Recently,Union bank came out with an advert soliciting the public to come for legal services provided by the bank.Lawyers frowned at it and began a criticism of it which got to the leadership of the Nigerian Bar Association.
In a notice released by the Nigerian Bar Association obtained by Courtroom Mail,the Nigerian Bar Association assured its members that the association will confront and address the issue.
The notice is below
PUBLIC NOTICE ON THE LEGAL ADVISORY SERVICES & ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION OFFERED TO THE PUBLIC BY UNION BANK NIGERIA PLC
It has come to the notice of the Nigerian Bar Association that the Union Bank of Nigeria Plc has solicited to render Legal Advisory Services, Alternative Dispute Resolution and other law-related services (Legal Services) to members of the Public.
We hereby state that Union Bank of Nigeria Plc or any other Bank or other financial corporation is not a body licensed to render such legal services and cannot hold itself out as a firm of Legal Practitioners or in partnership with a firm of Legal Practitioners to render the said Legal Services. Rule 5(5) of the Rules of Professional Conduct for Legal Practitioners’ which states that “It shall be unlawful to carry out legal practice as a corporation”. This expressly precludes any corporation from engaging in the practice of the law, Union Bank Plc inclusive.
Members of the Public are hereby advised not to patronize Union Bank Plc for the said services and to disregard this publication in its entity.
We wish to also state that NBA is heads-on in addressing the issues raised by the unfortunate advertorial.
Thank you.
Dated this 16th day of April 2018
Aare Isiaka Abiola Olagunju
General Secretary, NBA
