A Professor of Law and Judge of Enugu State High Court, Justice Cyprian Ajah, has cautioned lawyers against disregard for ethics and code of conduct capable of eroding public trust.
Ajah, who made the observation while taken stock of the trends in the legal profession further warned practitioners against undermining rule of law and justice system.
He has therefore advocated for strict adherence to ethics and code of conduct if the legal profession is to sustain public trust and confidence, stressing “without ethics and trust in the legal profession, justice system will be undermined.”
These were contained in a lecture titled; “The importance of Ethics in the Legal Profession” he delivered at the 2022 dinner organized by the Faculty of Law, Renaissance University, Ugbawka, in Enugu state at the weekend.
Renaissance University is a community based institution (Boarding only) in a holistic educational environment with fully accredited Faculty of Law.
It was established 17 years ago by former governor of Enugu state, Senator Chimaroke Nnamani.
“The important role of lawyers as ultimate guardian of the law means that the legal profession has a huge responsibility in ensuring that rules of ethics are developed and that lawyers and the public are educated about ethics and made effective through disciplinary mechanisms,” Justice Ajah told the audience.
He reminded lawyers of the need to constantly uphold the rule of law and access to justices pointing out that “If lawyers do not adhere to, and promote principle of justice, fairness and equity, the law itself will be brought to disrepute and public confidence in it dimmed.”
He advised lawyers to maintain the highest standard of honesty, integrity and fairness towards their clients, the court and members of the public, “which includes promptly honouring of any undertaking given in the course of a lawyer’s practice.”
He paid glowing tributes to the founder and visitor of Renaissance University, Senator Chimaroke Nnamani for his profound vision in establishing and sustaining the nascent citadel of intellectual, human and entrepreneurial development.
