The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), has warned that delays in investigating allegations of professional misconduct against lawyers are eroding public confidence in the legal profession. Fagbemi said prolonged disciplinary proceedings could create the impression that the profession was shielding members accused of wrongdoing,…...
The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), has warned that delays in investigating allegations of professional misconduct against lawyers are eroding public confidence in the legal profession.
Fagbemi said prolonged disciplinary proceedings could create the impression that the profession was shielding members accused of wrongdoing, urging a review of the processes for investigating and sanctioning erring practitioners.
According to News Tellers, he spoke on Monday at the Supreme Court’s special session marking the commencement of the 2026/2027 legal year and the conferment of the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria on 68 legal practitioners in Abuja.
“We cannot continue to pay lip service to the need to strengthen our disciplinary processes,” the minister said, calling for the modernisation of the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee.
He stressed that complaints against lawyers must be addressed through a transparent and timely process.
“When complaints stall for years, the public concludes that the legal profession is designed to protect its own wrongdoers,” Fagbemi said.
The minister disclosed that his office was engaging relevant stakeholders to address issues arising from a Supreme Court judgment on the disciplinary process for legal practitioners.
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Addressing the newly elevated Senior Advocates of Nigeria, Fagbemi urged them to regard the honour as a call to greater responsibility rather than a symbol of status or commercial advantage.
“The silk gown is not a commercial licence; it is a mantle of professional, constitutional, and social responsibility,” he said.
He expressed concern over criticisms that the pursuit of the SAN rank was becoming increasingly commercialised, warning that the distinction could lose its value if its holders failed to demonstrate integrity, professional excellence and commitment to public service.
According to him, the worth of a Senior Advocate should be reflected in the quality of advocacy, professional conduct, mentorship of younger lawyers and contributions to society.
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Fagbemi urged members of the Inner Bar to promote access to justice, reduce congestion in the courts, support fair remuneration for younger practitioners and defend fundamental rights and the rule of law.
He also called for greater discipline and mutual respect within the legal profession, noting that seniority should encourage humility and courtesy rather than rivalry.
The Attorney-General cited the Supreme Court’s practice of acknowledging delays in proceedings and notifying lawyers when sittings could not hold as examples of professional courtesy that should be adopted across the judiciary.
He appealed to the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, to encourage consistent standards of punctuality, communication and professional courtesy across the courts, within the limits of her constitutional and administrative authority.
As Nigeria prepares for the 2027 general elections, Fagbemi urged the judiciary to remain independent and impartial, cautioning against political pressure and intimidation over judicial decisions.
He said disagreement with court judgments should not be used to undermine judicial independence, adding that the authority of the courts depended on their courage, integrity and consistent application of the law.
Fagbemi also advocated transparent, rigorous and merit-based judicial appointments, alongside performance evaluation mechanisms to strengthen accountability and professional standards.
He proposed that qualified Senior Advocates, law professors and other accomplished legal practitioners should also be considered for direct appointments to the High Court, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court.
The minister listed ongoing legislative initiatives by the Federal Ministry of Justice, including reviews of the Legal Practitioners Bill, the Laws of the Federation, the Arbitration and Mediation Act and the Public Procurement Act.
He said the reforms were intended to strengthen professional regulation, update outdated laws, improve dispute resolution and promote transparency in public procurement.