Court fixes June 10 to hear suit against increase in practising fees by NBA

A Federal High Court in Lagos on Friday fixed June 10 for hearing of a suit filed by some lawyers challenging the increase in practising fees payable by the practitioners.
The date was fixed after Tunji Gomez, counsel to the plaintiffs, informed the court of his ill health and prayed for an adjournment.
Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia, following the request, adjourned the matter to June 10.
The plaintiffs, Seth Amaefule, Amaka Aneke, Celestine Nwankwo, Charles Ola-Oni and Tayo Arojo, had filed the suit against the Nigerian Bar Association and some other defendants.
They are seeking an order of the court to stop the NBA from implementing the reviewed practising fees for lawyers.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that when the case came up last, the judge gave an interim order maintaining the old practising fees pending determination of the main suit.
In the statement of claim, the plaintiffs had claimed that the General Council of the Bar, by a circular dated April 6, 2012, made an upward review of the fees payable by lawyers in the country.
The plaintiffs said prior to the review, lawyers with less than five years standing at the bar paid a practising fee of N2,000 while those above five years, but less than 10 years, paid N4,000.
They said those above 10 years, but less than 15 years at the bar paid N7,500; those above 15 years paid N10,000; while Senior Advocates and body of benchers paid N20,000.
The plaintiffs further averred that by the circular issued to lawyers in April 2012, the fees were “outrageously reviewed and lawyers who are less than five years at the bar were directed to pay N10,000.”
According to the plaintiffs, other changes are for those above five years to pay N20,000; those above 10 years to pay N35,000; and those above 15 years, N50,000.
The plaintiffs claimed that with the review, Senior Advocates and life benchers were now to pay N100,000 and described the fees as “rather exorbitant” for lawyers.
They are, therefore, seeking an order of court, returning the fees to status quo, since most lawyers could not afford them.
Joined as defendants in the suit are registered trustees of the Nigerian Bar Association, General Council of the Bar and the Attorney-General of the Federation.
Others are Chairmen, Lagos State and Ikeja branches of the NBA, Taiwo Taiwo and Onyekachi Ubani.