President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mazi Afam Osigwe, has requested security agencies, including the Department of State Services (DSS) and the police, to refrain from summoning nominees for the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) for questioning as part of the conferment process.
Answering questions from journalists during a post-Annual General Conference (AGC) media briefing of the NBA held in Abuja, on Monday, Osigwe said, while confidential reports from security agencies are a welcome part of the screening process, it is inappropriate and unnecessary for nominees to be “grilled” in person by security operatives.
“Our position is that confidential reports by the DSS and other security agencies should be allowed, but no agency should invite SAN nominees to their office for questioning or grilling,” Osigwe stated strongly.
He described such invitations as potentially prejudicial and counterproductive to the profession and independent nature of the legal profession as judges are also allowed to take confidential issues around cases handled by SAN nominees.
According to the NBA, intelligence should be discreetly gathered, without compromising the dignity and integrity of the nominees or turning the process into a form of pre-trial investigation.
At the recently concluded NBA conference held in Enugu, Osigwe defended the inclusion of young lawyers as speakers and participants, dismissing criticism about their perceived lack of experience.
He reiterated the Association’s commitment to inclusivity across all levels of seniority.