NBA unveils digital stamp, seal for lawyers

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA)  introduced digital stamp and seal with verification system for legal practitioners in the country.

NBA, which is the umbrella body of lawyers in the country, said the virtual stamp and seal would not only help to check activities of fake lawyers, but will also ensure seamless preparation and filing of legal processes.

The outgoing President of the NBA, Mr. Yakubu Maikyau, SAN, on Monday, unveiled the electronic stamp and seal at the national headquarters of the association in Abuja, said it was inline with the vision of his administration to push for full digitization of the legal system.

The NBA boss, whose tenure will expire in less than ten days, noted that the association recently conducted an online-based election that allowed its members to participate from various parts of the country.

According to Maikyau, “That election has been adjudged to be free, fair and the most credible. What we did during the election is a template that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should copy.

“I invite the INEC to come and understudy what we did to make the election seamless, with the electorates casting their ballot from the comfort of their homes. To a large extent, it reduced the cost of conducting an election.

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“The INEC should really be thinking in that line. Maybe, we need to write to the National Assembly to make a legislation that will mandate the Commission to go this route,” the NBA President stated.

While applauding the positive impact of technology in the conduct of affairs of the legal body, Maikyau said, for the first time in the history of the association, the registration of lawyers for its forthcoming Annual General Conference (AGC) was effectively done electronically without awarding the contract to a third party.

“Registration for the 2024 AGC was done on the platform of the NBA. This is about pressing forward. It is a posture we must take in building our nation. By making our profession better, we are also moving the nation forward,” he added.

On his part, the General Secretary of the NBA, Mr. Adeshina Adegbite, disclosed that the association had on June 18, 2024, signed the contract that ensured the deployment of the virtual stamp and seal.

He maintained that lawyers could apply and get the stamp and seal within minutes, adding that necessary safeguards were put in place to guarantee the authenticity and protection of the system that would operate through blockchain technology.