The Nigerian Bar Association, Asaba Branch has urged the Delta Government to as a matter of urgency constitute an Independent Commission of Inquiry to unravel the circumstances that led to the gruesome murder of 17 personnel of the Nigeria Army in Okuama on March 14, 2024.
The Asaba branch of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), made the call during its monthly meeting at the NBA Bar Centre in Asaba on Thursday.
The Chairman of the branch, Precious Nwadimuya Esq, who spoke to newsmen at the end of the meeting, said the body of Lawyers strongly condemned the senseless and callous murder of the officers and soldiers who were reported to have visited the community on a peace mission.
He noted that in view of the existence of different sides to the narrative that led to the ugly incident and the strange circumstances, it was imperative for government to get to the root of the matter by inquiring about its remote and immediate causes in order to avoid a reoccurrence.
Nwadimuya Esq sympathized with the Nigeria Army and the families of the slain personnel over the tragic losses and tasked the government to take the security of life and property of citizens more seriously.
He particularly urged the Delta State Government to show greater commitment to security, citing the recent Asaba uprising by Okada riders as one incident that should never have happened, stressing that government must take proactive steps to protect the peace and tranquility in Asaba, which made it a beautiful bride for business and hospitality.
The NBA Branch Chairman said the lawyers were interested in respect for the rule of law but emphasized that peace and security were necessary for the rule of law to thrive.
On payment for services rendered by Lawyers, especially in land related transactions, Nwadimuya Esq maintained that it was mandatory that 10 percent of the total value of any land sold should be paid to the Lawyer for the preparation of the necessary legal instruments to protect the land.
He said it was a professional misconduct for any Lawyer to charge anything less and called on members of the public to be wary of those who would opt to do it for them at any rate and contrary to the protocol recently adopted by lawyers, as such persons should be considered fake.
Nwadimuya Esq revealed that the branch would issue special numbers that every land instrument would carry to authenticate it and urged the public to be wary of any land document or agreement not carrying such specialised numbers.
The highlight of the meeting, which was attended by the Hon Attorney General of the State and Commissioner for Justice, Ekeme Ohwovoriole (SAN), the State Commissioner for Women Affairs, Hon (Dr) Princess Pat Ajudua, and other senior members of the Bar, was the commissioning of the newly built Executive Lounge located within the Bar Centre.
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