CJN, experts spotlight legal ethics at SANs’ event, others
Three successive judicial events last week provided the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen and lawyers the opportunity to highlight the various issues confronting the ethics of the legal profession. The events the Body of Senior Advocates of Nigeria (BoSAN) dinner, where two retired Supreme Court justices were honoured; the Call to the […]
Three successive judicial events last week provided the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen and lawyers the opportunity to highlight the various issues confronting the ethics of the legal profession.
The events the Body of Senior Advocates of Nigeria (BoSAN) dinner, where two retired Supreme Court justices were honoured; the Call to the Bar ceremony for law graduates of the Nigerian Law School (NLS), and the inauguration of new judges of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN).
Justice Onnoghen criticised the attitude of senior lawyers during the BoSAN award dinner, where former Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), retired Justice Mahmud Mohammed and retired Justice Suleiman Galadima were honoured.
He said the purpose for making the Senior Advocates of Nigeria sit in the front row in court and allowed to call their cases first was to allow the junior ones learn from them. He however expressed regret that the unethical actions of some SANs were portraying the profession in bad light.
Alluding to an incident in the Supreme Court involving a senior lawyer in a political case, Justice Onnoghen said some of the senior lawyers have not laid a good example in the profession.
“How far do you think that a client can influence you to the extent of lowering your standards and integrity, to the extent that you are not an appellant but you are prevailed upon to file a notice of withdrawal of a case you never filed? Yet you are briefed to file a process to withdrawal of a case you never filed. Yet you are a Senior Advocate of Nigeria,” he said.
J.U.K. Igwe (SAN) had in a lecture admonished senior lawyers to shun all kinds of unethical conducts such as filing multiple appeals on similar issues. He advocated the respect for rule of law, obedience to court orders, adequate funding for the justice sector and continuous training for lawyers.
“My lords and learned colleagues, these suggestions cannot be achieved waiting for the annual Nigerian Bar Association conference that comes in August or the International Bar Association meeting that comes every year for these have become national and international jamborees, with respect,” he said.
During the Call to Bar ceremony of the Nigerian Law School in Abuja, speakers, including the CJN, used the opportunity to again admonish lawyers to respect the ethics of the legal profession.
“Your character must be seen as being responsible at all times. You are required to remain and act as a minister in the Temple of Justice who must not be fraudulent, but rather demonstrate a high degree of uprightness and sound moral probity,” he said.
“In the discharge of your duties therefore, I urge you all to be fearless, forthright, courteous and respectful as well as truthful to yourselves. Learn to have the fear of God in all you do and be prayerful so that your days ahead may be blessed,” he added.
In the same vein, the Director General of NLS, O. A. Onadeko (SAN) advised the successful candidates to adhere strictly to the norms and ethics of the profession and aim for the top.
Also, at the swearing in of 19 newly appointed judges of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN), at the Supreme Court complex, the CJN harped on the need for high ethical conduct for the judges.
The CJN who admonished the judges to be firm and unwavering in the discharge of their duties, also advised them to be on the side of the law, constitution and conscience.
“I want to advice that as judicial officers, if you remain true to the oath of your office you will have no problem; anything you need to function in that office is contained in the oath of office,” he said.
The intensity and tone of the CJN’s preachments on ethical conduct for lawyers and judges at every given opportunity points to the high standards set by the current judicial leadership and the reforms it is willing to make to redeem the image of the third arm of government.