Senior lawyer, Jibrin Okutepa, SAN, has warned that Nigeria’s legal profession is facing a grave crisis of confidence, blaming what he describes as partisan, sectional and personal interests for weakening professional integrity.

Okutepa said a profession that ought to be guided by law, integrity and professional courage was increasingly being undermined by some of those entrusted with its leadership.

In a statement via his X handle, he alleged that disciplinary processes within the profession were, in some instances, being misapplied to harass lawyers seeking to promote what they considered to be the right course for the profession.

According to him, those expected to provide leadership and guidance had, in some cases, allowed personal, sectional and partisan interests to overshadow the principles they swore to uphold.

Okutepa said the growing public perception that the legal profession was part of Nigeria’s wider governance problems could not be dismissed outright.

He argued that the major concern was not the absence of capable and principled lawyers, but the failure of some entrusted with leadership responsibilities to uphold the values expected of the profession.

He also questioned the ability of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to effectively lead the struggle for professional reform, alleging that its affairs were not always conducted in accordance with the integrity and nobility expected of the legal profession.

Okutepa maintained that a legal profession that loses its moral compass would struggle to credibly lead society in the pursuit of justice.

He said Nigerians were demanding justice across different aspects of national life, particularly in cases involving alleged wrongdoing by people in positions of power as well as private citizens.

According to him, the legal profession has a central responsibility to ensure that citizens can access justice and have confidence in institutions established to protect their rights.

He therefore appealed to lawyers and professional leaders to put justice at the centre of their actions, arguing that restoring public confidence in the profession would require lawyers to demonstrate independence, courage and fidelity to professional ethics.

“I appeal to us in the legal profession to think justice and make justice possible for the people. That is the only way to restore confidence in our profession as lawyers,” Okutepa said.