‘Let the lawyers buy their competence as affirmed by their clients’
A legal expert has condemned recent calls by legislators in the Senate and House of Representatives who are lawyers by profession for them to be conferred with the title of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).
The demand has been generating hot debate among Nigerians. Some feel it is unnecessary, and contradicts the obligations of the lawmakers.
The decision was taken last month at a forum held in Abuja titled The Forum of Lawyers in the Nigerian Legislature.
In reaction to the demand, Prof Akin Oyebode, the chairman of the Office of International Relations, Partnerships and Prospects in the University of Lagos has described the move as uncalled for.
”I think it is the joke of the century. The demand is ridiculous. Even the title of SAN is discriminatory. It is not egalitarian. It is a body of opinion among legal practitioners who frowned against this distinction or apartheid between legal practitioners,’’ he said.
The legal luminary, who has trained over 60 Senior Advocates Of Nigeria, said it is better for the lawmakers to strive hard to earn their honour and competence as affirmed by their clients rather than taking a short cut by advocating the title.
Prof Akin Oyebode: ‘It is obscene for people to apply to be honored.’
”Let the lawyers buy their competence as affirmed by their
clients. For some conclaves to sit down somewhere and canonize certain
lawyers. I think it strikes at the principle of equality that we
espouse.”” I’m not a protagonist of SAN title. My children think I’m in error. They are lawyers too and they ask why I’ve not applied. For me, I think it is obscene for people to apply to be honored. I understand that. You pay a fat sum and you will be conferred the title.”
According to the former vice chancellor of Ekiti State University, the demand for a SAN title is a misplaced priority for the lawmakers since it is in variance with core responsibility expected of members of the national assembly.
”For lawmakers to now carry the joke too far by asking to be conferred SAN title. I feel people should ignore them as rantings of people who have misplaced priorities,” he said.
”They are in the national assembly to enact laws for the peace order and good government of Nigeria. That is the task of lawmakers not to be hankering on honorific titles for practitioner. Why they want to compete with those who are in practice. For me I don’t take that suggestion seriously,” he said.
According to the practice over the years, the SAN title is conferred on lawyers who must have practiced for at least 10 ten years and also distinguished themselves in the profession.
Senator Ita Enang had argued lawyers in the legislature are qualified for the title since they participated in passing all the laws used for legal practice in the country.
”They make laws that the magistrate interprets and makes his way to the Supreme Court. Yet, you say that a lawmaker is not qualified to be honoured with the rank of SAN. The legislator is not qualified but the lawyer who practices the law passed by the legislature is qualified,” he queried.
SOURCE:Naij.com
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