‘My regime will not restrict partnerships with foreign lawyers/law firms’
NBA aspirant for the office of the President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Dele Adesina SAN, this week reiterated his commitment to serve the best interest of the Bar; the Legal Profession and the Nation.
Adesina, who made this statement at a Press Conference in Lagos on Monday to announce his ambition, stated that his aspiration was anchored on a desire to build a bar association driven by vision, selfless and exemplary leadership.
“It is a common knowledge today that the world has become a global village. The legal profession is no exception. It is also a common knowledge that there are on-going discussions – not consciously driven by the Bar on the issue of globalisation of legal practice within the dictates and context of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) Policy on Liberalisation of trade in goods and services.
“We cannot run away from globalisation. The question is how far and to what extent should we open our doors to Foreign Legal Practitioners? Are these Foreign Law firms actually ‘foreign Interlopers’ as some critics have described them or can we see them as Partners for the purposes of expertise, skill acquisition and further development?” he asked emphatically.
Adesina reiterated the need for the Nigerian Bar Association to produce an official policy on the issue which he has described as highly relevant and contemporary.
“The NBA under my leadership will fully investigate and “dig deep” into this matter, aggregate the views of both legal service providers and consumers and drive a policy that will guarantee the very best interest of Legal Practitioners and Legal Profession in Nigeria,” he said.
Speaking further on his nine-point agenda which had Corporate Governance topmost on the list, Adesina enlightened Pressmen, “As a deliberate policy of corporate governance, my administration shall be based on full democracy, consultation, openness, transparency and accountability. A democratic process shall be institutionalized and elected officers’ opinion, NEC decisions and consultations with wide range of lawyers shall be the basis of executive policies and actions.”
The former General Secretary of the NBA, who described himself as a veteran in bar activities, also stated confidently that if elected, his Presidency will primarily be concerned with the formulation and execution of policy matters and pursuit of duties that will enhance the relevance of Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to its members and the legal profession.
During the Press Conference, Adesina announced officially, that he has filed his nomination as a candidate running for the office of the President of the bar.
He capped the meeting canvassing for the support of the bar, stating “Your vote for me is an investment of a life time for us as members of this enviable profession. Your vote for me is an investment for a definite and practical change that I promise to bring to the performance and relevance of our highly esteemed Association.”
The briefing has come on the heels of the recent pronouncement by the National Executive Committee of the NBA lifting the ban for the 2014 NBA National officers’ elections. The leadership of the Association made this call at the last NEC meeting in Abuja on May 15, 2014.
Also approved at this meeting, are selected dates for elections which have been scheduled for the 14th and 15th of July, 2014.
Since the announcement by NEC, the Nigerian Bar Association has been pulsating with election campaign activities by various aspirants and their supporters.
JUDITH AMARACHI UGOH