GAZETTE NOTICE NO. 210

Pursuant to sections 53 (9) of the Advocates Act and 12 (1) of the Advocates (Complaints Commission) Rules, 1991, it is notified for general information that between 1st October, 2010 and 31st December, 2010, the Commission received a total of two hundred eighty five (285) new complaints out of which sixty-eight (68) were classified and files opened. Two hundred and seventeen (217) were submitted for further enquiry under preliminary initiative. 2. The nature of new complaints is as shown below: Nature of complaints No. of complaints (a) Failure to account 20 (b) Failure to keep client informed 6 (c) Failure to render professional services 13 (d) Withholding funds 17 (e) Issuing dishonoured cheques 4 (f) Delay 6 (g) Overcharging 1 (h) Others 1 TOTAL 68 3. Complaints filed against advocates/firms of advocates were disposed of in the following manner: Classified Complaints No. of Complaints (a) Abandoned 75 (b) Settled 7 (c) Closed: No misconduct disclosed 19 (d) Dismissed Nil (e) Withdrawn 1 (f) Others 8 TOTAL 110 (ii) Preliminary Enquiry (PE) Complaints • Total number of complaints subjected to Preliminary Enquiry (PE) was two hundred and seventeen (217). • Total number of complaints settled under the Preliminary Enquiry (PE) was seventy-five (75). 4. The matters referred to the Disciplinary Committee (DC) during the same period for further action and in accordance with section 57(1) of the Advocates Act were fifteen (15). 5. During the same period a further thirty-five (35) cases were disposed off as follows: No. of Complaints (a) Advocates struck off the Roll of Advocates Nil (b) Advocates suspended Nil (c) Advocates Acquitted Nil (d) Settled (matters resolved) 21 (e) Withdrawn 1 No. of Complaints (f) Dismissed 13 (g) Others Nil TOTAL 35 6. In pursuant to section 53 (4) and in the spirit of section 53 (5) of the Advocates Act, twenty-one (21) complaints were settled amicably at the Advocates’ Complaints Commission. Dated the 31st December, 2010. J. N. KING’ARUI, Chairman.