Lucky Obukohwo Reporting
The President, National Association of Catholic Lawyers, Lagos Archdiocese,
(NACL-Lagos) Mrs Florence Atuluku, has tasked young lawyers to follow up with the path of fairness, equity and justice at all times while discharging their duty no matter whose toes they may step on.
She gave the task during the New Legal Year held in Lagos;
“The legal profession stands at a crossroads of moral and all forms of decadence. It’s time for everyone to reflect our roles and make a difference. As for catholic lawyers, we want to leverage our faith as Christians to be instruments of positive change and impact through the dispensation of justice irrespective of religion or creed.
“We have lost it as a country. What we see happening in the legal profession today is a reflection of everything that have gone wrong in our society. So everyone must take ownership of our respective roles. We must work hard to restore confidence of the people in the judiciary.
Addressing the younger generation, Atuluku maintained that the old wigs understand the agitations, confusion, and fears of the upcoming lawyers, and to avoid judicial rascality and damage in the future, they at the upper echelon of the legal profession have put in place a mentoring platform consciously designed to guide the younger ones on the right path to go as they come into the profession.
“We understand the agitations of the masses, even some of us in the profession are not happy with the way and manner things are going, but then the judiciary are doing their work, relying on what the constitution says; thus, we remain optimistic,” she affirmed.
Delivering a sermon on the Legal Year Mass at Holy Cross Cathedral, Lagos, the Presiding Archbishop of the Metropolitan See of Lagos, his Grace Most Rev (Dr) Alfred Adewale Martins, charged Catholic Lawyers not to be daunted by the recent developments happening in the country following the 2023 general elections.
The clergy equally admonished Nigerians to look up to the Almighty for vengeance having done their bids for the deliverance of Nigeria from the hands of economic and political plunderers. “We thank God in all things. We understand each other’s pains, but we can only let God fight for us, having performed our civic responsibilities, time will tell” he assured.
On his part, a Catholic Lawyer, Godwin Omoaka, SAN, urged his colleagues to roll up their sleeves and right the wrong perception in the judicial system. “When the common does not get justice in the court, I wonder if we can make headway. Of course, among the twelve, there is always Judas, but the onus rest on our shoulders to make the judiciary an honest and responsible arm of government as agent of social change”
The Senior Advocate, who decried the high level of impunity, expressed optimism saying, “There are sincere legal practitioners in the country. We should not let the bad ones corrupt all. I believe this legal year would bring good tidings to the judicial system and Nigerians” Omoaka said.