Random Fees By Lawyers Now Unethical, Says NBA-NEC Monitoring Committees To Police New Scale Of Charges
The National Executive Council of the Nigerian Bar Association(NBA-NEC), at its meeting held yesterday discussed several key updates and approvals.
Foremost among the issues addressed was an update from the Lawyers Remuneration Committee that a new Scale of Charges has been officially gazetted, making it professional misconduct going forward for lawyers to charge fees arbitrarily outside what is prescribed by law. The NEC gave its stamp of approval, while also directing NBA branches nationwide to constitute monitoring committees on fee compliance issues and complaints.
In a bid to settle outstanding debts, approval was granted by the NEC for the payment of N14,223,640 to clear obligations owed by NBA vendors from the 2022 Annual General Conference (AGC). This payment will assuage conference contractors and suppliers who were still owed.
Technology was also a major point of discussion, as the NBA mobile app has now launched and is available for free download on Google Play Store. The app allows seamless transaction of critical Bar activities like payment of annual dues, AGC registration, verification of lawyers, lodging complaints, and connecting with required legal services.
Identification of legal practitioners is set to become easier in future, as the NEC was briefed of plans already in motion to roll out customized car stickers containing key details of lawyers such as names, branch affiliation, and contact information. This innovation aims to tag lawyers’ vehicles for proper recognition.
Though specifics were not given, briefings were taken at the NEC meeting regarding two ongoing prominent public interest cases – the Mohbads coroner’s inquest ongoing in Ikorodu, Lagos and a recorded assault incident involving one Adam Uduak, also in Lagos. Updates were presented by the 3rd Vice President of the NBA.
Finally, as part of statutory obligations, the meeting scheduled two impending conferences already in the NBA calendar – the National Women Forum Conference in Lagos for March 21-22, 2024 and the Justice Sector Summit over April 24-25 of the same year. The NEC therefore put in place measures on final preparations towards hosting successful events.
