Wole Olanipekun Urges Lawyers To Critically Examine Judgments Before Criticizing Judiciary
Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Chief Wole Olanipekun has called on lawyers to thoroughly read and understand court judgments before publicly criticising the judiciary. Speaking at the third lecture series of the Faculty of Law at the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), Olanipekun expressed concern over lawyers who attack the courts without fully understanding the rulings.
The lecture, titled “Bridging the Gap Between Theory and Practice: Effective Strategy for Using Law As a Tool for Social Justice in Nigeria,” saw Olanipekun decry the trend where lawyers appear on television and radio programs to disparage the judiciary. He urged his colleagues to adopt a more professional approach to expressing dissatisfaction with court decisions.
“Criticizing the judiciary without proper understanding of the judgments is wrong. We should not engage in self-destruction. If there are issues with judgments, the right thing is to critique them in law journals, not through media attacks,” he stated. Olanipekun further emphasised that it was inappropriate to claim that justice is being denied in Nigeria, though he acknowledged that improvements are needed.
The former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) also addressed the ethical procedure for challenging court judgments. He advised lawyers to put their critiques in writing and engage with the legal community through scholarly channels. Olanipekun reiterated the importance of supporting the judiciary rather than undermining it, stating, “We must not push the judiciary to Golgotha. We must not kill the judiciary.”
Olanipekun, who has been in the legal profession since 1976 and has held the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria since 1991, emphasized that despite challenges in the legal field, Nigerians should not lose hope in the judiciary. “No institution is without its flaws. Even the executive and legislature are not perfect. There is always room for improvement,” he added.
The lecture also addressed the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application of law. Olanipekun explained that while legal theory is important, the real challenge lies in applying it effectively to achieve social justice. He urged law students to focus on bridging this gap to make meaningful contributions to the country’s legal system.
In his address, FUOYE Vice Chancellor Professor Abayomi Fasina commended Olanipekun’s extensive contributions to the legal profession and described him as an authority whose expertise is invaluable. He noted that Olanipekun’s appointment as the first professor of practice at the university was intended to inspire students and motivate them to strive for excellence in their legal careers.
Fasina encouraged the students to emulate Olanipekun’s dedication and hard work as they progress in their studies and careers.
