By Adenike Ayodele
Mr Afam Okeke, a former Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Affiliation (NBA), Abuja Department, has urged legal professionals to defend judicial independence to revive public confidence within the judiciary.
Okeke made the decision on the twenty second Anniversary of Fawehinmiism, hosted by the Ikeja department of the affiliation on Thursday in Lagos.
The Gani Fawehinmi Annual Lecture had as its theme: “Integrity Deficiency within the Justice Sector: Whither the Authorized Occupation.”
Okeke mentioned the late Fawehinmi, a famend Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), embodied the very soul of integrity, braveness, and justice within the Nigerian authorized occupation.
He raised three nationwide points that strike on the coronary heart of integrity in Nigeria’s justice sector.
Okeke famous that many Nigerians not strategy courtroom judgments with confidence, however with suspicion.
He mentioned some courtroom choices have been usually influenced by politics or connections, including that when folks misplaced religion within the courts, the rule of regulation weakens and society turns into weak to self-help.
Okeke mentioned unethical authorized practices have been changing into normalised.
He mentioned abuse of courtroom processes, frivolous injunctions, discussion board buying, and deliberate delays are more and more seen as a “technique”, quite than misconduct.
He added that it was troubling that younger legal professionals have been being mentored into this tradition, placing the way forward for the Bar in danger.
He mentioned the Bar should regain its ethical authority via agency self-discipline and moral management.
Okeke additionally raised the rising inaccessibility of justice for the poor, noting that authorized support was weak, professional bono work non-compulsory, and courtroom processes intimidating.
He mentioned Fawehinmi stood with the poor and the oppressed, including that if Nigeria really honoured him, entry to justice should transfer from rhetoric to actuality.
He requested whether or not the occupation was able to reclaim its function as custodians of justice quite than negotiators of energy, select integrity over comfort, and self-discipline itself earlier than demanding accountability from others.
The authorized practitioner added that Fawehinmi confirmed integrity was not a slogan however a day by day selection, a selection to talk when silence is safer and to face when compromise is simpler.
Okeke concluded that the late authorized icon’s reminiscence couldn’t be celebrated whereas his values have been deserted. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Ebere Agozie/Chinyere Omeire
