Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Jibrin Samuel Okutepa has called upon lawyers to uphold the rule of law and guide it jealously in their actions, conduct, and arguments.
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In a statement, he stressed that lawyers cannot be seen supporting anyone or anything that tends to undermine the efficacy and effectiveness of the rule of law in Nigeria.
Okutepa acknowledged that while the wheel of justice appears to be too slow in Nigeria, with many exploiting this slowness for bad, it is the duty of lawyers to respect the courts and pending processes. He noted that many lawyers have advanced arguments that pending processes are not in themselves orders, which is factually correct. However, he questioned whether it accords with the dictates of the rule of law to ignore pending processes and proceed to do what the pending processes seek to stop.
The Senior Advocate referred to his extensive writing on this issue on August 22, 2022, in the case of Joyce Odua vs NBA. He emphasized that it is not about court orders but about respect for the pending process. Okutepa stated that as lawyers, they must show respect for pending processes and not justify their disregard and disrespect for court processes under the guise that a motion for injunction does not amount to an order of injunction.
Okutepa argued that where the rule of law operates with a functional and responsible judicial system, such arguments cannot be tolerated. He criticized the Nigerian legal system for making arguments about the differences between six and half a dozen, which he considered to be the bane of the profession. He pointed out that many infractions of total disrespect for the rule of law have been encountered and encouraged under the guise of whimsical personal ego and convenience.
The Senior Advocate stressed that the rule of law is not a rule of convenience but a rule fashioned out for sustainable justice and orderliness in any civilized society. He expressed his doubts about the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) leading by example in this regard, either now or before. Okutepa noted that even in the upcoming elections for National Officers of NBA, many have advanced arguments in support of those aspiring to lead, stating that they were not candidates but aspirants making consultations, all in breach of NBA rules and regulations.
In conclusion, Okutepa urged lawyers to be serious about their profession to prevent it from suffering total shipwrecks in their hands. He emphasized the importance of upholding the rule of law and respecting pending processes to ensure sustainable justice and orderliness in Nigeria.
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