‘2017 NBA Conference Will Impact on Nigeria and Africa’
From this weekend, August 18th, to August 24th, Nigerian lawyers will converge in the city of Lagos, for the 57th edition of the Nigerian Bar Association’s Annual General Conference. The Chairman of the Conference Planning Committee, Dr. Konyin Ajayi, SAN
What effect, in your opinion, did the judgement of Honourable Tsoho .J. of the Federal High Court nullifying the 2015 NBA Amended Constitution, have on the leadership of the NBA? Some are saying that the leadership cannot continue to act in that capacity, and should not be responsible for convening the 2017 Conference.
Tosho J. is one of the most experienced and respected judicial hands of the Federal High Court, known to be even handed in the dispensation of justice. The matter, as I understand it is sub judice, with an application before the trial Judge to set aside his decision, and an appeal to like effect. I am thus, uncertain as to comments that the NBA should be rudderless – with no hands steering. I believe the gravamen of the action, was about non-completion of registration of the 2015 NBA Constitution at the time of the institution of the action; and certain consequential orders were made. It is public knowledge that, the mischief has been cured and registration completed. The matter is thus, otiose, and it becomes academic whether the NBA can continue to act with a leadership. Assuming that today is the morning after the decision of Tosho J. and that orders were made that a new Constitution be drawn up, the previous Constitution will be said to be the enforceable one. I am given to understand that the holding of Annual General Conference each year is at the direction of NBA’s NEC, and in the hands of a Technical Committee of
Conference Planning. Inferentially, matters proceed without disregard of the orders of Tsoho J.
The 2017 Conference is set to be a conference with a difference. How so? What is the difference between this Conference and past Conferences? What is the theme of this year's Conference? What are the highlights?
The tone of voice today, is one improved by experience, circumstance and the future we face. 2017 AGC seeks not to destroy the indomitable past, but to build on it, in being brave about new ideas in making life easier for delegates, providing a different form of platform of exchange of ideas and sharing of experiences beyond the narrow compass of Chambers’ life, to that which the demands of a nation in a hurry to untrue skills critical for survival in a fast changing world, that is deconstructing our analogue foundation and placing us on the stilts of digitisation. The necessity to nurture skills other than simply legal ones, informed the concept behind this conference – building institutions. This comes from the realisation that society holds itself, builds its walls and opens doors to opportunities and development, when it has institutions that are sustainable and scalable. We intend to transcend the heights achieved during past conferences,
"I AM GIVEN TO UNDERSTAND THE HOLDING OF ANNUAL GENERAL CONFERENCE EACH YEARS IS AT THE DIRECTION OF NBA’S NEC, AND IN THE HANDS OF A TECHNICAL COMMTTEE OF CONFERENCE PLANNING FERENTIALLY, MATTERS PROCEED WITHOUT DISREGARD OF THE ORDERS OF TSOHO J."