The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, has expressed worry over the practice of law in Nigeria and lamented the downturn in the adherence to ethical principles in the legal profession.
She noted that strict adherence to ethical principles in the legal profession was not only dwindling but facing serious challenges.
The CJN stated this on Wednesday at the public presentation of the report of the Legal Practitioners’ Disciplinary Committee held at the Body of Benchers’ Complex in Abuja, Nigeria’s political capital.
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.
The CJN also recommended enforcement of professional discipline among legal practitioners, through the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC), which must be pursued with fairness, transparency, and unwavering resolve.
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.”
The CJN, who chaired the inaugural edition of the Body of Benchers annual lecture and the public presentation of the Body of Benchers Law Report, applauded the Chairman of the Body of Benchers, Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), and the entire members of the body for their foresight and dedication in initiating the lecture.
She said that the lecture was not only a testament to the progressive evolution of the body but also a much-needed platform for intellectual engagement, practical discourse, and introspective reflections on the role of the Body of Benchers within the legal profession in Nigeria.
According to the chief justice, the lecture initiative was conceived as an annual event to serve multiple purposes, including illuminating the workings of the Body of Benchers both nationally and internationally to foster greaterunderstanding of its critical role in legal practice and professional discipline; providing a forum for robust, critical, and well-researched discussions on the successes.
The CJN added further that the lecture would address the challenges and prospects of the body, evaluating the ethical standards of the legal profession in Nigeria to ensure the highest levels of discipline, integrity, and professional responsibility among lawyers; presenting a forward-looking agenda for strengthening the legal profession while enhancing public confidence in the judiciary and legal practice.
She requested 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.
The maiden edition of the annual lecture has its theme as: ‘Half-A-Century of the Body of Benchers: The Past, The Present, and The Future of Maintaining the Ethics of the Legal Profession in Nigeria’.
