The amendment of the Rules of Professional Conduct (RPC) for Legal Practitioners by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN has elicited mixed reactions among lawyers.

While some criticised it for being illegal because the meeting of the Bar Council was not convened, others said there is nothing strange about what Malami did since it was the same procedure that brought the said provisions in 2007

In a statement which was sighted by LegaldeskNG, Prof. Ernest Ojukwu SAN, clarified that the 2007 RPC was approved by the Bar Council

“Bar Council approved in 2007. The only problem with the 2007 version is how the AGF signed. 2007 and 2020 not the same facts

“It was actually a long history. The NEC NBA had approved the new Rule (Justice Orojo draft) under OCJ Okocha in 2001 but [the Bar] Council did not meet. At end of 2006, we touched that draft by adding relicensing, stamp, and seal, CLE, and removed a complicated provision on advertising to keep it simple. The following year, Feb [2007] Bayo [Ojo, SAN, the then AGF] called Bar Council on it”

In a similar development, Mr. RA Lawal-Rabana, SAN in a statement made available to TNL said:

“I do not want to join in the chorus of issuing statements for the sake of it . I was the General-Secretary in 2007 when the RPC was drafted and presented to the GCB for approval.

“There was a full meeting of the council and I did the presentation on behalf of the NBA. I emphasize it was not a unilateral document made by chief Bayo Ojo San the AGF at the material time. Ernest Ojukwu San who coordinated the draft can bear witness.

“Since the NBA has issued a statement we all should allow the NBA to address the issue.”

LDN recalls that the AGF amended the RPC and deleted the following rules, namely: 9(2), 10, 11, 12 and 13

Rule 9(2) prohibits legal practitioner from claiming that he has paid his Bar Practicing Fees (BPF) when he is actually in default. Rule 10 deals with stamp and Seal. Rule 11 provides for Mandatory Continuing Legal Education, Rule 12 provides for Annual Practicing Certificate and Rule 13 provides for Notice of Legal Practice upon setting up a private legal practice

According to the copy available with TNL, Malami said the amendment is made in exercise of the powers conferred on him by section 12(4) of the Legal Practitioners Act as Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice and President of General Council of the Bar.