The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, on Wednesday took a critical look into the practice of law in the country and lamented the downturn in adherence to ethical principles in the legal profession.
She noted with regrets that strict adherence to ethical principles in the legal profession was not only dwindling but facing serious challenges.
The CJN spoke at the public presentation of the report of the Directions of the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee held at the Body of Benchers Complex in Abuja.
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.”
As canvassed by the CJN, there is an urgent need to arrest the ethical misconduct that has crept into the legal profession.
“To maintain high ethical standards in the profession, members of the BOB must not only keep their hands firmly on the regulatory door of admission to the bar but they must lead a crusade of urgency to remove unsuitable persons and characters before they bring down the House,” a former Governor of Lagos State, Babatunde Fashola (SAN), also said at the event.
Fashola criticised the one-year Law School training, suggesting that it lacks sufficient exposure to the courtroom environment.
He emphasised that law should be learned in practice rather than solely in classrooms.
“There is a grave danger when a person of unsuitable character, integrity, or competence slips through the cracks. A poor-quality lawyer, law teacher, prosecutor, judge, legal adviser, or law officer has been made. This compromises the entire system of administration of justice, where the stakes are very high in terms of lives and livelihoods,” Fashola warned.
“As officers and guardians of law, lawyers are implored to appreciate their sacred role and reduce the treatment of the law only as an avenue for wealth creation. Lawyers are expected to guide their work towards just outcomes and nothing more.”
The most annoying is the abuse of the judicial process, particularly the growing practice of forum shopping, which is attributed to some legal practitioners.
The public space is full of reports of multiplicity of suits and suggestions of forum shopping aided by legal practitioners in manifest abuse of the judicial process.
It is worrisome that the standard of lawyers being produced today is of lower quality, and therefore, the minimum qualification and perhaps age should be reconsidered.
There is the misconception that the legal profession is a fast track to riches. There seems to be an untoward notion that the law is a root to becoming rich early.
The growing perception that practicing law is a quick route to wealth, which has led some lawyers to exploit their clients, is very upsetting. Legal practitioners must recognize their role as officers of the court and guardians of the law. The law should not be seen merely as a means to financial gain.
However, as officers and guardians of law, lawyers are implored to appreciate their sacred role and reduce the treatment of the law only as an avenue for wealth creation. Lawyers are expected to guide their work towards just outcomes and nothing more.
The ethics in the legal profession has suffered great deterioration; legal practitioners must remain true to the ideals of honesty and fairness.
The consistently increasing numbers of lawyers that are referred to the LPDC for unethical practices against their clients are baffling
In August last year, the LPDC disbarred one lawyer and suspended three others for professional misconduct.
The LPDC ordered Abikoye Timothy’s name to be struck off from the roll of legal practitioners following his involvement in alleged fraudulent activities.
Timothy was accused of collecting N2, 359,000 as a professional fee for legal services he failed to deliver. His attempts to settle the matter with a dud cheque further compounded his legal troubles.
The LPDC had earlier withdrawn the practising licence of Adekunbi Ogunde, a principal partner formerly in the law firm of Wole Olanipekun & Co, following an unethical practice in trying to poach Saipem from another law firm.
A five-man panel of the Committee, comprising Justice Ishaq Bello (Chairman), found Ogunde guilty of professional misconduct in a case brought against her by the Nigerian Bar Association.
Ogunde had insinuated in a letter that her principal, being head of the Body of Benchers, had all the Judges and heads of courts in his pocket and could swing judgment in favour of Saipem, if the services of Olanipekun & Co, were retained.
Lawyers must remain vigilant in upholding the highest standard of ethics and professionalism if they must effectively serve the society.
Legal practitioners are duty bound to ensure that justice is served and that the law remains the tool for the protection of the most vulnerable among the society.
The legal profession is not only a cornerstone of any democratic system, but a vital force in shaping the direction of national development.
The very essence of the profession is to uphold the rule of law, ensure justice and safeguard fairness to the society.
The legal landscape is continually evolving and it is incumbent on legal practitioners to ensure that they remain at the forefront of global trends while adhering to the core values that define the noble profession.
There is also the need for continuous reform of the training system in the legal profession to ensure that today’s legal practitioners are well prepared for current challenges in the face of increasing global advancements.
It is very important to uphold ethical standards in the legal profession to maintain public trust and integrity in the justice system.