National Publicity Secretary of the Nigerian Bar Association, Prince I. Azubuike, has formally dissociated himself from statements attributed to him in a media report concerning Nigerian lawyers subjected to professional sanctions in foreign jurisdictions.
The clarification followed a publication which reported that lawyers sanctioned in the United States or United Kingdom would remain free to practise in Nigeria unless separate disciplinary action was taken against them locally.
Azubuike said he did not make the statements in the manner in which they were presented and advised lawyers and members of the public not to regard the reported comments as reflecting his personal position.
He also expressed regret over confusion arising from the report and said he remained committed to ensuring that comments attributed to him are presented accurately and in context.
His disclaimer does not, however, provide a detailed substitute explanation of the original conversation or individually resolve the disciplinary status of the lawyers mentioned in the publication.
The controversy raises a substantive professional-regulation issue beyond the disputed interview.
Professional sanctions imposed in another jurisdiction do not necessarily operate automatically as Nigerian disciplinary orders. Complaints against legal practitioners on the Nigerian Roll are dealt with under Nigeria’s domestic regulatory and disciplinary framework, including proceedings before the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee.
The issue therefore sits at the intersection of professional ethics, reciprocal recognition of disciplinary findings and the jurisdiction of domestic regulatory bodies.
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SOURCE: TheNigeriaLawyer
