Group Calls For Sanctions On Lawyers Encouraging Breaches Of Law

The Fight Against Corruption in the Judiciary (FIACIJ) has urged the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) and the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to take decisive action against lawyers who enable security agencies to violate the law.

Speaking in Lagos on Tuesday, the Convener of FIACIJ, Mr. Bayo Akinlade, highlighted the growing trend of lawyers allegedly encouraging rights violations and unlawful actions by the police.

“It has been discovered that lawyers often encourage cases of rights infringement brought by the police,” Akinlade told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN). “This is a sad development, and the LPDC should wield its big stick against lawyers found culpable.”

Akinlade revealed that in many cases of illegal arrests and prolonged detentions, investigations showed lawyers playing a key role in pushing the police to act unlawfully.

“This is bad and unacceptable. Yet, nothing is done to discipline these lawyers,” he said. “Sadly, I cannot say I have ever heard of the NBA taking action against any such lawyer.”

Citing an example, Akinlade recounted a case where a man was detained at a Lagos police station for over two weeks due to a commercial dispute. He discovered that a lawyer working in government had orchestrated the prolonged detention.

“This is most unacceptable and a show of naked power by a legal practitioner because Nigeria is not a country of dictators,” he noted.

According to Akinlade, lawyers are duty-bound to uphold the rule of law, not encourage its breakdown. He called on the NBA to clamp down on any lawyer promoting lawlessness.

“Lawyers are the mouthpiece of society, and it is important they are made to live up to this expectation,” he said.

The FIACIJ continues to advocate for accountability within the legal profession and reforms to strengthen adherence to the rule of law.