'Nigerian Lawyers Too Arrogant' By Emeka Maduewesi

For over three years, I have had the burden in my heart to write an article titled, “Who will drive Nigeria’s Legal Technology Initiative?” After reading Funke Aboyade’s “Looking to Foreign Jurisdictions” (THISDAY LAW, Tuesday, August 1, 2006), I felt duty bound to make these comments:

1. Technology is the strongest weapon against laziness, fraud, corruption, insensitivity, callousness, power drunkenness and sadism. Regrettably, many Nigerian Judges and legal practitioners fall into one or more of these categories.

2. No Nigerian Judge or lawyer practicing in Nigeria today has the education, exposure, dedication and discipline to drive Nigeria’s legal technology initiative.

3. Nigerian lawyers are too arrogant, lack the meekness to learn, and inherently averse to any form of compulsory continuing education. In all the Seminars I have attended in Nigeria, no Judge or Senior Advocate sat on the “floor” ; they all sat on the high table, that is, if they attend.

4. No Judicial Branch of any government in Nigeria has a functional website.

5. The Nigerian Bar Association’s (NBA’s) website, which went live in 2004, still lists Chief Wole Olanipekun as the President, and the late Charles C. Onitchabor Esq., as the Administrative Secretary.

6. Nigeria has no maintenance culture. Unfortunately, technology compulsorily requires almost daily uploading, downloading, updating and maintenance. Where things work, the current information is found in an organization’s website.

You must have noticed that I made no mention of our deplorable communications infrastructure and non-existent power supply. With the petro-dollars at the disposal of our so-called rulers – yes, they rule us and are above the law- they can provide these physical structures.

In fact, some states are gradually providing and embracing information technology. But info tech transcends emails, text and instant messaging. After all, Bill Clinton, the “first US President of the Internet age” sent only two emails during his entire presidency. Today in most jurisdictions, besides online, subscription-based legal research, from client intakes to court filings are automated.

Nigeria is economically inefficient and politically anarchic. It takes a Dora Akunyuli to make a positive impact on any industry in Nigeria; and she nearly paid with her life. It takes a Charles Soludo to make a bloodless revolution in Nigeria; and they nearly killed his father. It takes an Adewopo Adebambo to “STRAP” piracy and intellectual piracy theft in Nigeria; and he nearly paid with his career. Thank God Nuhu Ribadu and Nasir El-Rufai are still alive. As for Ernest Ndukwe and his GSM revolution, he enjoys a “safe-harbor ambience” because “no animal was harmed in the making of this revolution.”

Speaking truth to power entreats danger, including loss of life. Remember John the Baptist. Powerful entrenched interests in Nigeria use passive resistance to oppose technology, the modern symbol of truth. Where is that geeky Nigerian Judge or lawyer who speaks gigabytes and terabytes and has the courage to drive our legal technology vehicle forward?

As I write, we do not even know who is qualified to practice law in Nigeria. I think I have lifted my three-year-old burden, so I now ask, “Who will drive Nigeria’s Legal Technology Initiative?” We may have the education or exposure, but lack the attitude and requisiteness, to embrace the use of technology in the administration of justice. Prove me wrong. Let us start by paying our practicing fees online and rendering proper accounts to the NBA.

Emeka Maduewesi Esq. is admitted to practice law in Nigeria and the State of California.

CULLED FROM THE GUARDIAN, TUESDAY, AUGUST 22, 2006.

Related Link: http://www.editorspark.blogspot.com/