The legal community on social media has been abuzz following the emergence of a banner displayed at Senator Dino Melaye’s call-to-bar reception, which read: “Sen. Dino Melaye’s Chamber” a grammatical and professional inaccuracy in legal parlance where the correct term should be “Chambers.”
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Melaye, a former senator and political figure, was among the 5,734 law graduates called to the Nigerian Bar on Wednesday in Abuja the largest cohort in the history of the Nigerian Law School. However, what was meant to be a celebratory moment quickly became a subject of debate over a perceived professional misstep.
Many lawyers online criticized the wording of the banner, pointing out that the term “Chamber” instead of “Chambers” reflects a fundamental error in legal nomenclature, suggesting a lack of adequate mentorship. “If he had passed through proper mentorship, such a mistake would have been caught,” one lawyer wrote.
Some critics also questioned how quickly Melaye appeared to have launched a legal office, implying that the banner gave the impression of a functioning law firm immediately upon his call to the bar. “How did he open a law firm so fast? Where’s the due process?” another user queried. Although nothing forbids a young lawyer from practicing or registering his or her law firm immediately.
Supporters of the former lawmaker, however, defended him, dismissing the error as a “printer’s devil.” They argued that the mistake likely came from event organizers or printers, not Melaye himself, though many agreed that as a public figure and newly inducted lawyer, he ought to have reviewed the materials more carefully.
The banner also included quotes such as:
- “If we desire respect for the law, we must first make the law respectable.”
- “Good lawyers know the law; great lawyers know the court.”
Though inspirational, the grammatical and professional miscue overshadowed the message and reignited conversations about the need for improved mentoring of newly qualified lawyers in Nigeria.
Speaking after the ceremony, Melaye described his call to the bar as a dream come true:
“It’s been a long journey. All glory to God. Now we can start firing from all cylinders. I will become a judicial evangelist to stamp out corruption in the judiciary and campaign for complete amelioration of our judicial system,” he said.
He also disclosed his intention to practice law, with a focus on constitutional law and human rights.
Melaye, an alumnus of Baze University, is known for his vibrant political career, representing Kogi West in the Senate and previously Kabba/Bunu/Ijumu in the House of Representatives. He also contested the 2023 Kogi State governorship election, which he lost to APC’s Usman Ododo.
During the call-to-bar ceremony, the Chairman of the Body of Benchers and former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, charged the new wigs to uphold integrity and discipline in the legal profession, noting that legal practice is a privilege that can be revoked through misconduct.
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The incident has served as a teachable moment for many young lawyers and legal aspirants, stressing the importance of professionalism, mentorship, and attention to detail in a career bound by precision and ethics.
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