In a series of posts on his X (formerly Twitter) handle today, Senior Advocate of Nigeria Jibrin Samuel Okutepa expressed deep concern over the current state of the legal profession in Nigeria. He lamented the lack of strong elder statesmen who once upheld the integrity and professional conduct of lawyers and judges.
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Okutepa questioned the silence of the elders in the face of what he described as “judgments that defied logic and justice” and the perception of state capture of the justice system. He emphasized that the legal profession is in dire need of elders who can save it from a “calamitous end.”
The senior advocate expressed worry that politics has infiltrated the legal profession, with many lawyers seemingly siding with political interference in the purity of justice. He stressed that while judgments and court decisions should be obeyed, not every judgment must be defended and supported, as lawyers have a higher duty to the cause of justice.
Okutepa called on lawyers to subordinate their personal and pecuniary interests to the interests of justice, society’s peace, and stability. He warned against any professional discharge of duties that could lead to the breakdown of law and order.
The senior advocate noted that the elder statesmen in the legal profession appear to be divided along political lines, engaging in a charade where lawyers take sides based on who pays their bills rather than upholding the Rule of Law and democratic principles.
Okutepa questioned whether lawyers in Nigeria are still the social engineers they profess to be, as justice in the country is no longer seen in the prism of purity. He expressed his hope that the legal profession would serve as a beacon of hope for sustainable democratic development in Nigeria but feared that divisive political interests have diminished the elder statesmen’s capabilities to uphold the sanctity of the legal profession.
In conclusion, Okutepa reiterated his concern about the deteriorating state of the legal profession and the pressing need for elder statesmen to step forward and save it from further decline.
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