Mr. Olabisi Makanjuola, the Chairman of the Lagos Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), has urged lawyers to promptly report any instances of monetary demands for bail at police stations.
Speaking to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Lagos, Makanjuola emphasized that, according to the provisions of the 1999 Constitution, bail should be provided without any charges.
He affirmed the commitment of the branch to uphold the constitutional provision, ensuring that bail remains free in Lagos State. Makanjuola underscored the importance of maintaining ethical and professional standards within the legal profession, asserting that the Lagos Branch of the NBA would take lawful measures to eliminate the practice of demanding money for bail at police stations in the state.
“Our colleagues that go to the police formations always come back to lament that, oftentimes, money is paid to secure bail of suspects.
“The point we are making is that it must stop; even if that is one thing we begin to get right.
“A clarion call to everybody out there is that where any officer demands money for bail, please reach out to us, and we will draw the attention of the commissioner of police.
“He must live up to his promise; bail is free and bail must continue to be free,” the chairman said.
Makanjuola also said that the branch was determined to clamp down on fake lawyers.
“In the next couple of weeks and months, the Lagos branch intends to begin to clamp down on persons who parade themselves as lawyers.
“If any lawyer conducts himself in any manner that is improper, we ask members of the public to bring such a person to our attention; we have an ethics committee,” he said.
Makanjuola added that the branch was committed to providing training for lawyers to expose them to other aspects of legal practice apart from litigation.
He expressed confidence that the pieces of training would equip lawyers more and reduce ‘ambulance chasing’ and unethical conduct by some lawyers.
(NAN)
