The Chairman, Body of Benchers, Mr Bandele Aiku (SAN), has enjoined newly inducted lawyers to adhere to the code of ethics guiding law practice in Nigeria.
Aiku, who is also a Life Bencher, gave the advice on Thursday in Abuja during the Call-to-Bar ceremony organised by the Nigerian Law School (NLS).
Notable among the new lawyers are Halima Muhammadu Buhari, daughter of President Muhammadu Buhari, and 80-year-old Enebeli Chuka.
The ceremony, held at the International Conference Centre (ICC), was attended by Mrs Aisha Buhari, wife of the President, among other dignitaries and featured a procession by Benchers, Call to Order and Call to Bar.
Aiku said: ” Let me congratulate one of the new wigs today, who is making history in his own right, by being the oldest new wig ever produced by the Nigerian Law School. He is 80 years old and we wish him a successful career at the Bar.”
He said that it was pertinent to congratulate the new lawyers for having been found worthy in learning and character and called to the Bar, to become members of the noble profession.
“It is, therefore, a profession most honourable; the practitioners of the profession live on controversy and it is controversy at large that dominates the profession.
“This is why the profession is almost, forever, in the limelight; that is why other professions marvel at and would forever envy that noble profession.
“That is why whereas the profession remains learned, other professions are content to be lay; so, Lawyers belong to one unique profession that can adequately shake the world.
“A law practitioner is not only an officer of the court performing duties as such, but holds a position of trust and confidence among members of the community.
“He is, therefore, subject to a code of conduct known as the basic traditions of the profession, which are written and unwritten, the greater part being unwritten,’’ Aiku said.
According to the Life Bencher, success at the Bar demands more than distinction in Law examinations, noting that it demands correct behaviour, professionalism and wise use of tools of the craft.
He identified equality at the Bar, respect for seniors, help and advice to colleagues, courage and independence and respect to Court to be notable codes guiding the Law profession.
“A good understanding of the foregoing and wise application of them would be of benefit to you in your professional journey as Law practitioners,’’ he said.
In his speech, Mr Olarenwaju Onadeko, the Director-General, Nigerian Law School, said the new lawyers were successful in the April 2016 final Bar examinations.
He said violation of admission quotas by some Faculties of Law was a major challenge affecting the school and called for strict adherence to the allocated number of students’.
He said that some Faculties of Law had their accreditation withdrawn for this reason, noting that such violations disrupted the projection of the Nigerian Law School in short and medium terms.
“My appeal to our universities is that due heed should be paid to the decision of the Council of Legal Education and the National Universities Commission in this regard,’’ he said.
Onadeko presented a total of 2,218 successful candidates at the April 2016 batch and 41 candidates from previous final Bar examinations.
“The April 2016 examinations were undertaken by the re-sit students after two months of intensive preparations.
“Their performance at the examinations vindicated the decision because the success rate was 73 per cent,’’ Onadeko said.
He expressed the hope that there would be improvement on landmark achievements in the academic performance of students of the Law school in future examinations.
In a separate interview, a newly sworn-in lawyer, Mr Kamil Ahmed, thanked his parents for their support, which enabled him to achieve the goal to become a lawyer.
He said passing through the training at the the Law School was not easy because he faced both financial and academic challenges.
A parent of one of the new wigs, Mr Abdulkadir Ahmed, said he expected the new lawyers to imbibe the fear of God in the cause of practice.
“I expect my child (new lawyer) to be just in whatever he does.
“As a new lawyer, he should do only the right thing; shun going after money and pursue the noble value of the law profession to succeed,’’ Ahmed said.
Meanwhile, Onadeko has urged faculties of law in Nigerian universities to adhere strictly to the quota system in the admission of law students.
Onadeko said the advice was to help address the backlog of examination re-sits by law students.
He said that violation of admission quotas by some faculties of law often made it difficult for the tertiary institutions to produce graduates of high quality.
“We are appealing to Faculties of Law not to create a new backlog, because we had cleared backlog in the past; more than twice and yet some Faculties will relapse and not comply to the prescription given to them in terms of numbers.
So I hope we will not have that again that we are done with backlogs.”
According to him, some faculties of law have had their accreditations withdrawn on this score and for disrupting the projection of the Law School in both the short and medium terms.
He said attention should be paid to the decision of the Council of Legal Education and the National Universities Commission in this regard.
“The quota given to universities is a product of the accreditation exercise carried out with the faculties of law.
“As I said, it is empirical in nature.
“We look at your capacity, facilities on ground, your academic profile, the library and its holdings, the physical facility and so on and so forth and all these are rated and assessed.
“Based on that we have our parameters; a figure is given to you, usually after an exercise you either retain it or you may get a slight increase, it is not usual to get a decrease.
“You may get a closure of faculty if you have not been compliant and totally defiant in your attitude, you could be closed down by Council of Legal Education.
“I hope that all Faculties will comply, we are seeing more compliance this days and I must appreciate those Faculty that are really compliant.
“And, if we do not have defiance and non-compliance, we will not have any issue of backlog again.”
He commended security operatives for the efforts they were making to safeguard lives and property in the school across the country.
“I want to acknowledge the co-operation of the military authorities, in particular, the Chief of Defence Staff for their support and advice at all times,” he added.
