The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in Kebbi has decried contracting of services of external solicitors at the expense of private legal practitioners in the state, accusing Governor Atiku Bagudu of patronising lawyers outside the state.

Lawal Hudu-Garba, the newly elected NBA chairman stated this while delivering his acceptance speech in Birnin Kebbi on Thursday. He assured that the association would work to encourage government patronage of private lawyers in the state.

“Huge amounts of funds are used in contracting services of external solicitors; and the most unfortunate thing is that the government does not patronise lawyers who practise within its jurisdiction,” the NBA chair lamented. “It is noted that while lawyers who live outside jurisdiction are given government briefs, the burden of paper work as well as representation in courts fall on the shoulders of our lawyers resident within jurisdiction.”

He added, “This goes to show that they possess the requisite skills and knowhow to handle such briefs, then why are they denied the benefits of such briefs?”

Mr Hudu-Garba explained that engaging services of lawyers resident in Kebbi would go a long way in providing job opportunities and by extension, boost economic activities in the state.

The NBA chair called on the Kebbi government to redirect its briefs to their lawyers and urged it to employ new counsels and improve remuneration of law officers.

“It is ironic that while crimes increase geometrically in the state, there is no corresponding number of counsel in the Ministry of Justice to expeditiously vet case files and prosecute offenders in courts,” noted Mr Hudu-Garba. “It is incredible to note that the ministry now has only 25 counsels. I don’t need to tell you the resultant effects of that. Additionally, it is noted that lawyers working in the ministry of Justice Kebbi state are the least paid all over the country.”

(NAN)