Nigerian Law Society

Nigerian Law SocietyAbbreviation| NLS

|

Formation| 2022; 2 years ago (2022)
Headquarters| Abuja, FCT, Nigeria

Chairman

| Chief Bolaji Ayorinde, OFR,SAN

President

| Mela Audu Nunghe, SAN

Executive Director

| Tonye Clinton Jaja
Website| nls.org.ng

The Nigerian Law Society (NLS) is a professional association for legal practitioners in Nigeria. The NLS is a society of lawyers enrolled as barristers and solicitors of the Supreme Court under the Legal Practitioners Act of the country. A council of elected representatives from different parts of the country leads the NLS. It was established in October 2022.[1] Mela Audu Nunghe, SAN, who is former Commissioner for Special Duties in Gombe State and first indigene of the state to become a Senior Advocate of Nigeria[2] is the President of the NLS.[3]

## History

[edit]

The Nigerian Law Society was registered as the Law Society of Nigeria (LSN) in December 1994, as dated in its registration document. The official launch was in October 2022. The society was established in a bid to redefine the ideas of the founding fathers of the legal profession.[4] The first president of the NLS was Kunle Ogunba, SAN, who was replaced in July 2024 by Mela Audu Nunghe, SAN. [5]

## Controversies

[edit]

In early August 2024, the corporate affairs commission (CAC) stated that the Nigerian Law Society is not registered with the commission even though the NLS has applied for registration.[6] The publication by the CAC led to a defamatory suit in the tune of 5 billion naira by the NLS on Hussaini Ishaq Magaji, the registrar general of the (CAC).[7] The NLS filed this suit since a federal high court sitting in Abuja had approved the registration of the NLS in January 2024.[8][9] The Corporate affairs commission (CAC) requested the prosecution of the NLS from the attorney general of Nigeria, Lateef Fagbemi.[10] The NLS in response, reported Hussaini Ishaq Magaji to President Bola Tinubu over alleged rights violation.[11]
The vice president of the NLS, Nimi Walson-Jack was revoked of his privileges as the general secretary of the Nigerian Bar Association because of his association with the NLS.[12]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Egobiambu, Emmanuel (30 October 2022). "New Association For Legal Profession Law Society Of Nigeria Emerges". Channels TV. Retrieved 26 August 2024.
2. ^ Yaya, Haruna Gimba (16 November 2020). "Gombe gets first SAN". Daily Trust. Retrieved 26 August 2024.
3. ^ Atungwu, Matthew (24 July 2024). "Nigerian Law Society gets interim national executive committee". Daily Post. Retrieved 26 August 2024.
4. ^ Egobiambu, Emmanuel (30 October 2022). "New Association For Legal Profession Law Society Of Nigeria Emerges". Channels TV. Retrieved 26 August 2024.
5. ^ Atungwu, Matthew (24 July 2024). "Nigerian Law Society gets interim national executive committee". Daily Post. Retrieved 26 August 2024.
6. ^ Corporate Affairs Commission
7. ^ Abraham, Doris (21 August 2024). "Nigeria Law Society To Sue CAC N5bn Over 'Defamatory' Publication". The Whistler. Retrieved 26 August 2024.
8. ^ Olabimtan, Bolanle (23 January 2024). "Court orders CAC to register rival law association despite pushback from NBA". The Cable. Retrieved 26 August 2024.
9. ^ Ejekwonyilo, Ameh (23 January 2024). "Court approves registration of new lawyers association to rival NBA". Premium Times. Retrieved 26 August 2024.
10. ^ Emejo, James (20 August 2024). "CAC Seeks to Prosecute Nigeria Law Society for Allegedly Operating Without Registration". This Day. Retrieved 26 August 2024.
11. ^ Chiedozie, Pache (25 August 2024). "Alleged rights violation: Nigerian Law Society reports CAC Registrar General to Tinubu, AGF, NHRC". Daily Post. Retrieved 26 August 2024.
12. ^ https://blog.nigerianbar.org.ng/2024/06/28/nba-nimi-walson-jack-law-society-rivalry/