Nigerian Bar Association’s Adamawa branch raises alarm on corruption gripping legal practice

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Adamawa branch, has sounded the alarm over the pervasive corruption that is significantly impeding the legal profession and its practice in Nigeria. Mr. Jibril Jimeta, the Chairman of the organizing committee for the recently concluded Law Week organized by the branch, emphasized this issue during a news conference held in Yola on Monday.

Jimeta asserted that corruption within the legal profession has escalated, with some members serving as conduits for the exchange of money between judges and litigants. He expressed concern about the extent of corruption, stating, “Corruption in the legal profession is now in full scale as some of our members serve as the conduit for the exchange of money between the judges and litigants. We are not measured by our success but by the number of us who proved to be deviants.”

He highlighted that the legal profession is grappling with disarray due to breaches of the rules of professional conduct and other practices detrimental to the profession. False promises given to clients about the true fate of their cases and lawyers approaching judges for bribes were identified as key issues affecting legal practice today.

The NBA’s Adamawa branch’s declaration sheds light on the urgent need for reform and ethical adherence within the legal community to uphold the integrity and credibility of the profession.