NAN-H-61
Condemnation
By Sandra Umeh
Lagos, Jan. 5, 2017 (NAN) Some Lagos based lawyers on Thursday, urged legal practitioners to uphold the rules of professional conduct for lawyers by preserving the ethics of legal practice.
The lawyers told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the level of compliance with ethical rules and standard of the legal profession was being treated with indifference by some lawyers.
They urged their colleagues who breach ethical rules and fail to uphold the standard of the profession to retrace their step and turn a new leaf.
A lawyer and social critic, Mr Spurgeon Ataene, observed that the level of compliance by lawyers with ethical rules and standard was on the decline.
He said that lawyers were first legal officers and administrators in the temple of justice before being representatives of their clients.
He said that some lawyers carry on their duties carelessly and without caution, adding that such conduct was unacceptable in the legal profession.
“The rules also forbids a lawyer from chasing briefs in court or soliciting for patronage from clients or what is popularly known as charge and bail,’’ he said.
Mrs Ebere Obiora, a member of the African Women Lawyers Association (AWLA), criticised lawyers who solicit for briefs from clients with the aid of some police prosecutors.
She said that though there was no harm for lawyers to solicit for briefs from accused persons, the practice of “partnership” with police officers to secure briefs was unethical.
“Actually, I do not see anything wrong with a lawyer securing bail for an accused person because even senior advocates also undertake such briefs.
“However, what appear unsavoury to the eyes is the practice of some lawyers who make the court their offices and establish “unholy alliance” with the police for them to be called upon to take up briefs when there are arraignment,” she said.
On his part, a constitutional lawyer, Mr Mike Dugeri criticised lawyers who dress shabily to the court, saying that it demeaned the legal profession.
He said though some lawyers were compelled to wear worn out robes to the court due to financial difficulties, some of them go to the extent of hiring robes to make representation in court.
He urged judges to sanction lawyers found guilty of flouting ethical rules and conduct for legal practitioners, as a form of deterrent to others. (NAN)
UNS/ORO/AEA
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Edited by Razak Owolabi/Archibong Asuquo