As one of the duties of Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Walter Onnoghen, GCON is to appoint Notary Public who met all the requirements under the Notaries Public Act upon application to the Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court.

Such applicant, a practising legal practitioner in litigation/Court matters must apply through an application letter to Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court (3 copies) attaching his CV on his law firm letterhead paper (23 copies in Lagos State, while 15 copies in other States), Call to bar Certificate (3 photocopies), evidence of payment of practising fees for 7 years before 31st of March of each year and law firm Certificate or his principal’s law firm Certificate (3 copies).

It will be processed before a letter will be sent to Chief Judge of that State where such applicant is practising actively for him to meet certain conditions. The Chief Judge will inform such applicant to bring 10 letters of recommendation from State High Court Judges. Such High Court Judge usually requires such applicant who has handled a case before them to attach Court precedent to a letter applying for recommendation or had concluded a case before him to Judgment or write the letter upon interviewing the applicant on his litigation experience, etc.

After submitting the letters of recommendation, it is for the Chief Judge to send it to Chief Justice of Nigeria for the applicant to move another stage which is doing oaths, etc. It will undergo another processing before the Chief Justice of Nigeria will approve it and send the names of the successful applicants to the Chief Judges of the State they are practising to do inauguration to them.

A Notary Public is supposed to be a legal practitioner who has integrity, trustworthy, an officer of the Supreme Court and have wide legal experience to cope with the duties imposed on him. The duties of Notary Public include: preparing and authenticating legal documents; creating or affecting rights; administering oaths and affirmations; taking affidavits and statutory declarations; witnessing and authenticating the execution of certain classes of documents; taking acknowledgments of deeds and other conveyances; protest notes and bills of exchange; providing notice of foreign drafts, preparing marine or ship’s protests in cases of damage; providing exemplifications and notarial copies, and performing certain other official acts depending on the jurisdiction.

Our correspondent while communicating to one of the successful applicant, Prince Olumide Akindiya who is also our general counsel expressed his joy as follows:

‘After much challenge and procedural delay, I am still happy being appointed as a Notary Public of Federal Republic of Nigeria by Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Walter Onnoghen, GCON after 9 years of active law practice, that is 10 years at the bar and 6 years of running a firm.

I also appreciate 10 Lagos State High Court Judges who gave me Letters of Recommendation having handled cases before them or had judgments before them in the course of meeting all the requirements for the appointment. Eyes have seen, but strong passion renew the focus on law practice. I pray my Creator gives me the wisdom and courage to comply with the duties imposed and continue to fight for justice inside and outside the Court rooms for Clients as apostle in the temple of justice.’

We at Sahara Weekly Magazine extend our felicitations to our general counsel on his appointment. This further portrays him as a vision driving, active legal practitioner to work with while tapping from his legal experience over the years. Definitely, we will update our readers as the inauguration will be fixed by Chief Judge of Lagos State, Hon. Justice Opeyemi Oke for successful applicants.