Jude Ayua, Associate
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), on 19 August 2024, launched a digital seal for lawyers. The National Publicity Secretary of the NBA, Akorede Habeeb Lawal, announced the launching on Sunday, 18 August, via email. It was also published on the NBA’s website.
According to the announcement, the NBA “entered into a contract to implement a secured digital stamp and seal with a verification system.” Being supported by blockchain technology, the Digital Stamp and Seal will ensure that every member’s copy “is unique, tamper-proof, and verifiable.” It is accessible on a “user-friendly e-commerce portal” accompanied by a Digital Stamp & Seal Verification App which is available on Android and iOS, Mr, Lawal stated. The mobile application will enable the public to verify legal documents by scanning them on their phones.
The Analog NBA “Stamp and Seal”
The “Stamp and Seal” is a requirement for legal practitioners admitted to the Nigerian Bar to sign legal documents, and without compliance with this requirement, a legal document is deemed to be improperly signed and lacks legal enforcement. The requirement of stamp and seal applies to lawyers in both government and private practice.
An NBA Stamp and Seal is unique to every member, printed as detachable stickers, and usually in two categories: one for members of the bench and the other for members of the bar. Until the launch of the digital version, it was only issued as a physical copy. This has, however, been limiting for digital legal practitioners. For example, many have had to print documents to stamp and seal them and then scan them before they are able to use them electronically. Also, it is extremely difficult for lawyers who are not physically in Nigeria to access their stamps after they have been issued. In the technologically advancing world and with the rise in digital services across different professions, the infusion of technology with law practice has become inevitable.
The NBA Digital Stamp and Seal is a welcome development.
The NBA Digital Stamp and Seal is, reportedly, backed by blockchain technology, which has its benefits. It will secure the uniqueness of each member’s stamp and seal, the security of their information, and non-alteration or duplication. It will also be easy to verify the authenticity of any stamp and seal.
Members of the NBA have severally called on its leadership to introduce a digital stamp and seal. Hameed Ajibola, in an opinion in May 2023, recommended to the NBA to provide an electronically-approved NBA Seal that meets the requirements of Rule 10 of the Rules of Professional Conduct for Legal Practitioners 2007. Also, Ben Ndedde, in 2020, while suggesting the introduction of a digital seal and stamp in a blog post, highlighted the benefits it would bring to members of the Association and the nation. For example, “…alternative and more viable projects make it attractive that we adopt secure electronic signature and to make a click on stamp and seal to be pasted on documents before printing … for court filing,” Ndedde argued. As a member myself, I have once recommended this to the current president of the NBA during his campaign in 2022. In a Facebook post, I shared the content of my email to Mr. Y. C. Maikau, S.A.N. in this regard. Although my message remains unreplied, I am delighted that his administration has implemented this innovation.
Benefits of the NBA Digital Stamp and Seal
The introduction of the NBA Digital Stamp and Seal is not only a welcome development because it will save the NBA a lot of design, printing, and delivery costs, but also because it will greatly benefit its members and the future of law practice in Nigeria.
- Enabling the offering of digital legal services: With the NBA Digital Stamp and Seal, lawyers can now endorse legal documents digitally without the need to print and scan documents. This will save time and cost for lawyers. Those who are outside Nigeria can also obtain their digital stamps without having to travel back or sending colleagues at home to do so on their behalf.
- Completing electronic transactions: It will be cheaper, easier, more convenient, and time-saving for lawyers to assist clients digitally without having to meet in person. For example, lawyers or law offices exchanging letters on behalf of their clients, or writing legal opinions for their clients, will not need to spend money to print documents to endorse with their seals and send by post or through their legal administrative assistants. They can endorse them digitally and send them by email or other electronic means. Although before now, some lawyers already electronically applied their stamps and seals to PDF documents using Adobe tools.
- Bridging the gap in access to justice: Legal services are expensive and not easily accessible, and in some cases, not affordable, to low-income people. Among the factors that determine how lawyers charge for legal fees are administrative costs which include printing, courier services, and cost of transportation for support staff who deliver legal documents. These services, in fact, incur additional costs for clients. With the launch of a digital stamp, these costs will be reduced and there will be more room for low-income clients to afford legal services.
- Fast-tracking legal processes: It takes time to deliver physical copies of documents. Electronic copies can be sent within seconds. Stamping and delivering documents will fast-track legal processes among lawyers and between lawyers and clients.
- Career opportunities and professional development for lawyers: Many lawyers, especially young wigs, are now preferring virtual or remote job roles. The advancement of technology has enabled this through such software applications as Google Work Space, Microsoft Teams, Slack, Zoom, and more. The NBA Digital Stamp and Seal will also enable digital law practitioners to enhance their careers and achieve professional development.
Lastly, the NBA Digital Stamp and Seal inspires hope for the future of digital law practice in Nigeria. Since 2020, certain jurisdictions in Nigeria including Abuja, Kaduna, Lagos, and others have been accepting the electronic filing of legal processes in court, holding virtual court hearings, and alternative dispute resolution (ADR) panels, although with relative success. With the NBA launching a digital seal, let’s hope that the Nigerian judiciary will also digitize justice administration nationwide for a more accessible, more affordable, and smarter justice delivery.