The Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Makurdi Branch, Maimuna Ikwulono, has expressed approval for the recent review of appearance fees for lawyers in Benue State. The Chief Judge of Benue State, Justice Maurice Ikpamese, issued a memo on November 10, 2023, announcing an upward adjustment of lawyers’ appearance fees from N2,500 to N10,000, effective from January 1, 2024.
Justice Ikpamese explained that the decision to review the fees was aimed at ensuring fair compensation for legal practitioners across the state. The move comes in response to demands from lawyers who had advocated for an increase in the long-standing fee structure.
In her statement to Saturday PUNCH, Maimuna Ikwulono, the NBA Chairman of the Makurdi branch, clarified that the request for the upward review originated from the legal practitioners themselves. She emphasized that the previous fee of N2,500, which had been in place for many years, was no longer sustainable in light of current economic realities.
Ikwulono further explained that the revised fees would contribute to a fairer compensation structure for lawyers, particularly in cases where their legal representation leads to successful outcomes. The adjusted fees will take effect at the beginning of the new year, marking a positive development for legal practitioners in Benue State.