Eastern Bar Forum Elects New EXCO
The Eastern Bar Forum, an umbrella body of lawyers of Eastern extraction, held its Quarterly General Meeting, in Calabar, Cross River State last Monday and also elected new officers to run the forum for the next two years.
The event which took place at the Danic Hotel, Calabar, had in attendance lawyers from different parts of the country who are of Eastern origin, and the main theme for discuss at the meeting was how law practice in Nigeria has caught up with technology.
Mr. Ben Oji, 3rd Vice-President, NBA (representative of the NBA President) on the need to catch up with 21st century technology said "NBA is doing a lot in that direction. Without technology as lawyers we cannot make progress. One of the selling points of the next NBA 2017 Conference, will be the distribution of tablets to lawyers which will have the electronic form of law reports and others. The idea is to begin to move to the 21st digital world which is the trend".
On the fight against corruption, Mr Oji said "The NBA supports the fight against corruption, but it also believes that things should be done in accordance with the rule of law. We, as an organisation, have introduced a day set aside as ‘anti-corruption day’. It is meant to sensitise the public and address issues of corruption. At the national level, the NBA has an anti- corruption commission which looks into issue of corruption within the bar. We have also set aside programmes related to anti-corruption in most of our gatherings these days".
Immediate past Chairman, EBF Governing Council, Mr. Efefiom Ekong, spoke on challenges in the last few years and said "We had issues of finance, because as a professional body, we were reluctant to rely on politicians to finance the running of the organisation. So, we had to heavily task our senior colleagues in the profession, who rose to the occasion to help us. We also tried to be very wise in the way we managed the funds that we got".
On technological advancement "This chal- lenge is not peculiar to the Nigerian lawyer alone. It is a worldwide challenge, that is not also limited to the law profession alone. We have a growing field that is linked with artificial intelligence, where robots are already taking over the functions of human beings. In this circumstance, however, I believe the lawyers will adapt to the changes that we are confronted with".
Advice to new executive "Do not take decisions based on sentiments; take them based on principles, so that you can be consistent. Again, because it is a group, you must ensure that at all times, the common interest of the group is paramount to personal interest. Once you observe those two rules, the members will be confident in any decision that you take".
New Chairman, EBF Governing Council, Mr. Arthur Chukwu
"The challenge will be to continue to strengthen the unity which we already enjoy. It is not a light challenge. We would need to sustain the height. For me, anytime the NBA Presidency is zoned to a particular forum, immediately after the election, they are scattered because factions will be created. So, my biggest challenge will be how to keep EBF united even after our presidential election. Our strategy for avoiding factions is to be open. Give an open, credible election to all the candidates that will contest. In this just concluded EBF election, some people were asked to step down and they were happy with the resolution. The candidates will have to set the guidelines themselves, on the approach they would want us to use. So, it would be their own election, because they would have determined how it will go. The process will be so open that everybody will feel happy at the end of the day".
A member of EBF, Dr. DonClemz Enamhe, on the NBA elections said "The NBA has got to the stage where we respect the rule of law and democracy. Everybody who is qualified is at liberty to go through a wonderful campaign and at the end of it all, we choose our leader and we stand behind him".
The 2nd Vice-President, NBA, Mr. Monday Ubani on technology said "If you are seriously involved in legal practice and you do not get properly acquainted with the latest technology, you will be left on the way side and that will not be good for you. Agreements are now signed online. So, if you do not get acquainted with the latest technological trends, you will be left out. There will be the need to learn, in order that you remain in the job. Technology is the era that we are in at the moment, so, lawyers must key in".