Justice Emmanuel Agim of the Supreme Court has debunked public insinuations that judges in Nigeria are members of secret cults, declaring that conscience, integrity, and godliness remain the true foundation of judicial service.

Agim made the remarks on Friday, October 24, in Abuja during the Legacy Dialogue 2.0, organised by the Johnny Agim SAN (JASAN) Foundation, themed “Institutionalisation of Mentorship in the Legal Profession: A Strategic Blueprint for Professional Development.”

Speaking in a reflective tone about his faith and the misconceptions surrounding the judiciary, Justice Agim said it was absurd and offensive when people accused judges of belonging to cults.

“I have a conscience. Otherwise, I should not be going to Holy Trinity Parish or even praying if I don’t have a conscience. God is my protection, my fortress and my refuge. You cannot be evil and expect God to be all of that to you,” he said.

“But whenever I say this, a friend of mine would say, ‘I thought they said you (justices) all belong to cults.’ It is not so. We are ordinary human beings.”

The jurist stressed that the moral strength of judges comes from faith, honesty, and a clear conscience, not from membership of secret societies as often alleged by members of the public.

Justice Agim lamented the erosion of ethics and discipline in modern legal practice, saying many lawyers have abandoned the pursuit of justice for selfish ambition and fame.

“When I was a lawyer, we had cases already settled by law and you knew what your opposing counsel would say. But today, people go to court to win, not to get justice,” he declared.

He also decried the decline in reading culture among young practitioners and the tendency of some lawyers to comment publicly on judgments they have not studied.

“Poor readership, poor knowledge of law — that’s our problem today. Some lawyers hold judgments in their hands but don’t read them. They go on television to spew ignorance so loudly and with audacity. It is a shame,” he said.

‘If You Know the Law, You Can’t Be Corrupt’

Agim, who disclosed that he has delivered over 600 judgments, argued that both lawyers and judges fall into corruption or unethical conduct mainly because of ignorance and poor mastery of the law.

“If a lawyer knows the law, it is very difficult for him to be unethical. If a judge knows the law, it is very difficult for him to be corrupt. But ignorance is bliss,” he said.

He urged practitioners to rededicate themselves to knowledge, conscience, and service to justice, describing them as the pillars that preserve public confidence in the judiciary.

Mentorship Crisis Threatens Legal Profession – Justice Ejembi Eko

Delivering the keynote address, retired Supreme Court Justice Ejembi Eko warned that the future of Nigeria’s legal profession was at risk due to the absence of structured mentorship for young lawyers.

Represented by Justice Mabel T. Segun-Bello of the Federal High Court, Eko said the bar and bench have multiplied in number but not in guidance.

“We multiplied numbers without multiplying mentors. Any profession that leaves its young ones unguided and unguarded loses its future,” he said.

He called for the establishment of a National Mentorship Council to coordinate training, mentorship, and professional ethics across the judiciary and the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA).

Eko also cautioned that without deliberate guidance, the ethical foundations of the legal system could collapse under the weight of mediocrity and political interference.

“We must institutionalise mentorship, not leave it to chance or goodwill. The law must evolve with a plan to raise disciplined, knowledgeable, and ethical practitioners,” he added.

Also speaking, the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice of Ondo State, Dr. Kayode Ajulo (SAN), who chairs the NBA Mentorship Committee, described mentorship as a matter of national importance for the survival of the legal profession.

“The theme of our gathering is not merely a discussion point; it is a call to arms. Mentorship is not just a duty; it is a profound responsibility we owe to our future leaders,” he said.

Ajulo argued that mentorship must go beyond informal relationships to become an institutional and sustainable process that preserves integrity and discipline among lawyers.

“Success is not measured solely by personal achievement but by the impact we have on others,” he stressed.

Ajulo commended the JASAN Foundation’s initiatives, including the Indigent Scholarship Programme and the Legacy500 Elite Mentorship Platform, describing them as “lifelines for aspiring lawyers and crucial building blocks for national development.”

He also challenged senior lawyers and judges to actively mentor the next generation:

“The road ahead may be filled with challenges, but know this — you are not alone. We, your mentors and predecessors, are here to support you and open doors that may seem closed,” he assured.

Founder and President of the JASAN Foundation, Johnny Agim (SAN), in his address, said his organisation is focused on grooming 500 young lawyers within the next decade through mentorship, sponsorship, and professional training.

“We are building a network of well-rounded young lawyers poised to drive positive change in the legal profession, to become silks, judges of courts of record, and institutions in themselves,” he said.

Agim recalled that during the foundation’s inauguration in 2024, it launched a ₦1 billion Endowment Fund for Legal Education Sponsorship and Scholarship, alongside the unveiling of its transgenerational logo.

“The seed sown in 2024 has already sprouted. The students awarded scholarships by our foundation have gained admission into the Nigerian Law School. After their Call to Bar, they will join our mentorship programme,” he said.

He explained that the foundation’s flagship platform, #TheLegacyDialogue, was created to serve as an annual thought-leadership event bringing together judges, academics, and legal practitioners to discuss innovation, mentorship, and reform in the profession.

“The maiden edition laid a solid foundation for dialogue on the future of law and professional identity formation, underscoring the pivotal role of strategic sponsorship and mentorship in shaping the legal profession,” he said.

Naijaonpoint reports that the event, held at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja, attracted a cross-section of legal luminaries, including judges, senior advocates, academics, and young lawyers.

Discussions centred on how to institutionalise mentorship as a tool for restoring excellence, professionalism, and ethical standards within the Nigerian legal community.

Speakers agreed that without mentorship, ethical decay, poor reading culture, and moral laxity will continue to undermine the justice system.

Justice Agim’s powerful reflections drew a standing ovation from attendees, as he concluded with a call for moral renewal in the judiciary.

“You cannot be evil and expect God to be your refuge,” he said firmly.

“Integrity, conscience, and knowledge of the law must remain the bedrock of our judicial calling.”