At a time when Nigeria’s electoral jurisprudence is increasingly challenged by a surge in political litigation, a strong call has been made for a return to ethical discipline within the legal profession and greater accountability on the bench.
  
Speaking at the NBA-SPIDEL Workshop on the abuse of judicial process in election petitions and political disputes, Commissioner of Police, Dr Abayomi Shogunle criticised the growing trend of frivolous and partisan litigation that continues to burden the courts and undermine public confidence in the justice system.
  
He reminded of the elevated role lawyers are expected to play within the justice sector.
  
Lawyers, he argued, must see themselves not merely as advocates for clients, but as custodians of justice and ministers in the Temple of Justice.
  
The CP urged lawyers to adhere strictly to the Rules of Professional Conduct and show unwavering commitment to the duty of candour before the courts.
  
His intervention comes amid mounting concerns that election-related disputes have become fertile ground for procedural abuse.
  
According to Shogunle, some lawyers, driven by partisan loyalties or financial incentives, deliberately file suits that lack merit, are duplicative, or are strategically designed to delay proceedings or harass opposing parties.
  
Such practices, he noted, not only clog the judicial system but also erode the integrity of electoral outcomes.
  
While acknowledging the immense pressures judges face, he called on the National Judicial Council (NJC) to take decisive action against judges who issue frivolous or legally unsustainable orders.
  
According to him, judicial authority must be exercised with restraint and fidelity to the law, especially in politically sensitive matters where the stakes are high and public scrutiny intense.
  
The senior police officer, who is also a lawyer, charged the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) to enforce standards more rigorously by sanctioning lawyers who engage in the filing of absurd, vexatious or overtly partisan suits.
  
He emphasised that without serious consequences, unethical practices will persist, further weakening the rule of law.
  
Shogunle’s presentation served as a broader reflection on the health of Nigeria’s democracy.
  
While election petitions and political disputes are inevitable in any vibrant democratic system, the legitimacy of democratic institutions is called into question when the processes designed to resolve such disputes are manipulated.
  
As Nigeria prepares for elections, the issues raised at the workshop highlight an urgent need for introspection within the legal community.