On Monday, the 14th day of July 2021, Daniel K. Kip, Esq., the immediate past Assistant Secretary of the Nigerian Bar Association, Calabar Branch (the “Doyen Bar”) took and subscribed to the oath required for his admission to, and entering on the duties of, his office as a Notary Public as required by Section 3 of the Notaries Public Act.
The ceremony took place in the Conference Room of the Honourable Chief Judge of Cross River State, His Lordship, Honourable Justice Akon B. Ikpeme, who had with her the Chief Registrar of the Cross River State High Court, Mr. Edem Okokon as well as her Special Assistants, Mr. Edem Effiong, Mrs. Elizabeth Ivang and Mr. Daniel Ekpo
Also present to witness this auspicious occasion were members of the administration of the Doyen Bar in the persons of Attah Ochinke (Chairman), Eno Edet (Secretary), Terem Inyambe (Publicity Secretary), Mercy Alobi (Assistant Secretary) and Rajunor Tom (Treasurer) as well as esteemed members of the Bar such as Mr. Emmanuel Orok Duke, Mr. John Enem, Mr. Horace B. Teedu, Ms. Cornelia Udofa and Mr. Inam George Akiki.
The opening prayer was said by the Secretary of the Doyen Bar after which Mr. Horace B. Teedu was called upon to read a brief profile of the new Notary, Daniel K. Kip, Esq., after which the oath of office of a Notary Public was administered on the new Notary before the Honourable Chief Judge of Cross River State officially marking his appointment as a Notary Public.
In delivering his goodwill message, the Chairman of the Doyen Bar, Mr. Attah Ochinke, proudly noted that the new Notary is a legal practitioner in his law firm, the office of Attah Ochinke & Co., and that this was therefore a joyful occasion to see him growing in leaps and bounds stating that Daniel K. Kip, Esq. had grown from when he arrived in the office as a Youth Corper to the imposing presence that he now has within the Bar. He went on to express his pride in the steps and strides that he had made so far.
The Chairman went on to point out that the office of Notary Public is an office that demands high integrity as it carries virtually quasi-judicial functions as the holder of that office authenticates documents so that people around the world could recognise them as true just because a Notary Public signed off on those documents. It was against this background that he went on to state that the new Notary possesses the requisite requirement for appointment as a Notary Public as he possesses the ability and integrity for the responsibilities that had just been vested on him.
The Chairman further enjoined the new Notary, Daniel K. Kip, Esq. to ensure that the character he showed and the traits that qualified him for appointment as a Notary Public should drive his actions hence as the responsibility to be upright is even higher now upon appointment as a Notary Public. He went on to advise the new Notary to execute the functions of his new office with the highest degree of integrity and responsibility.
The Chairman ended by thanking the Honourable Chief Judge of Cross River State for the honour of promptly swearing in Daniel K. Kip, Esq. as a Notary Public thus making one of his dreams a reality.
In his response, Daniel K. Kip confirmed that the day’s event was indeed a dream come true giving thanks to God and his late father, who, in his words, served as his inspiration for joining the legal profession. He went on to express his gratitude to his Principal, and Chairman of the Doyen Bar, Mr. Attah Ochinke, noting that it was Mr. Attah Ochinke’s deliberate practice of ensuring that lawyers in his law firm grow as well as meet their professional obligation of prompt payment of practice fees that had made the day’s event possible.
He went on to express his gratitude to the Doyen Bar, which had given him a lot of opportunities to serve the Bar thus creating an enabling environment for him to grow as well as learn a lot in the course of his service to the Bar. He gave his assurances that he will ensure that he does not disappoint in the conduct of his duties as a Notary Public.
Finally, he expressed his gratitude to the Honourable Chief Judge for taking out time from her busy schedule and the demands of her office to conduct the day’s proceedings.
In her remarks, the Honourable Chief Judge of Cross River State, His Lordship, Honourable Justice Akon B. Ikpeme, congratulated the new Notary, Daniel K. Kip, Esq., and went on to remind him that to whom much is given, much is expected. His Lordship proceeded to point out to the new Notary that henceforth his life becomes more public and adviced him to continue to carry himself very responsibly and ethically more so now than ever before.
His Lordship went on to express her lack of surprise regarding the new Notary’s achievements having earlier noted that he had commenced his practice with the Chairman, Mr. Attah Ochinke, and had thus been groomed in the tradition His Lordship knew the Chairman carried himself. She therefore urged him to keep it up.
The ceremony was brought to an end with a vote of thanks said by the Special Assistant to the Chief Judge, Mr. Edem Effiong after which a closing prayer was said by Mr. Emmanuel Orok Duke. Upon taking the oath of office of a Notary Public, Daniel K. Kip, Esq. joins a distinguished line up of members of the Doyen Bar who are themselves Notaries Public such as Dr. Paul Ebiala (the immediate past Chairman of the Doyen Bar), Chris Ogbogu, Esq., Effiom Ayi, Esq. (the immediate Past Secretary of the Doyen Bar), and Raymond Manga, Esq., to mention a few.