…As CJN laments downturn in adherence to ethical principles in legal profession
Vice President Kashim Shettima on Wednesday, urged the Nigeria’s judiciary to remain true to the ideals of honesty and fairness.
The Vice President who made the call in Abuja while speaking at the maiden edition of Body of Benchers’ annual lecture and public presentation of the report of the directions of the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee, added that the foundation of every great nation is built on the ethical sensitivity of the institutions that uphold justice.
Shettima emphasized that the judiciary is a crucial pillar of the nation’s democratic framework and added that, “The foundation of every great nation is built on the ethical sensitivity of the institutions that uphold justice”, stressing that laws are not mere technicalities but the scaffolding of civilization.
While warning that bending the law to serve vested interests erodes national stability and weakens democratic governance, the Vice President who declared the event open, urged legal practitioners to uphold honesty and fairness adding that history would judge those who allow justice to be compromised.
Shettima said, “Every time justice is delayed, every time the law is bent to serve the interests of agents of anarchy, and every time institutions waver in the face of blackmail, we erode the very foundation of our nation. And if that foundation crumbles, no matter how high we have built, everything falls apart”.
According to the Vice President, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has demonstrated that the best way for the tripartite system of government to function is when non of the arms of government is not treated as enemies, but as allies dedicated to the republican virtues of the nation and the advancement of the democracy.
He said, “Laws are not mere technicalities; they are the scaffolding of civilisation. Without laws, there is no order. Without order, there is no society”.
In her remarks, the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun took a critical look into the practice of law in Nigeria and lamented the downturn in the adherence to ethical principles in the legal profession.
She noted with regret that strict adherence to ethical principles in the legal profession and society at large was not only dwindling but facing serious challenges.
To address the trend, Justice Kekere-Ekun canvassed an urgent need for law practitioners to recommit themselves to the fundamental values of ethics, discipline, and professional responsibility.
She said “It is instructive to note that the Body of Benchers, as the apex institution of the legal profession in Nigeria, is uniquely
positioned to lead the charge in this regard.
“The responsibility of upholding the legal profession’s sanctity rests heavily on its shoulders, and I have no doubt that the body will continue to rise to the occasion.
“The enforcement of professional discipline among legal practitioners, through the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC), is a vital function that must be pursued with fairness, transparency, and unwavering resolve”, she said.
The CJN who chaired the occasion, praised the Chairman of the Body of Benchers, Chief Adegboyega Solomon Awomolo, SAN and the entire members of the Body for their foresight and dedication in initiating the lecture.
She pleaded that the initiative be sustained and expanded and should not only serve as an avenue for reflection and discourse but also as a mechanism for setting clear benchmarks for professional ethics, continuous legal education and justice sector reforms.
Delivering the inaugural lecture, former Lagos State governor and Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN) stressed the importance of the Body of Benchers in regulating the admission of persons into the legal profession and exercise of disciplinary jurisdiction over legal practitioners.
He questioned whether the Benchers still carry out rigorous scrutiny of legal professionals admitted to the Bar, as was the practice in the old.
Fashola noted the current concerns over the administration of justice, calling for a reevaluation of legal training to separate the education of solicitors from that of barristers or advocates.
“I would recommend that post university training of solicitors and advocates be left now and in the future to law firms to be accredited nationwide for that purpose, while the law school under the aegis of the council of legal education remain an examining and certification body, separating solicitors examinations from that of Barristers”, he said.
He further criticized the one-year Law School training, arguing that it lacks sufficient court exposure, making it difficult to instill the “intangible attitudes of a lawyer” that are essential for legal practice.
Drawing from past experiences, he recounted the story of “Owoblow,” a non-law graduate who, through exposure to legal processes, became well-versed in legal practice—an indication that law is best learned in practice rather than solely in classrooms.
Also in his remarks, Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, reflected on the rule of law’s impact on governance, citing his personal experience where adherence to the law played a role in thwarting an impeachment attempt against him.
“After God, the rule of law was instrumental to my survival. It has further strengthened my belief in its importance,” Aiyedatiwa stated.
The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, represented by the Solicitor General of the Federation and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Justice, Mrs Beatrice Jeddy-Agba highlighted the Body of Benchers’ critical role in maintaining the integrity of the legal profession.
The AGF called for proactive measures to address contemporary challenges, urging legal practitioners to embrace change cautiously while safeguarding the interests of the vulnerable.
“As legal professionals, we must uphold the rule of law and adhere to the rule of professional conduct”, he said and urged the Body of Benchers to maintain ethical standards to sustain the integrity of the legal profession.
Earlier in his welcome address, Chairman of the Body of Benchers, Asiwaju Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN, acknowledged the evolution of the legal profession since the body’s establishment in 1971, particularly in the face of technological advancements such as artificial intelligence and cross-border legal practice.
He also revisited the ongoing debates on whether law should be a second-degree program in Nigerian universities, as concerns persist over the declining quality of lawyers produced today compared to past decades.
“There are common arguments that the standard of lawyers being produced is lower than in the years when the Body was established. Should the law degree be reserved for second-degree holders before admission into the Nigerian Law School?” Awomolo asked.