The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, has lamented the state of legal practice in Nigeria, lamenting the decline in adherence to ethical standards within the profession. She observed that not only is ethical compliance waning, but it is also facing significant challenges.
Speaking on Wednesday at the public presentation of the Legal Practitioners’ Disciplinary Committee report, held at the Body of Benchers’ Complex in Abuja, Justice Kekere-Ekun emphasized the urgent need for legal practitioners to reaffirm their commitment to ethics, discipline, and professional responsibility.
To address this trend, she advocated for stricter enforcement of professional discipline through the Legal Practitioners’ Disciplinary Committee (LPDC), stressing that such measures must be implemented with fairness, transparency, and unwavering dedication.
She said, “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.
“The enforcement of professional discipline among legal practitioners, through the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC), is a vital function that must be pursued with fairness, transparency, and unwavering resolve.”
The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), who presided over the inaugural edition of the Body of Benchers Annual Lecture and the public presentation of the Body of Benchers Law Report, commended the Chairman, Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), and all members of the body for their foresight and dedication in initiating the lecture.
She described the lecture as a significant milestone, reflecting the progressive evolution of the Body of Benchers. According to her, it provides a much-needed platform for intellectual engagement, practical discourse, and introspective reflections on the body’s role within Nigeria’s legal profession.
The CJN explained that the lecture was conceived as an annual event with multiple objectives, including shedding light on the workings of the Body of Benchers at both national and international levels to enhance public understanding of its crucial role in legal practice and professional discipline. It also aims to serve as a forum for well-researched discussions on the successes, challenges, and future prospects of the body, while assessing ethical standards in the legal profession to uphold the highest levels of discipline, integrity, and professional responsibility among lawyers.
Furthermore, she emphasized that the lecture would present a forward-looking agenda to strengthen the legal profession and enhance public confidence in the judiciary and legal practice. She urged that the initiative be sustained and expanded, not only as a platform for reflection and discourse but also as a mechanism for setting clear benchmarks in professional ethics, continuous legal education, and justice sector reforms.
The theme of the maiden edition of the annual lecture was ‘Half a Century of the Body of Benchers: The Past, The Present, and The Future of Maintaining the Ethics of the Legal Profession in Nigeria.’
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