Bayelsa Deputy Governor Laments Decline In Legal Profession
The Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, has expressed concern over the declining reputation of the legal profession in Nigeria, attributing it to unprofessional practices among members of the bar and bench.
Ewhrudjakpo made these remarks on Monday during a courtesy visit by the Law Students Association of Nigeria (LAWSAN), Niger Delta University (NDU) chapter, to his office at the Government House, Yenagoa.
The deputy governor criticized recent court judgments, which he said had eroded public confidence in the judiciary. “The judiciary itself has become so corrupt; it is unfortunate. I am afraid the judiciary is no longer the hope of the common man,” he stated.
Ewhrudjakpo also decried the practice of “forum shopping,” where lawyers file cases in courts likely to deliver favorable judgments. “Most lawyers do a lot of forum shopping to get favorable judgments from judges in different divisions of the courts. The legal profession has lost its value because of the conduct and attitude of the bar and bench,” he said.
While addressing the law students, Ewhrudjakpo encouraged them to uphold ethical standards and explore innovative areas of law to rebuild the profession’s integrity. “The bar is losing its value, but I charge you to be different from others. Strive to carve a niche for yourselves by following professional ethics,” he urged.
He advised them against confining their practice to “charge and bail” cases and challenged them to positively impact the legal field and society at large.
Furthermore, in responding to the students’ requests, the deputy governor assured them that the government would address the issue of a broken generator at the Law Faculty in Yenagoa. He suggested installing a solar farm to tackle power supply challenges and pledged support for the upcoming LAWSAN Week activities in January.
Earlier, Reverend Father Anthony Suowari, President of the LAWSAN NDU chapter, thanked the deputy governor for his contributions to the university’s Faculty of Law. He formally introduced the new association executives and appealed for continued government support for their initiatives.
Ewhrudjakpo’s remarks highlight growing concerns over the state of Nigeria’s legal profession and underscore the need for reforms to restore public confidence in the judiciary.
