Court orders registration of new lawyers association to rival NBA

The Corporate Affairs Commission has been directed by the Federal High Court in Abuja to register a new national association for attorneys.

Because the CAC did not register their association as a legal practitioner body in the nation, some attorneys had filed a lawsuit against it.

Bolaji Ayorinde, Tejumola Adigun, Mela Nunge, Garba Gajam, Emeka Ichoku, and Chioma Ferguson are the attorneys.

The plaintiffs in the case argued that the names being considered for registration as a body of lawyers should not be confused with the Nigerian Bar Association's name in order to avoid misleading the public.
In a ruling dated December 15, 2023, which our correspondent was able to view on Tuesday, Justice Gladys Olotu directed the CAC to accept any suggested names that the plaintiffs submitted.

The plaintiffs have filed the following names: "Association of Legal Practitioners of Nigeria," "Nigerian Law Society," "Nigerian Bar Society," and "Nigerian Lawyers' Society."
The Nigerian Law Society, the Nigerian Bar Society, the Nigerian Lawyers' Society, and the Association of Legal Practitioners of Nigeria are the plaintiffs' suggested names. The judge directed the CAS to "approve for registration and thereafter register any of the proposed names submitted to it on behalf of the plaintiffs" and to "issue a certificate of registration to that effect."

According to Olotu, the type of association the plaintiffs intend to register is covered by the right to peaceful assembly and association, which is protected by Section 40 of the Constitution, Article 10 of the ACHPR, and Article 20 of the UDHR.

The only professional association for lawyers in Nigeria is still the Nigerian Bar Association, which was founded in 1933.

The NBA has experienced numerous instances of multiple groups competing for registration since its founding.
Calls to NBA spokesperson Akorede Lawal's line revealed it was unreachable, so attempts to get a response were unsuccessful. He has yet to respond to the message sent to him as of the time of filling this report.