AN ADDRESS PRESENTED BY THE CHAIRMAN, NIGERIAN BAR ASSOCIATION, ABA BRANCH, INNOCENT O. EGWU, ESQ., ON THE OCCASION OF THE BAR-BENCH FORUM ORGANIZED BY THE BRANCH AS PART OF THE 2023 LAW WEEK PROGRAMME HELD AT THE NBA, ABA BRANCH BAR CENTRE ON TUESDAY, 27TH JUNE, 2023.
Protocols.
It is with great pleasure that I welcome My Lords, judges of the Abia State Judiciary, the Chief Registrar, the Deputy Chief Registrars, magistrates and members of the lower Bench, and other officers of the judiciary here present, to this very auspicious occasion. This event is organized as part of the NBA, Aba Branch, 2023 Law Week programme, and we are very thankful to the Chief Judge of Abia State, Hon. Justice Lilian Abai, for giving his imprimatur of approval and support to the programme.
The organization of this event is a deliberate effort by the Bar to foster cordial relationship between the Bar and the Bench. 
It is the vision of the Bar that the session would be interactive whereby judicial officers, magistrates, court administrators and officials and legal practitioners, as stakeholders in the administration of justice sector, would brainstorm, articulate and rub minds to proffer solutions to challenges facing the sector.
I implore members of the Bar to be dignified and edifying in our languages and presentations without shying away from presenting your views on critical issues that affect the efficient administration of the Justice Sector.
It is our prayer that the Chief Judge will take over the subsequent organization and hosting of the Bar-Bench Forum with a view to getting all stakeholders in the administration of the justice sector in the State involved, namely, judicial officers including the President and judges of the Customary Court of Appeal in the State, the Chief Registrar, the DCRs, Court Administrators and ACRs, Chief bailiffs and other senior officers of the judiciary in the State, legal practitioners from the 5 branches of the Bar in the State, the police, officers of the correctional centres in the State and security agencies whose activities impact directly on the administration of the justice sector in the State.
It is our prayer that the Honourable the Chief Judge will look into some of the issues that would be raised here, and their resolutions, and if possible, incorporate them into a practice direction to guide the courts and practice. Many issues touching on the relationship between the Bar and the Bench qua the administration of justice in the State call for our interrogation in this meeting, among which are:
(i) the relationship between the Bar and the Bench, generally;
(ii) indiscipline and unwholesome practices by some bad eggs both at the Bar and the Bench;
(iii) respect to the court by lawyers and vice versa; (iv) proper dress code to the court;
(v) sitting of the courts; time and non-sitting of the courts – need to notify lawyers in advance;
(vi) adjournments – delays occasioned by lawyers and non-sitting of courts;
(vii) operation of the Multi-Door Court House in Abia State;
(viii) making of affidavits – the exclusion of lawyers; (ix) payment of filing and other fees at the court registries;
(x) service of court processes, etc.
It is hoped that the above issues, among many others, if sincerely discussed and resolved, would positively impact the relationship between the Bar and the Bar and advance, in very tremendous ways, the course of administration of the justice sector in the State. 
It is hoped that at the end of this meeting a communiqué embodying the resolutions and agreements reached here would be articulated and made a working instrument by both the Bar and the Bench in the overall common good of the administration of the justice sector in the State. Let me conclude by expressing, on behalf of the Bar, our appreciation of the sacrifices of everybody who attended this meeting. 
I. O. Egwu, Esq.,
Chairman, Nigerian Bar Association, Aba Branch.
