Renowned Nigerian human rights lawyer and lead counsel to the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Sir Ifeanyi Ejiofor, has raised alarm over the growing moral and professional decay within the Nigerian legal profession.
He called on the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and the Council of Legal Education to urgently address what he describes as an escalating crisis of character and competence among legal practitioners.
In a strongly worded statement titled “Weekend Musing: The Imperative of Character in the Legal Profession , Fraudulent and Dubious Attributes: A Stain That Cannot Be Concealed for Long”, released on Saturday, Ejiofor expressed deep concern over the unethical conduct of certain lawyers, describing their behavior as disgraceful and unbecoming of officers of the law.
According to Ejiofor, while these individuals may have been formally called to the Bar, their conduct aligns more with that of street touts than with that of legal professionals.
"They peddle fraud, thrive on deception, and embody the very vices that the legal system is supposed to screen out at the entry level,"
"This raises serious concerns about the adequacy and integrity of the mechanisms used to assess law graduates before their call to the Bar."he stated.
Ejiofor went further to liken some of these individuals to internet fraudsters and street miscreants, noting that they operate under the false pretense of legal activism while engaging in misinformation, half-truths, and outright lies.
“Some of these so-called lawyers are no better than the notorious ‘Yahoo boys’ and ‘agberos.’ Cloaked in the guise of legal practice or activism, they mislead the public, manipulate facts, and indulge in shameless self-promotion. Many now crowd television screens and social media platforms, pontificating on legal matters they barely understand. Their popularity is built not on erudition or professional integrity, but on noise-making, sensationalism, and fraudulent grandstanding,” he said.
He warned that the presence and proliferation of such individuals not only undermine the credibility of the legal profession but also endanger the administration of justice.
“The danger is both real and growing. These individuals actively disrupt the course of justice and desecrate the nobility of our calling. Their stench is evident to all who encounter them, yet the system continues to look the other way.”he added.
While acknowledging the efforts of the NBA in upholding professional discipline, Ejiofor lamented that the body appears increasingly overwhelmed by the disturbing trend.
“Regrettably, even the NBA,with all its commendable efforts is struggling to contain this rising tide of misconduct. It is time for urgent, decisive action from the NBA, the Council of Legal Education, and indeed the entire legal community.
“If we fail to arrest this decline, the contagion of misconduct will spread beyond control. This will not only erode public trust in the Bar but will also imperil confidence in the judiciary itself.”he added.
Statement reads in full:
During our formative years in legal training, we were consistently reminded of two inseparable principles that define who qualifies to be called a lawyer. These principles were not merely taught as ideals but institutionalized as the very foundation of professional life, emphasized from our undergraduate studies through to the Bar Finals at the Nigerian Law School. They form the backbone of professional ethics.
The two principles are encapsulated in the doctrine of being a “fit and proper person.”
This doctrine embodies two interwoven dimensions:
1. ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE.
A lawyer must demonstrate sound mastery of the law, reflected in the ability to excel in rigorous examinations and intellectual engagements. Without this competence, one cannot be entrusted with the noble responsibility of interpreting and
applying the law.
2. CHARACTER AND CONDUCT.
Equally, and perhaps more importantly, the aspirant must exhibit impeccable character, integrity, and discipline. No matter how brilliant in academics, a candidate lacking good character is unworthy of being called to the Nigerian Bar. Historically, the Nigerian Law School, under the firm oversight of the Council of Legal Education, safeguarded this standard with vigilance, ensuring that only men and women of both knowledge and character were admitted as Solicitors and Advocates of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
In our time, this principle was strictly enforced. An aspiring lawyer’s lifestyle, behavior, and moral disposition were closely scrutinized, for it was well understood that flawed character will ultimately corrupt even the noblest learning. Sadly, I cannot say with certainty that this high standard is still rigorously upheld today.
I raise this concern because of the alarming degeneration of professional standards we now witness among some legal practitioners, both juniors and seniors alike. If the doctrine of “fit and proper” were still being observed with the same rigor, I doubt whether the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) would be inundated daily with the avalanche of petitions and misconduct cases that now flood its docket.
It is therefore my humble but firm call on the Nigerian Law School, and in particular the Council of Legal Education, to reawaken and reassert this sacred safeguard. The task of producing competent and disciplined lawyers must never be compromised, no matter whose ox is gored.
In practice and in ordinary life, I have unfortunately encountered lawyers whose conduct is nothing short of disgraceful. Some, though formally called to the Bar, carry themselves in manners more befitting of street touts than officers of the law. They peddle fraud, embrace deception, and embody the very vices the system should have screened out at the entry point. This raises troubling questions about the adequacy of mechanisms used to assess aspirants before their call to the Bar.
Some of these so-called lawyers differ little from the notorious “yahoo boys” and “agberos.” Cloaking their mischief under the guise of activism or legal practice, they peddle half-truths, spread spurious lies, and indulge in shameless self-promotion. Many flood television platforms, pontificating on subjects they scarcely understand. Their seeming relevance is built not on erudition or integrity but on noise-making, content creation, mischief, and fraudulent grandstanding.
The danger is both real and growing. Such individuals disrupt the course of justice and desecrate the nobility of our calling. Their stench is palpable to all who encounter them, yet the system appears to look away. Even the NBA, despite its commendable disciplinary efforts, is increasingly overwhelmed by this disturbing trend.
The time has come for decisive action. The NBA, the Council of Legal Education, and indeed the entire profession must rise to the occasion. If we fail to arrest this decline, the contagion of misconduct will spread beyond control, eroding public trust not only in the Bar but also in the judiciary itself.
Let us remember: learning may secure one’s admission into the profession, but only character sustains its dignity. Fraudulent and dubious attributes, no matter how cleverly concealed, will eventually surface, and when they do, the damage extends beyond the individual, eating into the very fabric of justice.
This is a sacred duty we owe to the coming generation of lawyers, and indeed, to society at large.
##
0 Comments