The Nigerian Bar Association has through its Section on Legal Practice @nba_slp issued a Cease and Desist Notice to First Bank of Nigeria Plc and Kudi Consult Ltd over the unlawful ‘legal services’advertorial placed in Thisday Newspaper of 2nd of July, 2020. It said:

 

“Our attention had been drawn to some recent newspaper publications including those of Kudi Konsult Ltd, and First Bank Plc wherein there appeared to be infringements of the provisions of the Legal Practitioners Act Cap L.11 LFN 2004 and the Rules of Professional conduct for Lawyers 2007.”

In a statement made available to LEGALDESKNG signed by the Chairman, Oluseun Abimbola FCArb, NBA-SLP said it has issued a CEASE and DESIST Notice to them because a lot of lawyers raised concern on the publications

“A number of our colleagues have consequent to this, expressed concerns about these publications in view of the provisions of the above laws. Please be assured that the Council of the Section on Legal Practice had previously been mandated by the President of the Nigerian Bar Association to officially take up on behalf of the NBA, infringement matters of this nature, upon which the SLP had in the past engaged various corporations.

“Accordingly, we have taken steps to address the recent publications including our issuance of a CEASE and DESIST Notice to these organizations whose actions have been brought to our notice.”

NBA-SLP said it has the mandate to intervene and ensure compliance with regulations of the legal profession whenever they are breached by organizations

“Historically, the NBA Section on Legal Practice had been charged with the responsibility of enforcing compliance by organizations and corporations whose acts infringe on laws and regulations governing the legal profession. This has informed our intervention against a number of corporations whose actions and business practices have been found to infringe on our regulations, while also engaging with Corporate Counsel and Legal Advisers of various corporations on such matters. Our objectives as a Section which includes enhancing our professional development and deepening Professional Ethics, among others, ground our commitment to this cause.”

NBA-SLP therefore assures NBA that it will continue to protect the profession and ensure compliance with the rules of the profession. It added that it will keep members updated of developments.

“Dear colleagues, be assured that the SLP will continue to work in line with this mandate to ensure the protection of our profession and ensure our extant laws and regulations are complied with by all users of legal services, as well as employers of legal practitioners. We shall continue to keep the NBA secretariat informed of developments accordingly.

“Thank you for your continuing confidence and cooperation with the President of the NBA in his quest to protect the rule of law and our professional services, a mandate the SLP will continue to support to enforce.”