Alphonsus Nweze
The new chairman of Onitsha Bar, popularly called premier Bar, Mazi Iheanyichukwu Uba, has stressed the need for clients to trust their lawyers.
Speaking shortly after he was elected the chairman of Onitsha Bar last Friday at Onitsha Bar Centre, Mazi Uba said when a client engages a legal practitioner, he/she has no option than to trust his/her lawyer, although there might be one or two errors or misjudgment in the discharge of his duties as a lawyer.
He however stated that if there is any reason for one to change his lawyer in a case, it is one’s right to do so.
“If you know lawyers and the work they do, you now realise that you need to trust them. There might have been one or two errors here and there; one or two misjudgments but we are trained to be trusted.”
He said inspite of the challenges facing legal profession in Nigeria like any other profession, it is growing and will continue to grow better in future.
“Like any other profession, it is growing. It is growing better and better. It is a question of time. Yes, set back here and there but the profession is growing,” said Mazi Uba.
The new chairman said he has two simple programmes to implement which is to build library for Onitsha lawyers at the Bar Centre, Onitsha Hight Court and unify the lawyers in the commercial town.
“Then, I will move on and another person will come in the next 24 months. NBA is not anybody’s private estate. After your tenure, whether good or bad, you are out,” he said.
The Assistant Secretary, Prince Henry Mamma, Chidiabuo, in his comment was elated by his election and lauded his colleagues for the huge confidence reposed on him.
He promised to support the secretary of the bar to run an efficient bar association secretariat in Onitsha even as he appealed to his colleagues to support the new administration.
The election drew many practising lawyers that are based in Onitsha. The result of the election as announced by the Returning Officer, Adichie Nwagbogu Esq who also doubled as the Electoral Committee Chairman, declared Mazi Dickson Iheanyichukwu Ubah Esq as the winner of the election with 192 votes as against his opponent, Afam Obi Esq who scored 83 votes.
He also declared, Asiegbu Chukwuemeka Hilary Esq as the winner of the position of Secretary who sired 189 votes to defeat Agbo Humphrey Onyeka Esq who polled 86 votes.
Other elected officers includes Prince Henry Mamah Chidiabuo Esq who won the Assistant Secretary with 139 votes as against his rival, Chude Arinzechukwu Stephen Esq who polled 135 votes, while Umeji Izuchukwu David Ndubuisi Esq won Publicity Secretary with 167 votes as against Obidiegwu Ugochukwu. A. Esq who scored 108 votes.
