Justice Cyprian Ajah, a Professor of Law, has urged legal practitioners against disregarding the ethics and code of conduct of the profession, adding such act is capable of eroding public trust and undermining rule of law and justice system.
Justice Ajah, who is a judge of an Enugu High Court, advocated for strict adherence to ethics and code of conduct if the legal profession is to sustain public trust and confidence.
He stressed that “without ethics and trust in the legal profession, justice system will be undermined.“
In a lecture entitled: “The importance of Ethics in the Legal Profession,” delivered at the 2022 dinner organised by the Faculty of Law, Renaissance University, Ugbawka, Enugu state, at the weekend, Justice Ajah said the legal profession has a huge responsibility in ensuring that rules of ethics are developed
Renaissance University is a community based Institution (Boarding only), in a holistic educational environment with fully accredited faculty of Law. It was established 17 years ago by former Governor of Enugu state , Senator Chimaroke Nnamani.
Justice Ajah posited: “The important role of lawyers as ultimate guardian of the law means that the legal profession has a huge responsibility in ensuring that rules of ethics are developed and that lawyers and the public are educated about ethics and made effective through disciplinary mechanisms.“
He reminded lawyers of the need to constantly uphold the rule of law and access to justices, pointing out that “If lawyers do not adhere to, and promote principle of justice, fairness and equity, the law itself will be brought to disrepute and public confidence in it dimmed.”
The legal profession, he added, has a huge responsibility within society as upholders of the rule of law and protectors of individual’s rights against abuse of power, saying that the current state of affairs in Nigeria demands the maintenance of reputation by the legal profession against fake and quacks.
According to Justice Ajah, “A profession’s collective reputation is crucial to the confidence it inspires. The reputation on the legal profession is linked to how the public views the administration of justice. Where there is no public confidence in the legal profession, trust in the justice system itself is undermined.”
He advised lawyers to maintain the highest standard of honesty, integrity and fairness towards their clients, the court and members of the public, “which includes promptly honouring of any undertaking given in the course of a lawyer’s practice.”
He paid glowing tribute to the founder and Visitor to the university, Senator Chimaroke Nnamani, for his vision in establishing and sustaining the nascent citadel of intellectual, human and entrepreneurial development.
This, he said, is an immense testimony to Senator Nnamani’s fervent and unrelenting love for education and youth empowerment.
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