By Ikechukwu Nnochiri
The Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Mahmud
Mohammed, Wednesday, said he was worried about the rising number of
“fake” lawyers in the country.
The CJN who stated this during the official launch of
“Stamp for Lawyers”, which was produced by the Nigerian Bar
Association, NBA, bemoaned that the prevalence of fake lawyers
negatively affects the integrity of the legal profession and casts a
shadow of disrepute on the judiciary as an arm of government in the
country.
Justice Mahmud Mohammed
He insisted that one of the major challenges facing Judges
today, “is how to differentiate between a “real” and “fake” legal
practitioner”.
According to the CJN, “Indeed, Judges find it difficult to
identify which counsel, appearing before them, is genuine or otherwise.
“Of even greater concern is the fact that members of the
public are often left in a quandary over who they can place their trust,
property and even lives in.
“We must not forget that the credibility of the Bar has a
direct impact on respect for the Rule of Law and the independence of the
Courts.
“This is why it is our collective responsibility to ensure
that the stamp is used as a veritable means of authenticating a
qualified legal practitioner and the documents emanating from him.
”I believe that the stamp can, if properly deployed,
become a hallmark of a firm’s work and a way for prospective clients to
better identify their counsel- a veritable means to “Know Your Counsel”.
“Thus, having an innovation, which may bestow a “stamp” of integrity and respect, is indeed welcome.
“This event is also timely in its occurrence. Our Judiciary
is similarly introducing the greater use of information and
communications technology solutions like legal email and court
automation into the administration of justice in the tri-strata of our
Superior Courts.
“I believe that an enhanced synergistic use and adoption of
appropriate ICT innovations will further enhance our ability to bring
the legal profession into the 21st century and re-position the temple of
justice to provide effectively a qualitative justice dispensation
system that meets the complex demands of our dynamic society.
“These innovations will soon include the electronic service
of hearing notices from the Supreme Court and more secure inter- and
intra- communications platforms between the Courts and Legal
Practitioners.
“My lords, Ladies and Gentlemen, I am confident in the
ability of the leadership of the NBA to sustain and engage all members
of the Bar in this initiative.
“However, I urge the NEC of the Bar to ensure that a proper
management structure is established to administer the scheme, as this
will enhance the confidence of the users, while also reducing the
avenues wherein fraudulent misuse may be occasioned.
“This launch celebrates the welcome actualization of a long
held aspiration of the Bar for which the President, NEC, and indeed
predecessors in office, should be applauded and commended.
“To contextualize this innovation, a key role of the NBA is
the regulation of its members’ identities through various means of
identification.
“Indeed the significance of this event is underpinned by
the provision of Rule 10 (1) of the Rules of Professional Conduct for
Legal Practitioners 2007.
“This rule mandates that a lawyer acting in his or her
capacity as a legal practitioner, legal officer or adviser of any
government department or corporation, shall not sign or file a legal
document unless his stamp and seal are affixed on any such document.
“The Stamp we are here to launch today has breathed life
into this provision and further elevated legal practice in Nigeria to
meet the challenges of an evolving society”, the CJN added.
