The Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN, has called on legal practitioners in Nigeria to uphold ethical standards and resist the use of legal representation as a cover for impunity.
Speaking at the launch of Ungogo Bar Voice, a legal publication in Kano, Dr. Aliyu described the magazine as “more than just a scholarly journal,” adding that it offers “a platform for professional reflection, engagement, and a reform instrument.”
In a statement signed by Demola Bakare, Director of Public Enlightenment and Education and Spokesperson for the Commission, Aliyu said the legal profession is increasingly shaped by lawyers’ conduct.
“Ethics, which is known as the bedrock of the legal profession,” he said, “is now facing threats from rising allegations of professional misconduct and complicity in acts that undermine the very system we swore to defend.”
He urged lawyers to see themselves as guardians of justice, not just advocates.
“We must not allow ourselves to become instruments of impunity under the guise of legal representation,” he said. “Legal tech must serve justice, not reduce it to a mere transaction.”
Aliyu raised concerns about the misuse of technological innovation in legal practice, stating that “innovation without regulation can erode public confidence in justice.”
He added that legal education needs reform.
“We must prioritise reform in legal education. Ethics, public interest law, and digital literacy must become core components in training the next generation of lawyers,” he said.
Referring to recent Supreme Court rulings, including the one on local government autonomy, Aliyu cautioned lawyers against using litigation to weaken judicial decisions.
“I appeal to all of us as lawyers: do not lend your skills to undermining apex court decisions through diversionary or frivolous suits. We have a responsibility to preserve the integrity of the judicial system,” he said.
He also called on legal scholars to critically examine court decisions, describing it as essential to improving legal practice and accountability.
“As lawyers, we must confront corruption head-on,” he added.
In his closing remarks, Aliyu urged the editorial board of *Ungogo Bar Voice* to promote ethical lawyering.
“Let *Ungogo Bar Voice* become a beacon of responsible legal commentary, professional development, and ethical consciousness in the Nigerian Bar,” he said.
Also speaking, constitutional lawyer Mike Ozekhome, SAN, said criticism should target court judgments, not the judges themselves.
“The focus of criticism should be on judgments, not on the judges. Our energy must be deployed to advance justice, not to undermine it,” he said.
Justice Helen Ogunwumiju said both academics and practicing lawyers have a role to play in critiquing judgments in a constructive way.
“Legal practitioners must align with strengthening jurisprudence and give unwavering support to legal reform,” she said.
