The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Corporate Affairs Commission, CAC, to register a new association for lawyers in the country.
Some lawyers, including Bolaji Ayorinde, Mela Nunge, Garba Gajam, Emeka Ichoku, Chioma Ferguson, and Tejumola Adigun. had sued the CAC over its failure to register their association as a legal practitioner body in the country.
In the suit, the plaintiffs had contended that the names being considered for registration as a body of lawyers were not similar to that of the Nigerian Bar Association which could mislead the public.
In a judgment delivered on December 15, 2023, a copy of which was seen yesterday, Justice Gladys Olotu ordered the CAC to approve any of the proposed names submitted by the plaintiffs.
The names submitted by plaintiffs are “Nigerian Law Society,” “Nigerian Bar Society,” “Nigerian Lawyers’ Society” and “Association of Legal Practitioners of Nigeria.”
The judge ordered the CAS, “To approve for registration and thereafter register any of the proposed names submitted to it on behalf of the plaintiffs, being: The Nigerian Law Society,” “Nigerian Bar Society,” “Nigerian Lawyers’ Society” and “The Association of Legal Practitioners of Nigeria” and issue a certificate of registration to that effect.”
Olotu held that the right to peaceful assembly and association, guaranteed under Section 40 of the Constitution, Article 10 of the ACHPR, and Article 20 of the UDHR cover the kind of association the plaintiffs plan to register.