The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), has called for faster and more transparent disciplinary proceedings against lawyers accused of professional misconduct, warning that prolonged delays could undermine public confidence in the legal profession.
Fagbemi made the call on Monday at the Supreme Court’s special session marking the start of the 2026/2027 legal year and the conferment of the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria on 68 legal practitioners in Abuja.
He said the increasing number of professional misconduct cases, particularly those involving senior lawyers, required urgent reforms to the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee.
“My office is concerned about the increasing number of cases of professional misconduct, especially against senior members of the Bar. We cannot continue to pay lip service to the need to strengthen our disciplinary processes,” he noted.
Fagbemi added, “The disciplinary process for lawyers must be rapid and transparent. When complaints stall for years, the public concludes that the legal profession is designed to protect its own wrongdoers.”
He stated the Federal Ministry of Justice was engaging relevant stakeholders to address issues arising from a Supreme Court judgment clarifying the appropriate channel of appeal against directions of the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee.
The Attorney-General also urged the judiciary to sustain reforms aimed at accelerating justice delivery, strengthening public confidence in the courts and improving the efficiency of the justice system.
Commending the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, for introducing electronic filing at the Supreme Court, Fagbemi described the initiative as a significant step towards modernising judicial processes.
He maintained that the Supreme Court (Mandatory Upload of Electronic Copies of Processes, Record of Appeal and Other Matters) Practice Directions, 2026, would help address weaknesses associated with manual filing, reduce the risk of interference with court records and minimise delays in preparing appeals for hearing.
He urged the judiciary to extend digital transformation to modern courtrooms, automated case tracking, secure digital archives and virtual hearings.
According to him, digitising the entire appeals process would eliminate procedural bottlenecks and promote transparency, accountability and timely case determination.
Fagbemi also challenged the 68 newly elevated Senior Advocates of Nigeria to uphold the integrity of the rank, warning against the commercialisation of the distinction.
He congratulated the new SANs, describing their elevation as recognition of years of professional discipline, sacrifice, perseverance and service to the law.
However, he said the rank carried responsibilities beyond professional recognition and financial benefits.
“The silk gown is not a commercial licence; it is a mantle of professional, constitutional, and social responsibility,” he enunciated.
The minister noted that the rank, established in 1975, was intended to recognise exceptional legal ability and deploy the talents of distinguished practitioners to advance Nigerian jurisprudence and strengthen the administration of justice.
He cited pioneer recipients Chief Rotimi Williams and Dr Nabo Graham-Douglas as examples of the intellectual distinction, professional dignity and civic responsibility associated with the rank.
Fagbemi said concerns that the pursuit of silk had become increasingly commercialised required honest reflection to preserve the integrity of the distinction.
He urged senior lawyers to mentor younger practitioners, promote fair remuneration, reduce court congestion, improve access to justice, defend fundamental rights and contribute to legal reforms that support investment and national development.
The Attorney-General, who said he had been a member of the Inner Bar for 30 years, added that seniority should be accompanied by humility, discipline, mutual respect and professional courtesy.
He illustrated the importance of respect for seniority by recounting an encounter between former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Muhammadu Buhari during the Sunrise International Arbitration proceedings.
Fagbemi said Buhari rose and remained standing when he saw Obasanjo approaching, sitting only after the former president took his seat.
He said the gesture demonstrated that eminence should deepen humility and that professional distinction should strengthen discipline rather than encourage rivalry.
The minister also called for greater punctuality, effective communication and professional courtesy across the judiciary, noting that some lower courts still needed to improve their treatment of lawyers and their time.
He appealed to the Chief Justice of Nigeria to encourage consistent standards of punctuality and communication across the courts within the limits of her constitutional and administrative authority.
On the 2027 general elections, Fagbemi urged judicial officers to remain courageous and impartial in handling electoral disputes and other cases.
He said judicial decisions may not always enjoy public approval, but disagreement should not excuse intimidation or attacks on judicial independence.
“With the 2027 general elections approaching, the world will once again look to Nigeria to demonstrate the integrity of its democratic institutions and electoral processes,” he said.
“I, therefore, urge Your Lordships to remain steadfast, courageous, and impartial in the determination of electoral disputes and all other matters that come before the courts, guided solely by the Constitution and the law, without fear, favour, or political pressure.”
Fagbemi said judicial independence must go hand in hand with accountability, institutional excellence and respect for the constitutional boundaries separating the Executive, Legislature and Judiciary.
He also advocated transparent, rigorous and merit-based judicial appointments, alongside appropriate performance evaluation systems to promote accountability and professional excellence.
The minister further proposed that qualified Senior Advocates, academic professors and outstanding legal practitioners be considered for direct appointments to the High Court, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court.
He said a justice system that resolved disputes promptly, fairly and predictably would encourage investment, strengthen economic activity and support national development.
“Justice is not merely a constitutional obligation; it is also an economic asset,” he said.
Fagbemi listed several ongoing reforms by the Federal Ministry of Justice, including the proposed Legal Practitioners Bill, the review and consolidation of the Laws of the Federation, and the review of the Arbitration and Mediation Act, 2023, and the National Policy on Arbitration, 2024.
He said the ministry had also constituted a committee to review the Public Procurement Act, 2007, to strengthen transparency, accountability and value for money in public procurement.
In the energy sector, he said a legal audit committee was reviewing agreements and memoranda of understanding relating to accelerated gas development projects to identify legal vulnerabilities and protect Nigeria from substantial financial liabilities.
He added that criminal justice reforms were focused on effective prosecution, the protection of fundamental rights, reducing impunity and ensuring the fair and efficient administration of criminal justice, including the prosecution of terrorism-related offences.
Fagbemi also cited the favourable outcome of the Sunrise/Mambila arbitration proceedings as an example of how effective legal representation could protect the national interest and avert substantial financial exposure.
He urged state governors to give greater weight to their Attorneys-General’s legal advice, particularly as the country approaches the 2027 elections, saying sound legal guidance is essential to lawful governance and the protection of public resources.