• Body of Benchers hosts maiden annual lecture, unveils Legal Discipline Report
DAILY COURIER – The Vice President of Nigeria, Senator Kashim Shettima, has cautioned legal practitioners against manipulating the law to serve personal interests, warning that such actions undermine the nation’s sovereignty and threaten societal order. Shettima made this statement while officially declaring open the maiden Body of Benchers Annual Lecture and the public presentation of the Report on the Directions of the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee in Abuja.
Addressing an audience comprising eminent legal luminaries, Shettima underscored the judiciary’s role as an essential pillar of Nigeria’s stability, emphasizing that a nation’s strength lies in the integrity of those who make, enforce, and interpret its laws.
“Laws are not mere technicalities; they are the scaffolding of civilization. Without laws, there is no order. Without order, there is no society. 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,” he stated.
Shettima’s remarks came as a stern warning amid increasing concerns about political interference and corruption in the judicial system. He urged judges and legal professionals to resist the temptation of bending the law under pressure, cautioning that their decisions could either uphold or dismantle Nigeria’s democratic framework.
CJN Decries Declining Ethical Standards in Legal Profession
In her keynote address, the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, echoed the Vice President’s sentiments, expressing concern over the gradual erosion of ethical standards in the legal profession. She warned that the decline in professional discipline poses a significant threat to the judiciary’s integrity and the rule of law.
Speaking at the Body of Benchers Complex in Abuja, where the Body of Benchers Law Report was publicly presented, the CJN called for urgent reforms to restore discipline and ethical responsibility among lawyers.
“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,” she declared.
Justice Kekere-Ekun emphasized that the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) must enforce professional discipline with fairness, transparency, and resolve. She stressed that lawyers, as custodians of justice, must hold themselves to the highest ethical standards to ensure the profession’s credibility.
Body of Benchers Annual Lecture: A Step Toward Judicial Reform
The CJN commended the Chairman of the Body of Benchers, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo, SAN, and his team for initiating the annual lecture series, describing it as a critical platform for evaluating challenges in the legal profession. According to her, the lecture was conceived to shed light on the workings of the Body of Benchers both nationally and internationally, fostering a deeper understanding of its role in legal practice and professional discipline.
Beyond serving as an avenue for discussion, the lecture aims to provide a framework for evaluating ethical standards within the legal profession. By bringing together key stakeholders, it offers an opportunity to deliberate on pressing concerns and reinforce a culture of discipline, integrity, and professionalism among legal practitioners.
Furthermore, Justice Kekere-Ekun emphasized that the lecture would contribute to strengthening the legal profession by addressing systemic weaknesses and proposing forward-looking reforms. She noted that for public confidence in the judiciary to be restored and sustained, it is imperative to enforce strict disciplinary measures, ensuring that legal practitioners adhere to the highest standards of accountability.
The inaugural event marked a significant milestone in the ongoing efforts to strengthen the legal profession and reinforce accountability within the judiciary. As Nigeria grapples with complex legal and governance challenges, the call for renewed commitment to ethical law practice remains crucial. The success of these efforts will largely depend on the willingness of legal practitioners to uphold justice, free from external influences and self-serving interests.
