Shun corruption, CJN tells SANs

The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Walter Onnoghen, has warned Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) to distance themselves from corrupt practices. The CJN, who spoke in Lagos recently at the maiden annual lecture of the Body of Senior Advocates of Nigeria (BOSAN), decried misconduct of some senior lawyers which had brought disrepute to the profession. […]

The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Walter Onnoghen, has warned Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) to distance themselves from corrupt practices.

The CJN, who spoke in Lagos recently at the maiden annual lecture of the Body of Senior Advocates of Nigeria (BOSAN), decried misconduct of some senior lawyers which had brought disrepute to the profession.

Onnoghen said, “I urge you all to shun corruption and avoid all forms of misconduct, because if one is not qualified to wear silk as a judicial officer, he remains unqualified to wear same as a SAN.”

Guests at the event included  a retired Supreme Court Justice, Emmanuel Ayoola, a former Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Chief Bayo Ojo,  NBA President, Abubakar Mahmoud, first female SAN, Chief Folake Solanke, among others.

The CJN berated SANs who disrespected judges, advising them to change their ways.

He said judges, particularly at the Supreme Court level, were nearly being worked to death.

“Look at the job of a judge, particularly with political matters all over: nobody wants to do justice to his fellow human being except it goes to court. Even when it gets to court, you are not ready to accept what the court says, whatever the court says, it must have been compromised one way or another. 

“So, you create these problems and we are there, like these election matters, they have started already, pre-election matters, disputes about (party) congresses all over the place. Good! They will come back to the judicial officer and we’ll work, like at the Supreme Court, we work and we’re almost dropping dead.”