The last is yet to be heard about the formation of the new professional association for Nigerian legal practitioners, the Law Society of Nigeria(LSN) as the supposed founder, Dr Richard Oma Ahonaruogho SAN and the protem Publicity Secretary, Douglas Ogbankwa trade words over the history and formation of the association.
Ahonaruogho fired the first salvo on October 30 when he issued a disclaimer of the protem executives led by Kunle Ogunba, saying that they are unknown to law. In response, Ogbankwa issued a statement that there is no cause for alarm, assuring everyone that the association is alive and kicking.
“The attention of the Protem National Exco of the Law Society has been drawn to a comment from Prince (Dr.) Richard Oma Ahonarurogho, SAN, on the publication by the Protem National Executives of the Law Society of Nigeria. Prince Richard Ahonaruogho is a respected Member of the legal profession in Nigeria. The Law Society of Nigeria wishes to respond on the above indicated issue as follows”.
Ogbankwa then raised five points viz:
1.The Law Society of Nigeria duly consulted with a sole surviving Trustee of the Society and current Exco obtained all the necessary consents and approvals before going public even as further consultations shall be intensified to carry the past and current stakeholders along in the hazardous journey ahead
2.The Law Society of Nigeria is indeed alive and here to stay .We are glad it is receiving rave reviews and this indicates the frenzy with which the resuscitation of the LSN is being accepted.
- It is not a walk in the park to create a change and we have factored this in as we continue to engage with all relevant stakeholders in ensuring that we make the necessary inroads to give our dear Society all the support required for its success.
- It is important to state that Prince (Dr.) Richard Oma Ahonaruogho, SAN has not claimed to a Trustee nor a current Exco Member of the Law Society of Nigeria (since membership of an exco cannot be in perpetuity and the current National Exco as constituted is properly constituted following due process and notwithstanding his lack of capacity to issue such a disclaimer, the Pro Tem Executives will leave no stone unturned to address all issues that our publication has generated particularly his friendly rejoinder and assure him of an enduring partnership with the collective interest of all practitioners in view.
- We shall, in the coming days, release more information on the activities of LSN.We thank you all for your overwhelming emails, calls and messages and we promise to give you the best of leadership expected of an innovative and trail blazing organization like ours.
It is indeed a new beginning”.
In his reaction, Ahonaruogho, who claimed that he was the convener, and founding Secretary of LSN, restated that none of the protem executive members of LSN was there when the association was formed in 1994 at which time he was seven years old at the bar. He admitted that he was consulted by the Ogunba group but the consultation was still ongoing.
He said: “Kunle Ogunba SAN team of J. K. Gadzama SAN and Olasupo Ojo, Esq held a meeting with me and another Promoter, Chief Kunle Uthman on Thursday 6th October 6, 2022, at the Southern Sun Hotel, Ikoyi. We are still consulting the other promoters of NLS and the sole surviving Trustee, Richard Ogbeche;
No one from Kunle Ogunba SAN group formed the NLS, not one of them. I, Richard Oma Ahonaruogho came up with the idea in 1992, after the Port Harcourt crises but I did not get the necessary support from the other promoters until February, 1994, and we submitted our application to the Corporate Affairs Commission in April, 1994 and got incorporated on 28th December, 1994. Richard Ogbeche Esq did not consult any of the Promoters or myself as the Convener and Founding Secretary. Not even Mr. Charles I. Idehen, the Chairman of the Law Society of Nigeria. I was just 7 years at the Bar in 1994″.
Dear readers, we really need your support to keep on serving you with authoritative, truthful, and juicy stories everyday. For your support, please reach out to the editor @gavelinternational66@gmail.com