BAR-ADVOCATES NEWS

AKWA IBOM YLF MAIDEN ANNUAL SUMMIT⚖️ THEME: CARVING A NICHE: The Role of Young Lawyers as Pathfinders in the Legal Profession Keynote Speaker: Cmr. Ini Ememobong Hon. Commissioner, Aks.  Speakers: * Chukwuka Ikwazom, SAN * Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN * Tobenna Erojikwe, Esq.  * Blessing Udofa-Poromon, Esq.  Date: 3rd & 4th December, 2023. EVENTS: 3/12/2023...Games Time: 2:30pm 4/12/2023....Main Event Time: 10am Venue: Permanent Bar Secretariat, Banking Layout, Udoudoma, Uyo. Aks.  Samson Awuje, Esq.  Publicity Dpt.  AKYLAC - CPC

Who will liberate Customary Court Chairmen in Akwa Ibom State? By ~ Meti M. Ukpeh, Esq.   In Nigeria, beyond the Superior Courts of record recognized by the Constitution of Nigeria(as amended), there exist several other layers of courts, most of which exist by dint of the laws of the various states. In this class are the Customary Courts, Magistrates Courts, the Area Courts, among others.  In Akwa Ibom State, the Customary Courts occupy the immediate layer after the Customary Court of Appeal (though yet to be established), which explains why appeals from the Customary Courts go to the High Courts(S.67, CCL,2022).The Customary Court is the closest court to the grassroots(S.1, 14, and 18, CCL.) The Customary Courts in the state handle not less than 70 percent of the cases adjudicated upon in the State. I am not quite exact as to the total number of Customary Court Chairmen bearing this burden but I suspect that the figure must be hovering above ninety and closer to o...

YOUNG LAWYERS FORUM, NBA UYO BRANCH SETS TO HOST ITS MONTHLY WEBINAR SESSION ON 16TH OCTOBER, 2023. Topic: Financial Challenges of Young Lawyers in the Business of Legal Profession: Any Way Out? GUEST SPEAKER : DR. JUDE EZEGWUI(MCIArb, J. P, N. P) Past. Chairman, NBA ENUGU Branch In sooth, it is a truism that the topic comes handy when the country is facing dire economic challenges and the young lawyers are not left out in the heat of these economic hitches.  Thus, there is none other who would understand the plight of these young folks than an astute practitioner, a consummate bar man and a down-to-earth man who feels the pulses of these young ones, to speak on a sensitive topic as this. Obviously, the man that readily comes to mind is Dr. Jude who will expound the solar plexus of the topic. This topic is timely and a no-miss for every young lawyer out there. To participate, below are the details of the webinar: NBA, YOUNG LAWYERS FORUM, UYO-BAR* Invites you to HYBRID ...

CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR APPOINTMENT AS THE SPECIAL ASSISTANT TO THE SENATE PRESIDENT ON MEDIA & PUBLICITY: RT. HON. ESEME EYIBOH, "THE MAN OF IDEAS"  By ~ Meti M. ukpeh, Esq. INTRODUCTION Undoubtedly, well-cultured, mature-minded and appreciative people would not hesitate to pour unreserved encomiums and felicitations on the appointment of a rare gold-plated and goodhearted man like Rt. Hon Eyiboh.  It is verily heart-warming, smile-instigating, to say the least, that Hon. Eseme Eyiboh, the former House of Representatives member, is unreservedly considered for a top job that he knows best and from the fabrics of history, never shyed away from excellence, hence named, "The Man of Ideas". It is not suprising that the Senate President, the "Uncommon Transformer", Chief Godswill Obot Akpabio, a man whom himself is an epitome of transformational democracy, will find worthy to appoint Rt. Hon. Eyiboh, who is a staunch, die-hard and unrepentant re...

"Y. C. MAIKYAU, SAN "GETS IT RIGHT" AT NBA AGM: YOUR BOLD STEP IS HIGHLY COMMENDABLE" Meti M. Ukpeh, Esq., Uyo-based Human Rights Lawyer Lauds  Assuredly, the NBA AGC might have rounded off and its dust rested, but the trails of events permeate and linger on the subconsciousness of both conferees and the legal profession as a whole A stroke of reminiscence plunges me, particularly, to the aftermath, the carcass and the unbridled stench of the AGM, hence, many questions begging, to wit: Is NBA purse a free for all? What example are some NBA officers setting for the secular politics?  Don't these officers have conscience?  Must they mortgage their integrity for a pair of shoes?, et Al.  The heart-thrusting response of the NBA President at the AGM to some national officers, especially, the 2nd, 3rd Vice President and the Treasurer, illuminates a man who is hellbent on "Getting it Right" for the purse of the noble association against the hawk-s...

"MUST NBA's CONSTITUTION BE AMENDED AT EVERY AGC? Olumide Akpata's Amended Constitution of 2021 remains the Best for NBA" Meti M. Ukpeh, Esq., Uyo-based Human Rights Lawyer cautions Assuredly, while I would say it is highly commendable for any association to make improvements on its regulation(s); amidst this, NBA's Constitution amended in 2021 by the Olumide Akpata's led administration which was evidently perfect and admits of little or no amendment, stands as a model or a blueprint that future constitutions of the NBA could be built on even when I strongly hold that the NBA's constitutional amendment should not be a routine job at every AGC.  I have learnt to maintain taciturn, reticence and Olympian aloofness on issues I would ordinarily kick against, but a keen study of the NBA's proposed constitutional amendment, 31/07/2023, has successfully petrified me in eerie and trepidation.  Consequently, a mishmash of this concern includes: 1) T...

"PLEASE, TAKE OVER UYO BAR ELECTIONS TO AVOID BLOODSHED" Meti M.Ukpeh, Esq. Uyo-based Human Rights Lawyer Cries out to  NBA President, Y. C. Maikyau, SAN(OON)  Respectfully sir, rather than the electoral committee headed by the Ekanem Ekanem, Esq.,  to respect and effect the decision of the Branch Appeal Committee(East) delivered on 20/06/2023, the Ekanem Ekanem-led Eleco committee has moved on to publish list of ineligible voters for the elections on the 21/06/2023, but disenfranchised most lawyers(over 400) from voting in the forthcoming elections. This is clearly against the  express, concise, unambiquous and unemotional reading of S.15(1) of the NBA, UNIFIED BYELAW, 2021, the said extraneous and ineligible names published purportedly as voters on 21/06/2023 are unqualified to vote in the forthcoming elections.  Sir, The below are the extraneous names and particulars of the ineligible and/or unqualified voters imported for the elections, viz: Name...