The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, has sworn in Hassan Saubana, a Taraba-based lawyer and chairman of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Wukari branch, as a notary public.

The CJN administered the oath of office to Mr Saubana during a brief ceremony at the Taraba High Court in Jalingo.

Represented by the Taraba chief judge, Justice Joel Agya, the CJN noted that the importance of a notary public in Nigeria could not be overemphasised, as he or she was deemed an officer of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

He explained that President Bola Tinubu had signed into law the Notries Public Act 2023 on June 12, 2023, which repealed the Notries Public Act 2004.

“A notary public under the 2023 Act is an individual, usually a legal practitioner, commissioned or appointed by the CJN to perform notarial functions, including the authentication of documents, the administration of oaths, and affirmations.

“Unlike what was obtainable before, the 2023 Act now provides for the registration of notaries public in a physical and electronic register to be kept by the Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

“The key functions of Notaries Public include witnessing the execution of legal and international documents, assignments of intellectual property, powers of attorney, and company resolutions.

“Others are obtaining authentication from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, preparing notarial certificates of law and good standing, verifying company documents, verifying identity and signature, and performing digital notarisation through electronic means, among others,” he said.

Mr Ariwoola explained that the difference between the commissioner of oath, a justice of peace, and a notary public was that only a notary public could validly notarise documents that would be used in another country.

He called on other legal practitioners to apply to be notaries to make them more valuable at their work and boost their careers.

Martin Milkman, the NBA chairman, Jalingo branch, congratulated Mr Saubana on his appointment by the CJN, saying it had opened the door for global practice.

(NAN)