The new legal body for lawyers, the Law Society of Nigeria, LSN has responded to a disclaimer issued by Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Richard Oma Ahonaruogho concerning its executives.
The LSN says there is no cause for alarm as the new association is alive and kicking.
On Sunday, the publicity Secretary of the LSN, Douglas Ogbankwa had issued a statement to announce the establishment of the association which described the LSN as a “new sheriff in town”.
The LSN promised to provide an alternative for lawyers as well as to redefine the ideas of the founding fathers of the legal profession.
Hours after the announcement of its establishment, Snr Advocate of Nigeria, Richard Ahonaruogho, the convener and founding secretary of the LSN issued a disclaimer asking all lawyers and the Body of Benchers to disregard the “hasty announcement”.
He categorically stated that NO EXECUTIVE has been appointed for the Law Society of Nigeria, and asked lawyers to disregard the purported executives of the LSN as announced as they were not not known to the body.
In a rejoinder to his claims, the publicity secretary of LSN, Ogbankwa says the LSN is duly consulted with the sole surviving Trustee of the Society and the current Exco obtained all the necessary consents and approvals before going public.
Pls find below the full text of Ogbankwa’s rejoinder.
*No Cause for Alarm: Law Society of Nigeria (LSN ) 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 to the above-indicated issue as follows :
1.The Law Society of Nigeria duly consulted with a sole surviving Trustee of the Society and the 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 hardous 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 in roads to give our dear Society all the supports 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 give you the best of leadership expected of an innovative and trail blazing organisation like ours.
It is indeed a new beginning.
E-Signed: Douglas Ogbankwa Esq.,
Publicity Secretary,
Law Society of Nigeria (LSN).
