SAN in 2017, addressed the challenges faced by the legal profession with theme ‘’The Regulation of Legal Practice in Nigeria: Charting a way forward’’; emphasizing the need for regulation to maintain standards.
He said the Legal Profession Regulation Bill produced by the committee faced setbacks, including opposition from the body of benchers. Chief Idigbe also, highlighted the lack of diversification in the Nigerian legal system, contributing to the loss of opportunities to foreign law firms.
‘’There is no diversification in the Nigerian legal system as everybody wants to be a barrister and Solicitor, due to the non-regulation of the profession and the result of that is losing brief to foreign law firms. We are losing jobs because foreign law firms have taken most of the juicy clients and brief in Nigeria’’
In his contribution, Mr. Chukwuka Ikwuazom SAN, expressed concerns about the disorganized and disjointed nature of law practice in Nigeria, when compared to law practice in other parts of the world especially in New York USA where he is also registered as a lawyer. He therefore, proposed the decentralization of disciplinary procedures to streamline processes and eliminate the culture of silence.
Afam Osigwe SAN called for holistic reforms, emphasizing the importance of quality education, training, and discipline in shaping the legal profession positively. Optimistically, he surmised that “with the Legal Profession Regulation Bill, I think we have enough to work with and get something better”.
Barrister Tobenna Erojikwe highlighted the challenges stemming from the absence of a unified regulation body and inadequate discipline of lawyers. He noted the lack of political will to address these issues, attributing it to unenlightened self-interest in regulating law firms and training lawyers.
Mrs. Joyce Oduah, on her part, emphasized the necessity of a comprehensive upgrade in the standards of law practice, encompassing education, living conditions, remuneration, mandatory continuing legal education, discipline, and supervision to maintain excellence.
Babatunde Ajibade SAN, the convener of the business luncheon, concluded that the current regulation of the legal profession in Nigeria is inadequate and urged for a much-needed upgrade.
The event, both virtual and physical, was moderated by Boma Alabi SAN, providing a platform for robust discussions and recommendations for the future of legal practice in Nigeria.