NBA issues ultimatum to Promasidor, International Breweries for appointing non-lawyers as legal directors
TheCornet has gathered that the Lagos and Ikeja branches of the Nigerian Bar Association, (NBA), have vowed to take action against companies appointing non-lawyers as their legal directors.
The NBA reportedly wrote to some of the affected companies, chief among which are Promasidor Limited and International Breweries Plc.
The companies are said to have hired polytechnic graduates to serve as their legal directors.
Our source revealed that Promasidor Limited had already received a letter of cease and desist from the NBA, while that of International Breweries Plc was not confirmed as at press time.
In the letter, the NBA wrote that the wrongful appointment negate the provisions of Sections 22(1) and (5) of the Legal Practitioner’s Act 2004.
The Act, as stated, “prohibits any person who is not a legal practitioner from claiming to be such explicitly or impliedly.
It adds the act also “prohibits non-lawyers from using any title or description that could mislead the public to believe that they are qualified to practice law.”
The NBA urged them to “immediately cease and desist from employing non-lawyers to the position of legal director or any other legal role within your organisations.”
The body vowed to take legal actions against the affected companies, if they fail to comply with its demand within 14 days.
NBA also urged the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM) to check the development using their members serving as human resources officers in various organisations.
