Lawyers Decry Increase in Practising Fees

YEARLY increase of the practising fees by the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) was at the weekend criticised by lawyers, describing it as exploitative.

Condemning the increase at the valedictory court session in honour of retiring Justice Eniofa Folorunsho Longe, the NBA Ikeja branch, said there are lawyers who have been in private practice for about five years that earn N5,000 or slightly higher as monthly salaries.

The association said it would be wrong to compel such lawyers with their meagre salaries to pay N4,000 as practising fees per year.

The lawyers also called on the National Executive Committee of the NBA to: * look inward and take the welfare of its members seriously; make itself responsive and responsible to the yearnings and aspirations of Nigerians by playing the leadership role bestowed on it by God; revert to the status quo ante with respect to the illegal and unconstitutional increase inpractising fees; each branch of the association should be entitled to a certain percentage of practising fees collected; association members are enjoined to vote in progressively minded people at the election of the coming up in August.

The lawyers further condemned the neglect of its former national president, Mr. Alao Aka-Bashorun saying: "The N.B.A cannot even take care of its own.The golden era of the N.B.A was the tenure of Mr. Alao Aka-Bashorun's Presidency. But where is he today? He has been consigned to history, forgotten in his hour of need by the direct beneficiaries of his monumental legacies. The same goes for Mr. lhekwuaba, the former general secretary of the association."

Responding after the speech of the Chief Judge, Justice Ibitola Sotiminu, Justice Longe, who was called to the Bar in 1968 and elevated to the Bench in 1983, commended the review of the Civil Procedures Rules, describing it as "the right step in the right position."

He dismissed the insinuation that there might be a misgiving on his part against Justice Sotiminu, saying: "In my heart of hearts, I had nothing against her and I shall never have except very good intentions."