Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
A senior advocate of Nigeria has delivered a blistering indictment of the country's legal profession, accusing some lawyers of actively undermining justice, fuelling impunity and accelerating Nigeria's slide towards what he described as a "democratic dictatorship". Justice Jibrin Okutepa, a respected figure in Nigeria's legal circles, did not mince words in his assessment, warning that the legal profession, once regarded as the bastion of justice and liberty, has increasingly become a tool for manipulation, political rascality and the erosion of democratic principles.
Okutepa, who made the remarks in a series of posts on his official X handle over the weekend of August 8 to 9, 2026, expressed particular concern about the state of the Nigerian Bar Association and its recently concluded elections. According to the senior lawyer, the conduct of the NBA election speaks volumes about the troubling state of democratic processes within the foremost professional association of lawyers in Nigeria. He argued that lawyers could no longer pretend that the crisis of Nigeria's democracy was solely the fault of politicians, stressing that members of the legal profession occupy a strategic position in determining whether democracy, the rule of law and justice survive in the country.
The senior advocate lamented that while lawyers in advanced democracies are often regarded as defenders of liberty and beacons of justice, the Nigerian profession increasingly appears to be struggling under the weight of practices that undermine public confidence. He challenged Nigerian lawyers, particularly practising counsel, to return to the foundational principles of the profession and stop allowing partisan interests to dictate how they conduct cases before courts and tribunals.
Okutepa reserved his most scathing criticism for lawyers who deliberately distort issues, deploy contradictory arguments or seek to frustrate justice in pursuit of their clients' interests. He warned that such lawyers could no longer claim to be genuine ministers in the temple of justice. "When we as lawyers argue causes and matters in the chameleon's manner to impose injustice and pervert the cause of justice and produce unjust decisions, we murdered justice and enthroned evil," he declared. The SAN argued that such practices had contributed to the deterioration of Nigeria's electoral jurisprudence and helped create an environment in which political actors could manipulate legal processes and escape accountability.
Okutepa's remarks come against the backdrop of growing public frustration with the legal system, a frustration he warned could eventually have serious consequences for even ethical lawyers. "The NBA must wake up and act decisively before Nigerians start stoning all Nigerian lawyers," he warned. He immediately clarified that his warning was not a prediction of doom but a call for urgent self-examination within the profession.
The senior advocate also challenged members of the judiciary to be more vigilant in checking what he called the inconsistent advocacy of some lawyers who allegedly advance contradictory legal positions in ways that could undermine justice. He recalled a notable pronouncement by the late Justice Niki Tobi of the Supreme Court in Abubakar v. Yar'Adua (2008), where the jurist declared that no human being could influence him in the performance of his judicial duties, stressing that only God could. Okutepa then posed a question that he said should concern every Nigerian who believes in the independence of the judiciary: "How many of our Judex today can boldly and confidently re-echo the above notable pronouncement?"
Okutepa stressed that lawyers have a duty to represent their clients but warned that professional advocacy could not be reduced to misleading the court or deliberately obstructing justice. "No one says lawyers should not do their jobs. But in doing so, no lawyer should act as a misleading minister in the temple of justice," he said. He argued that such practices had directly contributed to the emergence of what he described as "democratic dictatorship" in Nigeria's electoral jurisprudence, while also emboldening political rascality in the country.
The SAN's intervention has sparked widespread debate within legal and political circles, with many applauding his courage in speaking truth to power while others questioned whether his warnings would translate into meaningful reform. The Nigerian Bar Association has yet to issue an official response to Okutepa's remarks. However, his comments have resonated with a public increasingly disillusioned with the justice system, where delays, questionable judgments and a lack of confidence in judicial independence have become the norm.
Okutepa linked the conduct of lawyers to broader issues of governance and impunity, arguing that sustainable economic and political development is unattainable in any nation whose justice system is hindered by delays and questionable rulings. He expressed concern about specific judicial decisions that, in his view, cast doubt on the independence of the courts. He ultimately characterised the defence of Nigeria's democracy as a collective responsibility, rather than one limited to politicians, and identified an independent judiciary as essential to democratic advancement.
The senior advocate's remarks come amid growing debate within the legal profession over the conduct of the NBA election and the broader state of justice, judicial independence and democratic accountability in Nigeria. His warning that lawyers who manipulate the justice system for partisan or selfish interests are helping to pave the way for democratic dictatorship has struck a chord with many Nigerians who have watched with growing concern as the country's democratic institutions appear to weaken.
Okutepa's intervention is particularly significant given his standing as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, one of the highest honours in the Nigerian legal profession. His willingness to publicly criticise his colleagues and the NBA leadership reflects a growing unease within the legal community about the direction of the profession and its role in Nigeria's democratic journey. He emphasised that he was not an advocate of doom but was instead urging members of the profession to reflect seriously on the way legal practice was conducted in Nigeria. "In advanced countries, lawyers are the light that shine in darkness. But here it appears that darkness has overshadowed the purity of legal practice to the prejudice of justice. This is so sad," he said.
As Nigeria prepares for the 2027 general elections, Okutepa's warning carries particular weight. The legal profession, he argued, must rise to the occasion and play a more active role in safeguarding the country's democracy and justice system. His call for lawyers to return to the core values of the legal profession and place justice above partisan loyalty, personal ambition and primordial interests is a reminder that the fight for Nigeria's democratic future is not just a political battle, but a legal and moral one as well. Whether the NBA and the broader legal community will heed his warning remains to be seen. But one thing is certain: Justice Okutepa has spoken, and his words have laid bare the uncomfortable truth about the state of Nigeria's legal profession and its role in the country's democratic crisis.
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