The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, has raised concerns over the erosion of ethical standards in the legal profession, warning that the decline poses a significant challenge to the integrity of law practice in the country.
Speaking at the public presentation of the Legal Practitioners’ Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) report at the Body of Benchers’ Complex in Abuja, she stressed that professional ethics and discipline among lawyers must be reinforced to maintain public trust in the judiciary.
Justice Kekere-Ekun emphasised the urgent need for legal practitioners to recommit to the core values of honesty, discipline, and professional responsibility.
The 66-year-old urged the LPDC to strengthen its oversight functions to ensure compliance with ethical standards.
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“The Body of Benchers, as the highest institution of legal oversight in Nigeria, must take decisive steps to uphold the integrity of the profession,” she stated.
“The enforcement of discipline must be guided by fairness, transparency, and firm resolve.”
The CJN commended the Chairman of the Body of Benchers, Adegboyega Awomolo, and members of the body for organizing the inaugural edition of the Body of Benchers annual lecture.
She described the lecture as a valuable platform for discussing legal ethics, professional discipline, and the evolving role of the legal profession in Nigeria.
According to her, the lecture series aims to provide deeper insights into the work of the Body of Benchers, both locally and internationally, while also fostering critical discussions on ethical challenges and reforms within the legal profession.
She called for the initiative to be sustained and expanded, noting that it should serve as a benchmark for setting professional ethics, advancing legal education, and driving reforms within the justice sector.
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The maiden edition of the annual lecture was themed: ‘Half-A-Century of the Body of Benchers: The Past, The Present, and The Future of Maintaining the Ethics of the Legal Profession in Nigeria.’
