Senior lawyers, jurists call for reforms in legal education, practice
Vice President Kashim Shettima has called on the judiciary to remain steadfast in upholding justice and resisting external pressures that threaten Nigeria’s independence.
Shettima, who gave the charge yesterday, during the Body of Benchers’ maiden yearly lecture and public presentation of the Body of Benchers Law Report, emphasised that the judiciary is a crucial pillar of the nation’s democratic framework. He warned that bending the law to serve vested interests would erode national stability and weaken democratic governance.
The Vice President, who declared the event open, urged legal practitioners to uphold honesty and fairness, saying that history would judge those who allow justice to be compromised.
Meanwhile, prominent figures in Nigeria’s legal profession, who spoke at the event, called for urgent reforms in legal education and practice, emphasising the need to uphold ethical standards and ensure quality legal representation in the country.
Former Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN), while delivering the inaugural lecture, questioned whether the Benchers still rigorously scrutinise the legal professionals admitted to the Bar, as was the practice in the old.
He noted the current concerns over the administration of justice, calling for a re-evaluation of legal training to separate the education of solicitors from that of barristers or advocates.
Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, in her remarks, called for a renewed commitment to ethical standards and professional discipline in Nigeria’s legal profession.
The CJN acknowledged the increasing ethical challenges facing the legal profession and underscored the Body of Benchers’ crucial role in enforcing discipline through the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC).
She stressed that disciplinary measures must be transparent, fair, and resolute to maintain the integrity of the profession. Kekere-Ekun urged that the yearly lecture be institutionalised and expanded to serve as a mechanism for setting clear benchmarks for professional ethics, promoting continuous legal education and advancing justice sector reforms.
Also in his remarks, Ondo State Governor, Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, reflected on the rule of law’s impact on governance, citing his personal experience where adherence to the law played a role in thwarting an impeachment attempt against him.
The Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), represented by the Solicitor-General of the Federation Beatrice Jeddy-Agba, highlighted the Body of Benchers’ critical role in maintaining the integrity of the profession, urging proactive measures to address contemporary challenges.
Earlier in his welcome address, Chairman of the Body of Benchers, Adegoyega Solomon Awomolo (SAN), acknowledged the evolution of the legal profession since the body’s establishment in 1971, particularly in the face of technological advancements, such as Artificial Intelligence and cross-border legal practice.
