Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and former 1st Vice-President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ikeazor Ajovi Akaraiwe, has condemned Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike’s call for disciplinary action against Professor Chidi Odinkalu, describing it as misplaced and unjustified.

Wike had urged the Body of Benchers to take action against Odinkalu for allegedly “degrading the legal profession” through his public criticism of judicial interference. The minister accused Odinkalu and the NBA of undermining the profession and insisted that lawyers must be disciplined for publicly challenging judicial rulings without basis.

In a response, Akaraiwe rejected Wike’s claims, asserting that Odinkalu is not the one degrading the legal profession but rather a courageous voice in an era of systemic rot. He described Odinkalu as “an oasis of truth and courage in a desert of cowardice and self-preservation” and argued that the real threats to the profession come from corrupt and unprincipled individuals, not from outspoken advocates like Odinkalu.

“The ones truly degrading the legal profession are those megalomaniacs and visibly amoral persons whose corruption, bad manners, public uncouthness, and drunkenness shock a perplexed public,” Akaraiwe stated, in a veiled reference to Wike’s alleged tendencies, as highlighted by Odinkalu.

He further lambasted individuals in legal and political circles who, despite holding high positions, act in ways that betray the nobility of the legal profession. “Those who degrade the profession are those who, whenever they speak, come across as educated illiterates, glaring advertisements of the failure of education in Nigeria,” he added.

Akaraiwe dismissed Wike’s attempt to frame Odinkalu’s criticisms as an attack on judicial integrity, arguing instead that public scrutiny of legal processes is essential for accountability. He cited the hypocrisy within the profession, where lawyers claim to be “learned friends” while some of their members act in ways that contradict the very ideals they are meant to uphold.

Quoting Ecclesiastes 10:16-17, Akaraiwe warned against leadership driven by immaturity and indulgence, calling on legal practitioners to reflect on their actions instead of scapegoating Odinkalu.

“If anyone has degraded the legal profession, it is certainly not Chidi,” he declared. “Look yourself in the mirror and see who should be hauled before the disciplinary committee.”

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