By Stephen Gbadamosi, Ibadan
From the Bar came some home truths for the Nigerian Judiciary.
The Judiciary has been under intense scrutiny from several prominent Nigerians and groups over what they say are below par activities, including infractions on ethics and professional integrity, by some of its members.
Former president of Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN, and the first female SAN, Chief Folake Solanke, who spoke on the vexed matter, called on lawyers to remain corruption-free in discharge of their duties.
The senior lawyers made the call in Ibadan, yesterday, at the opening of the Law Week and 70th anniversary celebration of the NBA, Ibadan branch.
At the event, with the theme ‘Law, Legal Practice and Development’, Chief Olanipekun said the Judiciary needed to maintain its integrity by purging itself of bad eggs.
The legal luminary urged the Bar and Bench to identify the bad and corrupt ones among them, bring such to justice, and flush them out of the system, failing which, he warned, they would rubbish other good practitioners.
He called on the Judiciary stakeholders to join the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, to sanitise the entire judicial system.
Olanipekun enjoined the Bar to stop all means of attacking judges, especially in the media, adding that the Bench should also ensure temperate language for legal practitioners and get them to always act nobly, whether in court or not, behaving honourably.
“Do not engage in strife, blackmail, mudslinging, campaign of calumny, treachery, or any attempt to pull anyone down.
“If the forebears of this branch had engaged themselves in mudslinging, war of attrition, among other vices, Ibadan Bar would not be where it is today.
“Life in the country will become solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short without law playing its proper roles,” he noted.
Olanipekun maintained that the Ibadan branch had excelled in the legal profession by every imaginable standard.
“In terms of the quality and content of its products, it towers high among the comity of NBA branches in Nigeria.
“It is, actually, the leader, leading with exemplary virtues, while others follow.
“In the next 30 years, when you will be celebrating your centenary anniversary, your grass shall remain green as you continue to blossom,” he prayed.
Also speaking, Chief Solanke admonished the Judiciary to maintain its stand “boldly, without being bias, as expected in the legal profession.”
She urged them to always be mindful of their appearance, insisting that they ought to always look elegant so as to project the noble profession positively.
The Senior Advocate also urged lawyers to always maintain the culture of reading, irrespective of the influence of technology.
“Never be tired of reading, because it’s very critical for your work and profession. Always remember that time is of essence; your appearance is extremely important. Young lawyers, especially, should be industrious and follow the advice of the elder ones,” she admonished.
Also speaking on the occasion, Oyo State deputy governor, Mr. Bayo Lawal, called on lawyers to maintain good conduct to project the profession better.
“Let us always remember that caution is recommended in this profession; we must not blackmail one another, because it’s never found as part of the profession,” Lawal, a lawyer, said.
The Chairman, NBA, Ibadan branch, Mr. Ibrahim Lawal, in his own speech, said the week-long anniversary celebrations, which began on Friday, would feature a series of exciting activities.
“The mobilisation of fantastic resources, men and materials, holds the promise of exciting moments throughout the celebrations.
“The culminating effect will be the setting of a veritable landmark in the history of the NBA branches in the entire country,” Lawal said.
Also, the Chairman, Law Week and 70th Anniversary Planning Committee, Mr. Mutalubi Adebayo Ojo, SAN, described the NBA Ibadan branch as the foremost bar association with its several landmark achievements.
“We have every cause to roll out the drums to celebrate our success stories.
“It’s a week of loaded and star-studded programmes that will better the country in all aspects,” he said.
