The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has issued a call for ethical renewal within the legal profession, and urged its senior members to confront allegations of declining integrity, growing public distrust, and widespread professional misconduct.
This call was made at the just-concluded 2025 NBA Lagos Annual Dinner, which took place under the theme “Casino Royale – The Masked Bond Tales.”
NEWSWIRE Law Events Magazine’s correspondent in Lagos reports that the event was graced by distinguished legal minds, policymakers, Senior Advocates of Nigeria, business leaders and influencers.
Delivering the Keynote Address, the Retired Hon. Justice Babajide Candide-Johnson traced the onset of the collapse of public confidence in the legal system to the conduct of senior lawyers who, instead of exemplifying professionalism, have, he said, been repeatedly accused of enabling deception, delay, and the manipulation of the justice process.
According to the retired jurist, the perception that Senior Advocates of Nigeria often deploy their influence to obstruct justice has become widespread – even among laypersons.
“A friend asked me whether Senior Advocates of Nigeria are specially trained in deception, delay and diversion,” he said. “We cannot lead this profession without good example and accountability, and discipline must start with senior lawyers.”
Citing academic and public commentaries, including that contained in Prof. Chidi Odinkalu’s essay “Senior Advocates of No Consequence”, Candide-Johnson lamented what he described as a pattern in which disciplinary bodies failed to sanction senior lawyers implicated in professional wrongdoing, and warned that the justice system was being choked by deliberate delays engineered by counsel. He cited findings from a 2018 Lagos State backlog elimination project, which revealed that inefficient case management by counsel accounted for 45% of delays in the High Court.
Justice Candide-Johnson contrasted current realities with his first Supreme Court appeal in 1986, a case which travelled from the High Court to the apex court – within 18 months! Such a speedy timeline, he lamented, is nearly impossible now.
“If senior lawyers are not committed to efficiency and integrity, the system will collapse,” he added. ” People will increasingly resort to social media trials, unlawful police intervention, and self-help.”
Also speaking at the event, NBA National President Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, used the occasion to reaffirm the Association’s commitment to strengthen disciplinary processes, improve the Rules of Professional Conduct (RPCs), and ensure that errant lawyers are held accountable.
“Nobody will take us seriously,” he said, “if we do not take professional misconduct seriously. The NBA must investigate complaints swiftly and present petitions against errant members.”
Osigwe revealed that a bill before the National Assembly seeks to decentralise the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC), enabling it to sit in multiple zones to speed up hearings. The NBA helmsman also outlined the Association’s ongoing advocacy on prison reforms, anti-money laundering compliance, judicial appointments, and the digitisation of court processes.
He went on to criticise a system where victims of kidnapping are often forced to pay security agencies to track perpetrators.
“There must be investment in technology, training and proper recruitment,” he urged. “We must not allow criminals infiltrate the security agencies under the guise of mass recruitment”
In her remarks at the occasion, the Chairman of the NBA Lagos Branch, Uchenna Ogunedo Akingbade, placed the evening’s reflections within a historical context, noting that lawyers’ Dinners were rooted in the centuries-old traditions of the English Inns of Court, which were originally created to reinforce ethics, mentorship and professional values. She urged lawyers to rediscover the virtues of integrity, competence, accountability and collegiality, stressing that “every case we handle is a gamble where the currency is integrity, knowledge and courage.” The future of the legal profession, she said, depended on the choices lawyers make today.
NEWSWIRE’s correspondent also reports that the Dinner featured many highlights, among them recognitions across various categories. Among those honored were:
For Judicial Excellence:
– Hon. Justice Ayokunle Olayinka Faji;
– Hon. Justice Ikechi Gerald Nweneka;
– Hon. Justice O. Atinuke Ipaye, FICMC;
– Mr. Philip Adebowale Ojo
For Their Recent Elevation To The Inner Bar as SANs:
– Hannibal Egbe Uwaifo;
– Olumide Alaba Ekisola;
– Oromena Justice Ajakpovi;
– Ibrahim Akhim Bawa;
– David Ogenyi Ogebe;
– Emeka Akabogu;
– Olanrewaju Tasleem Akinsola;
– Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya;
– Oluseun Adeniyi Awonuga;
– Ikechukwu Raphael Uwanna;
– Kelechi Nwaiwu;
– Shakeer Oshodi;
– Habeeb Abdulrahman Oredola;
– Bidemi Ifedunni;
– Temilolu Ademola-Bola; Femi Ademolekun;
– Adedayo Gbolahan Adesina; and
– Olufemi Olubunmi Oyewole.
Other Honours bestowed during the event included:
– Olabisi Makanjuola (immediate past Chairman of the Lagos NBA, for exceptional service);
– Prof. Abiola Sanni, SAN (for outstanding legal academia);
– Tobenna Erojikwe (for mentorship and capacity-building);
– Dapo Oduwole (for outstanding government & public service counsel);
– Michael Osilama – (for outstanding in-house counsel);
– Ozofu ‘Latunde Ogiemudia (current Chair, NBA-SBL, for corporate & commercial practice);
– Olaide Oluwayomi-Ajewole (for Humanitarian & Social Impact); and
– Fernandez Marcus-Obiene (for emerging legal talent & innovation).
-Advertisement-
Grab our latest Magazine, "Kelechi Amadi-Obi - Transcending the worlds of Law, Visual Art and Photography". Get your order fast and stress free.
For more details about Newswire Law&Events Magazine, kindly reach out to us on 08039218044, 09070309355. Email: newswiremagazine@yahoo.co.uk. You will be glad you did
Download E-MagazineDo you want to be heard, your events covered, your articles published, or need to advertise your products and services on our Blog and Magazine, reach out to us at Newswire Law and Events, you will be glad you did. For more details about our services, please call: 08039218044, 09070309355. Email: newswiremagazine@yahoo.co.uk
