The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, has raised serious concerns over the declining adherence to ethical principles in the legal profession, calling for an urgent reset to restore discipline and integrity.
Speaking at the inaugural Annual Lecture of the Body of Benchers in Abuja, Kekere-Ekun lamented the growing disregard for professional ethics among legal practitioners, warning that this trend threatens the very foundation of Nigeria’s legal system.
“The decline in ethical adherence is a challenge that cannot be ignored,” she stressed. “As the apex institution overseeing the legal profession, the Body of Benchers must take the lead in reversing this downturn and reinforcing the sanctity of our profession.”
The event also marked the public presentation of the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee’s report, highlighting the increasing number of disciplinary cases against lawyers.
Kekere-Ekun emphasized that the enforcement of professional discipline must be carried out with fairness, transparency, and unwavering commitment.
She commended the leadership of the Body of Benchers for introducing the annual lecture series, describing it as a necessary platform for intellectual discourse, self-examination, and reforms.
The CJN further urged the legal community to use the initiative as a blueprint for upholding ethical standards, strengthening public confidence in the judiciary, and setting clear benchmarks for professional conduct.
With the theme “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,” the lecture examined the challenges facing the legal profession and charted a course for restoring discipline, integrity, and professional responsibility.
Kekere-Ekun called for sustained efforts in continuous legal education and justice sector reforms, ensuring that ethics remain at the heart of legal practice in Nigeria.
