By Abdullahi M. Gulloma and Kehinde Osasona Abuja
The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, has commended the Body of Benchers for their foresight and dedication in initiating the annual lecture.
Justice Kekere-Ekun spoke at the maiden Body of Benchers Annual Lecture and public presentation of the report of the directions of the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee.
Emphasising ethical practice within the legal profession, the CJN observed that the sanctity of the profession in the country “rests solely on the shoulders of the Body,” even as she expressed hope that the body would rise to the occasion.
She said, “The forum is not only a testament to the progressive evolution of the body but a much-needed platform for intellectual engagement for practical and introspective reflection on the role of the body of benchers within the legal profession.
“It is gratifying to note that this annual event was conceived to serve multiple purposes including illuminating the workings of the body of benchers both nationally and internationally to foster greater understanding of its critical role in legal practice and professional discipline.”
In his keynote address titled, “Half-a-Century of the Body of Benchers: The Past, the Present, and the Future of Maintaining the Ethics of the Legal Profession in Nigeria,” a former Lagos state governor, Babatunde Fashola (SAN), said the annual lecture of the Body of Benchers “is a golden moment to start a new journey for the Nigerian legal system by demonstrating that there are internal self-correcting mechanisms that ensure that the dispensation of justice is speedy, credible and reliable.”
He emphasised the significance of character formation and self-discipline in maintaining dignity in the legal profession in the country, and urged the Body of Benchers to rise to the occasion, open itself up for criticisms and rescue the profession from unethical conduct in the interest of the country’s development.
Goodwill messages
There were goodwill messages from the President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mazi Afam-Osigwe, and a former Chairman of the Body of Benchers, Justice Mary Peter- Odili, among others.
In his goodwill message, Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo state paid glowing tributes to legal luminaries across the county, recounting his personal experience in Ondo state, which he said had strengthened his resolve and confidence in the “rule of law in Nigeria and the judiciary as the last hope of the common man.”
He encouraged stakeholders in the legal profession to see their roles as custodians of justice, which must be evolving to meet the modern era, especially as they carried immense responsibilities of preserving the integrity of the legal profession.
On his part, the Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), represented by the Solicitor General of the Federation, Mrs. Beatrice Jeddy-Agba, stressed the important role played by the Body of Benchers in the advancement of the legal profession and in shaping the direction of practice and upholding the rule of law in the country.
He said the legal landscape “in Nigeria and beyond is continuously evolving and requires all stakeholders to keep pace with the changes by addressing observable challenges, especially in the enforcement of the code of practice and maintaining the highest level of integrity.”
Speaking on the significance of the Body of Benchers Annual Lecture, Chairman of the Body of Benchers, Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), said aside from providing “a platform for introspection on changes in society, especially those occasioned by technological innovation and expanding boundaries of human rights and its enforcement,” the annual lecture would contribute immensely to finding solutions to contemporary challenges affecting the foundation of the legal profession in Nigeria and beyond.
He also urged stakeholders to particularly reflect on the declining quality of lawyers being produced in the country, which according to him, is impacting negatively on the profession and sparking debates as to whether a law degree should be a second degree in the university programme.
The high point of the event was the public presentation of the report of the directions of the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee by the vice-president.
Tunji-Ojo’s lamentation
In a related development, the Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has lamented the incarceration of over 26, 000 children in the nation’s custodial centres, noting that the figure represented 30 per cent of the total number of inmates in correctional facilities nation-wide.
Tunji-Ojo said the criminal justice system in Nigeria needs urgent reforms to prevent vulnerable groups from going through difficult and unwarranted experiences.
He reaffirmed the commitment of the present administration to address pressing issues within the nation’s correctional system, with a specific focus on the alarming number of children in correctional centres.
The minister made the remarks at a high level Inter-agency stakeholders meeting in Abuja to address the urgent issue of children deprived of liberty in correctional facilities.
He said the presence of children in correctional facilities amounted to a violation of laws requiring their placement in borstal institutions.
Tunji-Ojo acknowledged the lack of adequate facilities and called for urgent action and penalties to address the legal and institutional gaps.
The minister in a statement by the Director of Press in the Ministry, Ozoya Imohimi, outlined key reforms to transform correctional centres into centres for reformation and rehabilitation.
He said the establishment of a Nigerian Paramilitary Academy would ensure that Correctional personnel and officers are trained in empathy and correctional principles.
He added that emphasis would also be placed on non-custodial measures for non-violent offenders to reduce pre-trial detentions.
The minister emphasised the importance of inter-ministerial collaboration to tackle juvenile detention and called for active participation from state governments, noting that “correctional services require a federation-wide approach.”
“The future is now. We are committed to building a system that generations yet to come will be proud to call their own. Correctional services are not about condemnation but correction, and this is the path we must follow,” he said.
Tunji-Ojo said further that the 2024 report on children and young adults deprived of liberty “presents a sobering reality, an alarming 26,000 children have been held annually in Correctional facilities over the past five years.”
According to him, this figure represents over 30 per cent of the total inmate population, raising serious concerns about violations of child protection laws.
He stressed the urgency of the issue, declaring that the government would investigate the breaches and hold institutions accountable.
“The law is clear; children should not be in adult correctional centres. We will not tolerate violations of this law. There will be consequences for agencies that fail to uphold the law,” he said.