A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr. J.S Okutepa has questioned the place of the Nigerian Bar Association and its value to the Legal Profession, stating that it is in a very sad state.

This is contained in a statement issued by him which was made available to TheNigeriaLawyer.

“What is the value of the Nigerian Bar Association to the legal profession. I want to know.” He said.

Meanwhile, he noted that NBA appears not to be promoting the rule of law, the motto with which the Association is being driven.

“The motto of the Association is promoting the rule of law. Is NBA really as an association promoting the rule of law or destroying the rule of law.” He said.

Furthermore, he noted that the NBA did nothing while the recently amended CAMA was signed into Law, which has displaced Lawyers’ jobs.

“The newly amended CAMA seems to have made lawyers to lose many job opportunities.

“Where was NBA when that law was being amended.” He said.

In addition, he stated that the NBA is doing nothing in ensuring effective justice delivery system in Nigeria.

“Currently the Supreme Court has only 12 Justices and their lordships are overwhelming with work, what has NBA done to make the power that be fund the judiciary adequately for quick dispensation of justice and appoint more Justices to that court, instead of watching recommendations for appointments gathering dust in executive archives.” He said.

Furthermore, he questioned the value of the Annual General Conference (AGC) of NBA stating that huge amounts are being budgeted for the process.

“What has been the utilitarian value of NBA to majority of lawyers at the annual rituals called conferences of NBA.

“Year in year out humongous amount of money are budgeted and spent on these near no value conferences and yet Nigerian lawyers who have been cheated by their own association cannot do anything.” He said.

Also, he stated that NBA has not done anything for Lawyers who are in need of financial support.

“Many lawyers are sick and needed financial help from their own association, what has NBA done for them. I am forced to ask, what is the value of NBA to the vast majority of Nigerian lawyers and the legal profession.”

Meanwhile, he noted that the profession has lost its pride of place in the Nigerian society.

“The legal profession and legal education is almost loosing its core values in Nigerian society, what is NBA doing to restore these core values. NBA used to bark and bite before.

“But today it has lost it barking and bitting power. Again I ask what is the value of NBA to the legal profession.” He said.

Finally, the learned silk stated that there are several anachronistic principles that are still driven by the judgements of our Courts, thus, what has NBA done.

“Many archaic and anachronistic legal road blocks have been set on the road to justice in Nigeria by some decisions of our courts.

“What has NBA done to see that judgments rooted in anachronistic principles that give no justice to our people are done away with or departed from in the overall interest of the society and the legal profession.” He said.

“I ask again what is the value of NBA to the legal profession and vast majority of the members of the Bar.” He concluded.