The new administration of the Nigerian Bar Association, Calabar Branch (the Doyen Bar), led by the Chairman, Mr. Attah Ochinke, on Wednesday, the 7th day of July 2021 paid a courtesy call on the Attorney General and Honourable Commissioner for Justice, Cross River State, Mr. Tanko Ashang, to officially notify him of the baton change in the leadership of the Doyen Bar and introduce the members of the new administration.
Speaking at the event, the Chairman thanked the Attorney General for graciously granting audience to them despite the absence of notice. He went on to acknowledge the challenging times in which the Attorney General found himself saddled with the responsibility of his office and pledged the partnership of the Doyen Bar.
The Chairman pointed out that the courtesy call was not a working session but that they had only come on the traditional courtesy call to see the Attorney General as the official leader of the Bar in Cross River State and that, subsequently, permission will be sought to pay working visits on the Attorney General, as the need arises, to discuss the issues that affect the Bar. He acknowledged the efforts of the Attorney General in the substantial resolution of the issues surrounding the employment of Magistrates in the State but stated that certain specific details were yet unresolved. In his words, the idea is to ensure that the officers being appointed to dispense justice are themselves not traumatised before they get to the Bench.
He further acknowledged the efforts and contributions of the Bar/Bench Forum, of which the Attorney General has been a part of, and keyed into, towards the infrastructural development of the Judiciary noting that the contributions had been judiciously applied such that some courts which had been previously out of use have now been brought back to order. He noted that one of such courts was the one proposed to house the Customary Court of Appeal and expressed hope that the proposed Customary Court of Appeal for the State will be birthed during the tenure of Mr. Tanko Ashang as Attorney General urging the Attorney General to do whatever was necessary to bring the existence of that court in the State into fruition.
The Chairman however pointed out that the several efforts personally undertaken by stakeholders, such as the Attorney General, towards the infrastructural development of the Judiciary were a reflection of the fact that the Judiciary was being treated like a forsaken child as it appeared that there was no capital budget for the Judiciary. According to him, the Judiciary needs to be paid more attention than it is presently getting.
These alongside other things, the Chairman stated, were the issues the current administration would subsequently be presenting before the Attorney General but that same would be done after deliberation with members of the Doyen Bar to ensure that the positions being propagated by the administration are truly reflective of the views of those who they represent.
Finally, the Chairman once again thanked the Attorney General and prayed that the good Lord who has positioned the Attorney General will give him wisdom and good health and especially the courage to do what needed to be done to for the betterment of the society.
On his part, the Attorney General and Honourable Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Tanko Ashang, thanked the members of the new administration for the visit and congratulated them on their emergence as newly elected officers of the Doyen Bar noting that the elections leading to their emergence had been keenly contested. He also wished the administration success in the conduct of the affairs of the Doyen Bar.
The Chairman’s observation of the fact that the Attorney General was saddled with the responsibility of the office at particularly peculiar and challenging times was highlighted by the Attorney General, who pointed out that he came into office at a time when there was no substantive Chief Judge, both Magistrates and Law Officers alike were not being paid and the Doyen Bar viewed him with some form of hostility. He was therefore forced to navigate these challenges in his efforts to resolve the issues.
The Attorney General went on to express his love for an independent Bar and noted that, although the tactics may not have been ideal, the bombardment from the Doyen Bar helped put the issues into perspective as they did not appear invented whenever he presented them for discussion before His Excellency, the Governor of Cross River State.
He further noted that the new administration of the Doyen Bar was coming on board at a time when some of the issues had been substantially resolved leaving a few details yet unresolved and stated that he would not mind a further engagement on any unresolved issues. While noting that the State has very lean resources, he encouraged the members of the new administration to engage him on all the issues stating that he is a very practical and honest person and, as such, liked to do all he can by any means possible.
He also expressed his happiness with the emergence of Mr. Attah Ochinke as the Chairman of the Doyen Bar as he had once been Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Cross River State and, as such, would bring that knowledge and experience to bear. He further urged the Chairman to groom the Bar to be coherent such that subsequent Governors of the State would look inwards in their choice for appointments to the office of Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice.
The Attorney General suggested the issue of the recently concluded JUSUN agreement for consideration by the Doyen Bar in their support of the development of the Judiciary. He further urged the administration to do all it can to support members of the Doyen Bar in their applications for elevation to the revered rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria. He also assured members of the new administration of his willingness to work with them and guaranteed that his doors will be open should there be any need for engagement. At the end of the visit, the Chairman presented the recently published Directory of the Doyen Bar to the Attorney General and Honourable Commissioner for Justice.