The President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Abubakar Balarabe Mahmoud, OON SAN in consonance with one of the four thematic areas of focus of the current leadership of NBA has constituted the Legal Profession Regulation Review Committee under the Chairmanship of Mr. Anthony Idigbe SAN and Dr. Aminu Gamawa as Secretary.

The Nigerian Bar Association has repeatedly expressed concerns in the falling standard of legal education and legal practice . This is a disturbing phenomenon that must be addressed urgently and adequately.

It is in addressing this issue that this committee is constituted with the following terms of reference:

1. To review the current regulatory objectives and the regulatory architecture of the legal profession and advise on its suitability to meet the current requirements for a robust, responsive and independent modern legal profession in Nigeria;

2. To determine on whether the Nigerian Bar Association should retain both its regulatory and representative functions in the legal profession and if so, what necessary measures should be put in place to strengthen these roles and ensure that neither is compromised.

3. In particular, to review the role of the Body of Benchers, the General Council of the Bar, the Council for Legal Education, the Supreme Court of Nigeria and the Nigerian Bar Association in the regulation of the legal profession and determine if the roles being played by these institutions and organs are appropriate to meet the needs of a robust and modern and independent legal profession in Nigeria;

4. To determine for instance, given the current composition of the Body of Benchers, if its role should not be formal and ceremonial limited to formal call to bar and formal disbarment of members of the legal profession, whilst ceding the more rigorous duty of regulation to the more appropriate organs either of the NBA or the General Council of the Bar or any desirable agency.

5. To obtain the proposed bills for review of the Legal Practitioners Act pending at the National Assembly and review same in the light of the recommendations arising from the work of the committee envisaged in these TOR;

6. To review the current standards for admission into the Nigerian Bar and recommend changes. In particular determine whether the current threshold of 40% as pass mark for bar examinations at the Nigerian Law School is realistic and determine how such thresholds compare with entry requirements into the legal professions across Africa and the rest of the world and make appropriate recommendations.

7. To examine given the current size of the legal profession, its exponential growth in recent years relative to the needs of the Nigerian economy, the desirability of candidates seeking admission to the law faculties in Nigeria to possess a degree in another discipline as a condition for admission.

8. To review the ethical requirements for admission into the legal profession and determine the adequacy of such requirements and how best to maintain high ethical and professional standards in the legal profession.

9. To determine if aside from admission to the bar there should be a separate requirement for licensing law offices and advise how best to regulate and monitor such licensing.

10. To advise on the need to introduce a system of pupilage into the legal profession and advise on the duration and how best to administer such a system of pupilage.

11. To make any appropriate recommendations the Task Force deems necessary or to achieve the objective of strengthening the legal profession in Nigeria.

Members of Legal Profession Regulation Review Committee are :

1. Anthony Idigbe,SAN -Chairman

2. Prof Konyinsola Ajayi,SAN -Member

3. Mrs Funke Adekoya,SAN -Member

4. Prof. Auwalu Yadudu -Member

5. Mrs Bisi Shoyebo,SAN -Member

6. Chief Arthur Obi Okafor,SAN -Member

7. Prof Ernest Ojukwu,SAN -Member

8. Mr Olanrewaju Onadeko,SAN -Member

9. Dr. Mike Adeleke -Member

10. Prof Ikpeze Ogugua -Member

11. Dr Aminu Gamawa -Secretary

12. Prof Dakas C.J Dakas,SAN -Member

13. Prof Augustine Agom -Member

14. Paul Usoro,SAN -Member

15. Prof Taiwo Osipitan,SAN -Member

16. Yakubu Maikyau,SAN -Member

17. Prof Osita Ogbu -Member

18. Prof U.U Chuckwuema-Eze -Member

19. Mr. Rotimi Odusola -Member

20. Patricia Igwebuike Esq -Member

21. Prof. M. L. Ahmadu -Member

22. Mrs. Sade Aladeniyi

23. Mr. Eric Otojahi -Assistant Secretary

The Committee is expected to submit its report on or before the 30th Day of April 2017. All lawyers are enjoined to cooperate with the committee in achieving all the above stated mandates.

The NBA congratulates the members of the Committee and urges them to bring their wealth of experience to bear on this new assignment to assist the Nigerian Bar Association to achieve its set objectives.

Thank you.

Dated 7th Day of January 2017.

Isiaka Abiola Olagunju Esq

General Secretary, Nigerian Bar Association

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