*Cautions Against Engaging with Unauthorized ‘Nigeria Law Society
The Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) has issued a public notice regarding the legal status of an organization calling itself the “Nigeria Law Society”.
According to the notice, this society has not been properly registered with the CAC, which is the sole statutory body in Nigeria responsible for registering all Non-Governmental Organizations.
The CAC cites Section 863 (2) of the Companies and Allied Matters Act No. 3 of 2020, which makes it an offense for any individual, corporation or association that requires registration to commence operations or activities without first completing the necessary registration process with the Commission.
Despite lacking proper registration, the Nigeria Law Society has reportedly opened a physical office in Abuja, appointed a board of trustees, established state chapters, and created an online presence at www.nls.org.ng where it appears to be actively recruiting members from the public.
In the notice, the CAC management strongly advises the general public to refrain from engaging or dealing with the Nigeria Law Society in any capacity, warning that doing so may be considered aiding and abetting illegal activities.
The notice is signed by the CAC management and dated August 5, 2024. As the statutory body charged with registering and regulating such societies, the Commission seems to be proactively informing the public about the unauthorized status of this organization.
Recall that the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) has formally notified the Inspector-General of Police about the alleged criminal activities of this unregistered organization. In a letter dated July 25, 2024, CAC Registrar-General Hussaini Ishaq outlined the illegal operations of this association.
According to the letter, the Nigeria Law Society has not been registered with the CAC, which is the sole statutory body responsible for registering such organizations in Nigeria. Despite this, the society has reportedly opened a physical office in Jabi, Abuja, appointed national officers, and established an online presence with a functional website and email address.
The CAC cites Section 863(2) of the Companies and Allied Matters Act No. 3 of 2020, which makes it a criminal offense for any individual or association requiring registration to carry on business or commence operations without prior registration. The Act stipulates fines for violations, as prescribed by the Commission’s regulations.
Of particular concern to the CAC is the society’s use of its website to solicit membership subscriptions, an action the Commission views as illegal given the organization’s unregistered status.
The Registrar-General has requested that both the physical office and online presence of the Nigeria Law Society be shut down, and that individuals involved in these activities be prosecuted.