The Nigerian bar association and protection of justice: how not to defend a judge

Abstract

The consciousness that “justice” is highly cherished and that the life of every human society depends on it to thrive is as old as time although the approach to its administration has continued to evolve over the ages. Yet the concept stands on three indispensable pillars – equality before the law, fair hearing and transparency - which have continued to determine its quality with equal force. The duty of lawyers as officers in the temple of justice is to encourage Judges to project their official obligation over personal pride and disposition by ensuring a recourse to rectitude whenever the tune of faltered justice is echoed until this sobriety becomes permanent and inherent in them. No other but the legal profession can play this role rightly. Therefore, the recent statement by the Nigerian Bar Association President blaming lawyers who criticised the judiciary for some baffling verdicts calls for review of the role this body is expected to play and an appraisal of the performance in this dispensation. This article examined the duty of the judiciary in Nigeria to dispense impeccable justice and the civic responsibility of all citizens, especially lawyers, to contribute thereto by making polished criticisms whenever necessary. The research adopted the analytical method by perusing relevant literature. The study found, among others, that contrary to the tradition there is a growing aberration of personalising the protection of justice by defending Judges perceived by the citizenry as having erred in their official responsibility. It therefore recommended, in substance, that more effort should be made to prevent perversion of justice than to shield erring Judges from criticism