Abia CJ tasks judicial officers on integrity, professionalism

The Acting Chief Judge (ACJ) of Abia State, Justice Onuoha Ogwe, has said for an upright judiciary and legal profession to exist in Nigeria, practitioners must exhibit integrity, shun arrogance, laziness and corrupt tendencies.

The ACJ, who spoke at the weekend during the 2018 Law Week of the Umuahia branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in the capital, described integrity as crucial in justice delivery/dispensation.

Justice Ogwe noted that the branch, which he once belonged before his elevation to the Bench, has produced notable personalities in the legal profession.

Justice Dee Osiagor, in his lecture titled, Challenges of the Nigerian Lawyers in the 21st Century, had identified corruption, competition, cost instability and changes in law as some of the challenges confronting lawyers nationwide.

The NBA Branch Chairman, Nnamdi Eluwa described the event as “successfully celebrated.”

Also at a seminar on the Challenges of law officers in the administration of justice, organised by the state Ministry of Justice for judicial personnel, a retired chief judge, Justice Nnenna Oti, counselled stakeholders in the justice delivery system, including the prisons, police, lawyers and the court, to be upright and impartial.

She reminded them of the consequences of their actions, stressing that they stand to account to God for their stewardship thereafter.

In his paper, Ethics of the law practice, Justice Agwu Uma Kalu of the State High Court harped on punctuality, decent dressing as well as discipline.

He added that legal practitioners should shun corruption, pride, alcoholism and other vices capable of bringing the profession to disrepute.