• Abiru, Bamidele seek an amendment to Federal High Court Act
Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association Section on Legal Practice (NBA-SLP), Chief Ferdinand Orbih (SAN), yesterday, resigned his membership of the Legal Practitioner’s Disciplinary Committee (LPDC).
In his resignation letter, sent to the Body of Benchers (BOB) through its secretary and sighted by The Guardian, the senior lawyer said he could not continue to function in good conscience, since BOB allegedly meddled into a matter already decided by LPDC.
According to him, the BOB on November 22, 2022, assumed jurisdiction over a petition written by Lucius E. Nwosu (SAN), following a prima facie case made against him by LPDC.
He said: “I write to notify the Body of Benchers of my resignation as a member of the LPDC with effect from February 24, 2022.”
THIS was as NBA published a list of 23 lawyers who have expressed interest in being appointed Justices of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
In a statement signed by NBA National Publicity Secretary, Dr. Rapulu Nduka, the association called for public reactions to the listed aspirants.
The aspirants are: Mr. Abugu Oromafunu (SAN), Mr. Achara Ezekwesiri, Mr. Ademi-Akpeto Awolowo, Mrs. Joy Okungbowa (SAN), Mr. Mahmud Adesina (SAN), Mr. Adolor Onorieukuhakpo, Mr. Adelekan Ajayi, Mr. Ayoola Akande, Mr. Ademola Alabi, Mr. Nuraddeen Ayagi, Mrs. Miannaya Essien (SAN), Mr. Udochukwu Ezeani, Mr. Chukwugekwu Ezenwa (SAN), and Mr. Omokhuwa Giwa.
The remaining are: Chief Anthony Idigbe (SAN), Mr. Enya Nwocha, Mr. Edwin Obiorah (SAN), Mr. Ogbemudia Omoregie, Mr. Itoyah Otaru (SAN), Mr. Ujah Oyiwona, Mr. Stanley Princewill, Mr. Salisu Shuaibu, and Mr. Kadir Temim.
MEANWHILE, federal lawmakers representing Lagos East, Senator Adetokunbo Abiru, and Ekiti Central, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, in a co-sponsored Bill, titled: ‘Federal High Court Act (Amendment) Bill, 2021’, are seeking to amend the Federal High Court Act to cure shortcomings inherent in the Principal Act, to make provisions for regulation of the award of pre-judgment interest and ensure attainment of substantial justice, particularly in relation to claims bothering on commercial transactions.
The bill, which was first read in the Senate on June 9, 2021, stalled through second reading on Wednesday.
In a statement signed by Enitan Olukotun, special adviser to the Lagos lawmaker on media and publicity, Abiru argued that it was time the law regulating pre-judgment interest be amended.
The lawmaker highlighted the shortcomings of the existing law, saying: “No doubt, real economic value would have been lost on those judgment sums by the time of judgment, given the high inflationary trend that permeates our economy.
“Take for instance the 2019 decision of the Supreme Court in Julius Berger (Nig.) Plc vs. T.R.C.B. Ltd (2019) 5 NWLR (Pt. 1665) p. 291, where though the claim on the principal sum succeeded, the Supreme Court held that the claimant was not entitled to pre-judgment interest because the claimant had failed to show any custom, agreement or statute under which it founded its claim of interest.”
