The case against using the term nonlawyer
Across the Atlantic, two lawyers Olga Mack, a fellow at the Stanford Center for Legal Informatics and Damien Riehla vice president at the legal-tech platform vLex—petitioned the American Bar Association (ABA) “to cease using the term ‘nonlawyer.’
Mack and Riehl demand of the ABA to come up with a convenient/nondiscriminatory term that properly depicts the myriad contributions of all in the legal realm.
In simple terms, the petitioners claim that, “this term non lawyer perpetuates negative stereotypes and hierarchical structures, undermining our profession’s fundamental principles of inclusivity and respect,” and “implies a binary division between lawyers and others, inadvertently (or purposefully) marginalizing the invaluable contributions of our legal support professionals, paralegals, and other professional colleagues.
Truck Diver jailed for train accident on Tema-Mpakadan Railway Line.
19th April 2024
A truck driver, Mr. Dzodotor was jailed six months after a newly acquired modern train on a test drive run into a stationary truck on the Tema Mpakadan Railway line. The said truck had been abandoned on the railway line by Mr. Dzodotor, now a convict.
Mr. Dzodotor pleaded guilty to three out of the four charges and was convicted and sentenced accordingly based on his own plea of guilty. First, he was convicted of the offence of careless driving and inconsiderate driving which attracted 100 penalty units; or in default serve 20 months jail term.
The driver was also charged with unauthorised stopping which attracted 20 penalties units and five months jail term in default. The driver was finally charged with causing unlawful damage and was sentenced to six months imprisonment in hard labour without the option of a fine. The sentences were to run concurrently.
Thus Mr. Dzodotor would be required to serve the six months original sentence for the offence of causing unlawful damage despite paying the fines on the other counts.
Court Orders Agip Oil to pay N11.7 Billion compensation for using land for 32 years
A federal court judge in Nigeria, Justice Inyang Ekwo has ruled that, Agip Oil Company Limited pays a compensation of N11.7 Billion to Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni as rent/compensation for the operation of a Well.
This ruling follows the adoption of terms of settlement filed by the parties.
The consent judgement therefore means that the Defendant’s shall submit to the Plaintiff demand for rent regarding the land in dispute; settling unpaid rent at the current rate to the Defendant.
