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The Chief Judge of Ogun State, Justice Mosunmola Dipeolu, has urged lawyers and judicial officers to uphold integrity and ethical standards in the administration of justice, warning that public confidence in the legal profession could continue to erode if ethical values are compromised. She stressed that integrity remains the most valuable asset in the justice system and that no amount of legislation can restore public trust once integrity is lost.
Speaking through Justice A.O. Jibodu at the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Sagamu Branch Annual Bar Lecture in Ogun State, Dipeolu delivered a lecture titled “Justice with Integrity: Upholding Ethical Standards in the Practice of Law.” She noted that Nigeria does not suffer from a shortage of laws but from concerns about whether institutions entrusted with administering those laws remain faithful to the principles that give them legitimacy. According to her, justice without integrity becomes power, while law without integrity becomes manipulation.
The Chief Judge warned that citizens could resort to self-help and alternative means of seeking justice if confidence in the legal system continues to decline. She identified financial pressures, intense competition for clients, the influence of social media, and the weakening of traditional mentoring structures as some of the major ethical challenges confronting legal practitioners today. Dipeolu particularly advised young lawyers not to measure success by wealth, popularity, or social media visibility, emphasizing that reputation remains a lawyer’s most important professional asset.
She also called on senior members of the legal profession to deliberately mentor younger practitioners in ethical conduct and professionalism. The Chief Judge cited renowned legal icons such as Gani Fawehinmi, F.R.A. Williams, and Chukwudifu Oputa as examples of individuals whose legacies were built on integrity and character. The event’s keynote speaker, Justice Catherine Ogunsanya, echoed similar sentiments, urging members of both the Bench and the Bar to maintain the highest ethical standards to preserve the credibility and future of Nigeria’s justice system.
