Bakare tasks lawyers on Fawehinmi legacy to cleanse judiciary

 

Founder of Citadel Global Community Church, Pastor Tunde Bakare, on Thursday challenged Nigerian lawyers and judges to follow the footsteps of late legal icon Chief Gani Fawehinmi to rescue the judiciary from what he described as a deepening crisis of corruption and loss of public confidence.

Bakare spoke in Lagos while delivering the keynote address at the 22nd Chief Gani Fawehinmi Annual Lecture organised by the Ikeja Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA). The theme of the lecture was “Integrity Deficiency in the Justice Sector: Whither the Legal Profession?”

The cleric, a former lawyer in Fawehinmi’s chambers, lamented that bribery, political interference and selective justice had weakened the judiciary’s role as the last hope of the common man.

Citing findings from the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) Nigeria Corruption Index, he said about N3.7 billion was allegedly offered as bribes to judges between 2018 and 2020, while lawyers and court staff accounted for over 70 per cent of falsified court documents.

Bakare said: “The justice sector emerged as having the highest incidence of corruption. A frightening proportion of Nigerian lawyers no longer have confidence in their skills to argue cases, while some judges now see the bench as their ‘work-chop’. The judiciary has become a marketplace where justice is sold to the highest bidder.”

He expressed concern that 34 of 62 lawyers recently nominated for judicial appointments failed integrity tests, warning that such a trend threatened the future of the legal profession.

Recalling his years under Fawehinmi, Bakare described the late activist as a symbol of diligence, courage and discipline.

“From my days as a law student working part-time in his chambers, to my attachment during Law School and later as a qualified lawyer, Chief Gani showed unmatched commitment to research and preparation. He believed diligence and integrity were inseparable,” he said.

According to him, lawyers who cut corners do so because they lack the hard work required to build solid cases.

Bakare urged the Bar and the Bench to rebuild ethical standards through character formation, improved legal education and strict adherence to professional conduct.

He also canvassed structural reforms, including financial autonomy for the judiciary, better welfare and housing for judges, and annual data-based evaluation of judicial officers in partnership with the NBA and the National Judicial Council (NJC).

Linking the integrity crisis to Nigeria’s broader security and governance challenges, Bakare warned that weak institutions had fuelled terrorism, ethno-religious tensions and economic decline.

“Chief Gani proved that victory through righteousness is possible. It is time for lawyers and judges to emulate his values and restore the judiciary as the protector of the oppressed and the innocent,” he added.