The Body of Benchers has cautioned the National Assembly against giving effect to its proposal to regulate the establishment of Law Schools in the country.
Chairman of the body, Wole Olanipekun (SAN) issued the warning while admitting 4691 new lawyers into the Nigerian Bar at the Call to Bar ceremony in Abuja
New lawyers admitted into the legal profession by the chairman of the body of Benchers
He advises them to always uphold the ethics of the profession and desist from act that could portray the profession in bad light
But Wole Olanipekun is concerned about indications that the National Assembly is toying with the idea of promulgating laws or amending the Legal Practitioners Act, to pave way for the proliferation of Law School campuses, particularly in the constituencies of some lawmakers.
He argued that it is within the exclusive prerogative of the Council of Legal Education, in consultation with the Body of Benchers to establish new Law School campuses.
While it is the jurisdiction of the National Assembly to make laws as appropriate, Law School campuses cannot be established without clearance from the Council of Legal Education.
Director General of the Nigerian Law School, Isa Chiroma, Senior Advocate of Nigeria , disclosed that the school has also contributed to the training of legal man-power for sister African countries like the Republic of the Gambia, the Republic of Sierra Leone and the Republic of Cameroon.
The NBA President was absent at the Call to Bar ceremony
The NBA had in a letter dated 4th December, asked Wole Olanipekun to step aside as chairman, while the Vice Chairman, Retired Supreme Court Justice Mary Peter-Odili, takes over proceedings at the Call to Bar ceremony.
The letter sent to the chairman of the body of Benchers signed by President of the Nigerian Bar Association Yakubu Maikyau was predicated on an earlier request by the former President of the NBA, Olumide Akpata.
The NBA had asked the BoB chairman to recuse himself as head of the body pending resolution of issues bordering on professional misconduct of a former partner of Wole Olanipekun and Co., Law firm.
The new wigs emerged successful at the August/September 2022 Bar Final Examination
Out of a total of 5,802 students who participated in the exams, 4691 emerged successful representing 80.81%.
A break down of the results showed that 119 students came out with 1st Class; 789 with 2nd Class Upper; 2, 460, 2nd Class Lower; and 1, 323 came out with Pass; while students were from the last exam.
