Kashim Shettima on Wednesday urged the judiciary to remain resolute in the face of blackmail, emphasizing that as guardians of the law, the third arm of government must resist any temptation to compromise justice for narrow interests.
Speaking in Abuja at the inaugural Body of Benchers Annual Lecture and the public presentation of the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee’s report, Shettima underscored the judiciary’s pivotal role in Nigeria’s sovereignty.
He stressed that a nation’s accountability, fairness, and orderliness are directly linked to those who create, enforce, and interpret its laws.
He also warned judges and legal practitioners against yielding to the influence of individuals he described as agents of anarchy, urging them to uphold the integrity of the legal system.
Shettima stated, “Laws are not mere technicalities; they are the scaffolding of civilisation. Without laws, there is no order. Without order, there is no society.
“Every time justice is delayed, every time the law is bent to serve the interests of agents of anarchy, and every time institutions waver in the face of blackmail, we erode the very foundation of our nation. And if that foundation crumbles, no matter how high we have built, everything falls apart.”
He rejected the idea that justice was determined by the loudest voices, calling it one of the most serious misconceptions.
Shettima commended the judiciary for fulfilling its duty by dispelling this notion, citing the court’s decision to uphold President Bola Tinubu’s mandate despite political pressure.
He stated, “In reality, justice is just as essential to the most voiceless individual. It is the clearest affirmation that a nation is not governed by a mob. That is why we recognise that the mandate entrusted to Bola Tinubu was affirmed by a judiciary that did not yield to the weight of vested interests – a judiciary that understood that the fate of a nation is too sacred to be intimidated by any party or bartered for compromise.”
The vice president observed that while “the foundation of every great nation was built on the ethical sensitivity of the institutions that uphold justice”, it was such moral requirements that prepared judges “to refuse to bend to divisive sentiments and to stand firm against the currents of expediency”.
He added, “This is why the legal profession carries a burden unlike any other. You, my lords, are not just interpreters of the law; you are custodians of justice. But this role is not without its burdens. The expectations are high, and the temptations are many.
“Yet, I urge you, my lords, to remain steadfast. To borrow the words of the eminent jurist Lord Atkin, ‘Justice is not a cloistered virtue; it must be allowed to suffer the scrutiny of reasonable men’”.
Shettima reassured the judiciary of Tinubu’s resolve to maintain cordiality among the three arms of government, adding that Tinubu“has demonstrated that the best way for our tripartite system of government to function is when we do not treat one another as enemies, but as allies dedicated to the republican virtues of the nation and the advancement of our democracy”.
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Shettima commended the Body of Benchers for launching its Law Report, describing it as a testament to their shared dedication to legal scholarship, the preservation of precedent, and the ongoing enhancement of the nation’s legal system.
He urged “all legal practitioners to remain true to the ideals of honesty and fairness.
“The legacy we build today will outlive our titles, our offices, and even our ambitions. May we never be remembered as a generation that saw the light of justice dim and did nothing to keep it ablaze.”
Earlier in her remarks, the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, praised the Body of Benchers for their foresight and dedication in establishing the annual lecture.
Highlighting the importance of ethical practice in the legal profession, she emphasized that upholding the profession’s sanctity in Nigeria was the body’s responsibility. She also expressed confidence that they would meet this challenge.
According to her, “The forum is not only a testament to the progressive evolution of the body but a much-needed platform for intellectual engagement for practical and introspective reflection on the role of the body of benchers within the legal profession.
“It is gratifying to note that this annual event was conceived to serve multiple purposes including illuminating the workings of the body of benchers both nationally and internationally to foster greater understanding of its critical role in legal practice and professional discipline.”
Former Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola (SAN), presented the keynote address, titled, “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.”#Shettima
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