The Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN, has charged legal practitioners across the country to uphold the highest ethical standards, warning that public perception of the legal profession is being shaped daily by their actions—or inaction.
By Chimezie Godfrey
The Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN, has charged legal practitioners across the country to uphold the highest ethical standards, warning that public perception of the legal profession is being shaped daily by their actions—or inaction.
Dr. Aliyu delivered the warning while speaking at the launch of Ungogo Bar Voice, a new legal publication, in Kano on Monday. He noted that the publication is more than just a scholarly journal, describing it as “a platform for professional reflection, engagement, and reform.”
“The legal profession is constantly shaped by what practitioners do or fail to do,” Dr. Aliyu declared. “Ethics—the bedrock of our profession—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 not to become tools of impunity under the guise of representation and emphasised their role as “gatekeepers of justice.”
As the legal landscape evolves, particularly with the growing influence of technology, Dr. Aliyu stressed that innovation must be pursued responsibly.
“Legal innovation is reshaping our professional landscape—from e-filing to virtual hearings,” he said. “But innovation without regulation can erode public confidence in justice. Legal tech must serve justice, not reduce it to a mere transaction.”
He also sounded a call for reform in legal education, advocating for the inclusion of ethics, public interest law, and digital literacy as core training components for the next generation of lawyers.
On recent judicial developments, particularly the Supreme Court’s ruling on local government autonomy, the ICPC Chairman cautioned against any attempt to subvert apex court decisions.
“In light of recent judgments, we must defend the doctrine of judicial precedent,” he said. “I appeal to all of us as lawyers—do not lend your skills to undermining the authority of the Supreme Court through diversionary or frivolous suits. We have a responsibility to preserve the integrity of the judicial system.”
He concluded by urging the legal community to embrace Ungogo Bar Voice as “a beacon of responsible legal commentary, professional development, and ethical consciousness in the Nigerian Bar.”
Also speaking at the event, human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mike Ozekhome, noted that while court judgments should be scrutinised, there is a disturbing rise in personal attacks on judges.
“We must separate criticism of judgments from attacks on judges,” Ozekhome said. “Such attacks weaken the judiciary. Our energy should be deployed to advance justice—not to undermine it.”
Justice Helen Ogunwumiju of the Supreme Court, who also graced the occasion, urged legal academics and practitioners to constructively critique judicial decisions and contribute meaningfully to legal reforms.
She said, “The strength of our jurisprudence depends on a legal community that is willing to engage, support reform, and defend the judiciary with intellectual vigour and professional integrity.”
The event marked a significant milestone for the legal community in Kano, with Ungogo Bar Voice positioned as a bold new platform for critical legal discourse and reform advocacy.
Legal Practice Must Uphold Ethics or Risk Losing Public Trust — ICPC Chairman Warns Lawyers
