Nigeria’s Attorney General, Abubakar Malami may be in trouble as some lawyers have launched a petition to strip him of his Senior Advocate of Nigeria(SAN) title.
Malami drew the ire of certain lawyers over the amendments he made to the rules of professional conduct for legal practitioners (RPC), 2007. It was gathered that he removed the requirement of NBA stamp and seal on court processes making it possible for non-lawyers to submit court processes.
In a petition published on Change.org signed by one Izu Aniagu, the AGF was accused of taking the decision ‘alone’ and acting ‘rogue’.
“Since assumption of office, the Attorney General of the Federation has continued to go rogue, from his disobedience to court order, to his lackluster prosecution, to his outright failure to prosecute, to allegations of corruption and bias against his person, to usurpation of office, to shielding of suspects, to his general dereliction of duty,”
“This time, the AGF has decided to take his imprudence to top notch by unilaterally deleting the provisions of the Rules of Professional Conduct which provide for stamp and seal as well as bar practicing fee for government lawyers. The AGF does not have such power. Section 12 (4) of the LPA gives the General Council of the Bar power to make any such amendment and make other decisions concerning the NBA.”
“There is no record of any meeting convened by the The Attorney General of the Federation who is the president of The Bar Council. The AGF took the decision alone and his actions constitute a threat to the rule of law.”
Filing of court processes is not limited to lawyers but every person as constitutionally provided.