New chairman of the Katsina state chapter of Nigeria Bar Association, NBA, Abubakar Muhammad, has lamented that the state does not have a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, saying it is because lawyers in the state confined themselves to their jurisdiction.
Speaking during a courtesy call on the state Commissioner of Justice, Ahmad Usman Elmazruq, he said “We have excellent lawyers in Katsina but we confined our brilliance to our jurisdiction only. This is why Katsina state has not produced an SAN.”
Muhammad, however, stated that the NBA would encourage its colleagues to pursue their cases up to the supreme court so that by so doing, in a short time, there will be many SANs in the state.
Regretting that the NBA in Katsina had been relegated to the background, he assured that the new leadership will champion the construction of a befitting secretariat for the Association.
In his response, Elmazruq said the state has been on the ground floor for a very long time despite the state’s astonishing history of legal service in the country.
“It is pertinent for Katsina state and the NBA branch to aspire higher,” he said, adding that “It is disappointing to find out that there is not even a single SAN either of Katsina origin or from the Katsina branch.”
Mazruq expressed hope that within his tenure as the chief law officer of the state, the state will produce SANs since most of the lawyers are capable.
He lauded the state chapter of the NBA for being so disciplined, stressing that; “it is good that you come out of the election stronger.”
The commissioner, however, tasked the Association to be cooperative and give the young lawyers all the necessary support.
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