*Gives Directive On How To Get Verified
*Outline Procedure For Change Of Name For Married Lawyers
*Provides Email For Complaint For Missing Names

The Nigerian Bar Association has launched a “find a lawyer” feature at the NBA portal, aimed at wielding out charlatans from the legal practice.

Although, some lawyers have been able to find their names, some others have observed cases of misspelled names, and others not been able to find their names at all.

In a notice signed by the Assistant National Publicity Secretary, Akorede Habeeb Lawal, which LDN sighted, the NBA gave answers to some of the pending questions asked. The NBA in response provided an email in which all complaints like those can be lodged.

“In our continuous bid to wield out charlatans from legal practice and raise public confidence in the Bar, we opted to make public the “find a lawyer” feature on our portal (https://nigerianbar.org.ng/find-lawyer)

“The feedbacks have been massive and reviews have indicated that we are about the only professional body offering such opportunity to members of the public. Since the information went viral, colleagues have expectedly raised some issues which we shall attempt to address here under.”

On how names were generated, the NBA stated that upon a call to bar, all counsel entered their names by hand in the Roll of Legal Practitioners at the Supreme Court, and that the Supreme Court reduces these names into electronic format and always affords the NBA the electronic copy a month or two after each call to bar exercise. Hence, the names they have in their database areas received from the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

“Members have complained that some of their names are not properly spelt while others have stated that their last names appear as middle or first names. As stated above, names are as received from the Supreme Court. However, to resolve this, such member is advised to send a complaint mail to ([email protected].) Counsel should attach his or her Call to Bar Certificate to the mail.

“Another category is that of a member who had gone through the Supreme Court process of changing of name on the roll and his / her new names are not reflected on NBA Portal. Such member is advised to do a complaint mail to ([email protected].) He/she should attach his/her Call to Bar Certificate, Deed of Change of Name, Affidavit and Publication of Change of Name, Evidence of Payment of the last Bar Practising Fee, a copy of the Application to the Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court requesting for change of name and any evidence of the fact that the change of name has been effected.

“Also, some members have been ascribed to branches other than the ones they actually belong to. Any member who is in this category is advised to get verified on the NBA Membership Portal and go-ahead to edit his or her Branch and update his/her further or other details including picture, email, and contact address.”

Members are asked to follow the link (https://nigerianbar.org.ng/membership-portal) to get verified.

“Note further that only verified members may make the Request for correction of name in 1 and change of name in 2 above. Members are therefore urged to get verified.

“A very few number of persons have complained that their names cannot be found on the NBA portal.”

The NBA finally added that while they maintain that names are as received from the Supreme Court, they encourage such person to do a complaint mail to ([email protected].)

“The Call to Bar Certificate of the complainant should be attached to the email,” he said.