Ag CJN condemns improper dressing by lawyers

The acting Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad, has condemned poor mode of dressing by some lawyers appearing at the Supreme Court. Justice Muhammad said this does not reflect the honour and dignity of the legal profession. He made this known during a courtesy visit to the Supreme Court by members of the […]

The acting Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad, has condemned poor mode of dressing by some lawyers appearing at the Supreme Court.

Justice Muhammad said this does not reflect the honour and dignity of the legal profession.

He made this known during a courtesy visit to the Supreme Court by members of the Abuja branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) on Wednesday.

He warned that lawyers who did not adhere strictly to the time-honoured dress code of legal practitioners would not be allowed to appear in court as such attitude was capable of eroding the prestige and respect accorded to lawyers worldwide.

The acting CJN further charged the Abuja NBA executives to always endeavour to give young lawyers the right training and tutelage so that they could be constantly kept abreast of the rudiments of the profession, especially the dress pattern and conduct expected of a lawyer.

Furthermore, he enjoined all lawyers to imbibe the cardinal principles of the legal practice which included hard work, dedication and trustworthiness, warning that they should at all times advice their clients correctly and never try to mislead them into believing what was not true.

“If at the end, the client discovers that the lawyer deceived him with false or misleading information, he will never like to do anything with any lawyer again, and unfortunately, that will now form the overall impression of such client about all lawyers; which is obviously antithetical to the image of the profession,” he said.

While welcoming the lawyers to his office, the acting CJN pledged to support the cooperation between the bar and the bench in the dispensation of justice in the country.

He, however, bemoaned the reluctance of practicing lawyers to be appointed to the bench.

Earlier in his remarks, the Chairman of Abuja branch of the NBA, Mr. Folarin Aluko, disclosed that the branch had initiated different programmes and projects aimed at improving the lot of its members in Abuja and other states of the federation.