Corruption within Nigeria’s judiciary, involving both the Bar and the Bench, took center stage at the 2024 Law Week of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Enugu branch, held on Tuesday.
Although the theme of the conference was “Good Governance and Socio-Economic Stability: The Imperative of the Rule of Law in Nigeria,” the discussion quickly turned to allegations of corruption among lawyers and judges.
This shift in focus prompted noticeable discomfort among the judicial officers and senior lawyers present at the event, which was held at the Justice Innocent Umezulike Auditorium in the Enugu State High Court Complex.
Attendees included prominent figures such as the Chief Judges of Enugu and Ebonyi States, Justices A.R. Ozoemena and Elvis Anagu Ngene, along with other judges of the Enugu State High Court. Senior legal professionals, including Mrs. Justina Offia (SAN), Prof. Joy Ezeilo (SAN), the state Attorney General, Dr. Kingsley Udeh, and NBA Enugu chairman Chief Venatus Odo, were also in attendance.
The keynote lecture was delivered by Justice Peter Obiorah of the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, who spoke on “Law Practice: The Lawyer in the Center of Judicial Corruption – The Urgent Need for Practice Reforms.”
In his address, Justice Obiorah emphasized that lawyers must uphold the highest ethical standards, free from deceit, fraud, and dishonesty, both in their professional duties and personal conduct.
The Judge acknowledged that while many corruption allegations against judicial officers are baseless, there are undeniable instances or perceptions of corruption within the system.
He highlighted that in many cases, lawyers, particularly senior lawyers, are often implicated as intermediaries in corrupt practices, with litigants attempting to bribe judges or magistrates through their counsel.
Justice Obiorah called on the NBA and other judicial stakeholders to introduce and enforce stricter ethical guidelines for lawyers, urging the National Judicial Council (NJC) to address judicial misconduct more seriously.
Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mrs. Justina Offia, also contributed to the discussion, providing examples of unethical practices among lawyers.
She highlighted how some lawyers, aware that they have weak cases, resort to unethical tactics like falsely accusing judges of bias or conflicts of interest to disqualify them from hearing the case.
NBA Enugu Chairman, Chief Venatus Odo, remarked that the law week presented an opportunity for lawyers to reflect on their professional conduct and the state of their society.
He stressed that the theme of the conference underscored the dangers of poor regulation in legal practice and questioned whether current governance has fulfilled its fundamental responsibility to ensure the security and welfare of the people.
Prof. Joy Ezeilo (SAN), the chairperson of the Law Week, emphasized that access to justice is crucial for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and fostering inclusive growth.
However, she pointed out that many Nigerians remain marginalized and without legal protection, primarily due to poverty and other forms of social exclusion.
