A Professor of Law and Judge of Enugu State High Court, Justice Cyprian Ajah has tasked lawyers on strict adherence to the ethics and code of conduct for legal practitioners as doing otherwise will erode public trust and undermine the rule of law.
Justice Ajah noted that “ Without ethics and trust in the legal profession, justice system will be undermined “
The jurist made the call in a lecture titled “ The importance of Ethics in the Legal profession”, which he delivered at the 2022 dinner organized by the Faculty of law, Renaissance University, Ugbawka, in Enugu state at the weekend .
Justice Ajah told the audience: “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 rights against abuse of power pointing out that the current state of affairs in Nigeria demands the maintenance of reputation by the legal profession against fakes 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 honoring of any undertaking given in the course of a lawyer’s practice”.
He paid glowing tribute to the founder and visitor of Renaissance University, Senator Chimaroke Nnamani for his profound 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.
