AGF tasks SANS on discipline

The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), has urged Senior Advocates of Nigeria to uphold and promote ethics in the legal profession. He said that as the privileged custodians of the rank, they must act in manners that uphold its dignity, nobility and esteem. The minister also cautioned junior lawyers […]

The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), has urged Senior Advocates of Nigeria to uphold and promote ethics in the legal profession.

He said that as the privileged custodians of the rank, they must act in manners that uphold its dignity, nobility and esteem.

The minister also cautioned junior lawyers against disrespect towards members of the inner bar (SANs), saying those conferred with the rank must be treated with utmost respect, deserving of the exalted position.

Fagbemi spoke in Lagos on Saturday at the dinner held by the Body of Senior Advocates of Nigeria (BOSAN) in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the rank. He is the chairman of BOSAN.

At the event, 134 graduands of the BOSAN Induction Programme – the 2024 set of 87 SANs and 2025 set of 57 SANs – were formally welcomed into the Body.

Five students of various faculties of law in Nigerian universities were also awarded scholarships, among other leadership awards.

The AGF said, “There are those among us who appear to regard the Rank as a licence for misconduct and indiscipline, under the mistaken belief that once conferred, it is inalienable. That, of course, is not correct.

“The Rank is a privilege, and, like all privileges, it can be withdrawn if the recipient denigrates or lives below the standard of the privilege.

“The LPPC has made that very clear in its extant Regulations. But this goes beyond the LPPC. Enforcing discipline must start in-house, from our Body. It is, in fact, best that we, as a Body, self-regulate and not foist the entire burden of regulating the Rank on the LPPC or, worse, the LPDC. My take is that it is better to lead by example rather than precept.”