Corruption within Nigeria’s judiciary, involving both the Bar and the Bench, took center stage at the 2024 Law Week of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Enugu branch, held on Tuesday.

Although the theme of the conference was “Good Governance and Socio-Economic Stability: The Imperative of the Rule of Law in Nigeria,” the discussion quickly turned to allegations of corruption among lawyers and judges.

This shift in focus prompted noticeable discomfort among the judicial officers and senior lawyers present at the event, which was held at the Justice Innocent Umezulike Auditorium in the Enugu State High Court Complex.

Attendees included prominent figures such as the Chief Judges of Enugu and Ebonyi States, Justices A.R. Ozoemena and Elvis Anagu Ngene, along with other judges of the Enugu State High Court. Senior legal professionals, including Mrs. Justina Offia (SAN), Prof. Joy Ezeilo (SAN), the state Attorney General, Dr. Kingsley Udeh, and NBA Enugu chairman Chief Venatus Odo, were also in attendance.

The keynote lecture was delivered by Justice Peter Obiorah of the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, who spoke on “Law Practice: The Lawyer in the Center of Judicial Corruption – The Urgent Need for Practice Reforms.”

In his address, Justice Obiorah emphasized that lawyers must uphold the highest ethical standards, free from deceit, fraud, and dishonesty, both in their professional duties and personal conduct.

The Judge acknowledged that while many corruption allegations against judicial officers are baseless, there are undeniable instances or perceptions of corruption within the system.

He highlighted that in many cases, lawyers, particularly senior lawyers, are often implicated as intermediaries in corrupt practices, with litigants attempting to bribe judges or magistrates through their counsel.

Justice Obiorah called on the NBA and other judicial stakeholders to introduce and enforce stricter ethical guidelines for lawyers, urging the National Judicial Council (NJC) to address judicial misconduct more seriously.

Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mrs. Justina Offia, also contributed to the discussion, providing examples of unethical practices among lawyers.

She highlighted how some lawyers, aware that they have weak cases, resort to unethical tactics like falsely accusing judges of bias or conflicts of interest to disqualify them from hearing the case.

NBA Enugu Chairman, Chief Venatus Odo, remarked that the law week presented an opportunity for lawyers to reflect on their professional conduct and the state of their society.

He stressed that the theme of the conference underscored the dangers of poor regulation in legal practice and questioned whether current governance has fulfilled its fundamental responsibility to ensure the security and welfare of the people.

Prof. Joy Ezeilo (SAN), the chairperson of the Law Week, emphasized that access to justice is crucial for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and fostering inclusive growth.

However, she pointed out that many Nigerians remain marginalized and without legal protection, primarily due to poverty and other forms of social exclusion.

Dele Farotimi’s book, Nigeria and Its Criminal Justice System, has skyrocketed to bestseller status on Amazon, following the author’s recent arrest tied to a defamation complaint filed by Nigerian lawyer and businessman Afe Babalola.

According to a report by Vanguard, the book surged to the top of Amazon’s bestseller list on Thursday evening.

A bestseller is defined as a book or product that sells in exceptionally high volumes.

The surge in popularity on global platforms like Amazon was mirrored by a rush to bookstores across Nigeria, as citizens clamored to explore the controversial content within Farotimi’s book.

The author’s arrest on Tuesday, reportedly influenced by Babalola’s petition, significantly heightened public interest.

Babalola, 93, claims that Farotimi’s book falsely accuses him of corrupting Nigeria’s judiciary.

The book, published in July 2024, critiques widespread corruption in Nigeria’s legal system and highlights alleged unethical actions by legal professionals.

Although initial sales of the book were relatively low, the attention surrounding Farotimi’s arrest sparked a dramatic rise in its popularity, propelling it to bestseller status.

Farotimi was detained by armed police officers in Lagos on Tuesday and subsequently transported to Ado Ekiti, about 300 kilometers northeast of Lagos, where Babalola holds significant influence.

The following day, Farotimi was arraigned in Ekiti, and a judge ordered his remand until a bail hearing set for December 10.

Prominent Senior Advocate of Nigeria and founder of Afe Babalola University, Aare Afe Babalola, has finally spoken out regarding the arrest of human rights lawyer, Dele Farotimi.

Babalola accuses Farotimi of defaming him in a recently released book.

The controversy originates from a Supreme Court ruling in a long-standing land dispute.

In a formal petition submitted to the Ekiti State Commissioner of Police, Adeniran Akinwale, Babalola outlined the circumstances surrounding Farotimi’s book, Nigeria and its Criminal Justice System, which he claims contains defamatory statements about him.

According to Babalola, the book questions his personal integrity and accuses his law firm of engaging in unethical practices, including undermining the judiciary.

Furthermore, the book alleges that Babalola had “corrupted the Supreme Court from ages past and had led it to commit the most egregious acts of evil and wanting injustice.”

The petition, dated November 19, reads:
“I write to report the criminal defamation of myself, my law firm Afe Babalola & Co and my lawyers in person of Olu Daramola SAN and Ola Faro by one Dele Farotimi in his book titled ‘NIGERIA AND ITS CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM’ published by Dele Farotimi publishers in respect of Suit no: SC/146/2005: Major Muritala Gbadamosi Eletu & Ors V. H.R.H Oba Tijani Akinloye & Ors.”

Babalola explained that on November 2, 2024, one of his lawyers, while passing through Murtala Muhammed Airport, bought Farotimi’s book.

After reading it, the lawyer immediately brought the matter to his attention.

Other lawyers in his firm also purchased the book and confirmed the defamatory nature of its contents.

The petition further details the defamatory statements as follows:
“That Aare Afe Babalola corrupted the Supreme Court to procure a fraudulent judgement in the service of his client.”
“That Aare Afe Babalola, Olu Daramola, Olu Faro and the law offices of Afe Babalola & Co, (Emmanuel Chambers) compromised the Supreme Court and the remaining semblance of integrity it might have had when they went back to the Supreme Court and got the Court to swim in the sewer of corruption and shameful self-Abnegation.”

Borno State Deputy Governor, Umar Kadafur, along with over 100 other passengers, narrowly escaped a potentially deadly incident when a Max Air flight experienced an engine fire shortly after taking off from Maiduguri International Airport.

The incident occurred around 7 p.m. on Wednesday, as the aircraft was heading to Abuja. About 10 minutes into the flight, the plane encountered engine failure due to a bird strike.

Quick thinking from the pilot and crew allowed for an emergency return to Maiduguri Airport, preventing a possible catastrophe.

A Max Air employee, who preferred to remain anonymous, confirmed the details of the incident the following morning.

The employee stated, “The aircraft struck a bird shortly after takeoff, which led to one of the engines catching fire. The pilot responded rapidly to ensure the safety of all passengers on board.”

Following the emergency landing, passengers were reportedly shaken, with many opting to collect their luggage and leave the airport instead of boarding another flight.

However, Max Air management swiftly arranged for another aircraft from Kano to transport the deputy governor and other passengers safely to Abuja.

In addition to the deputy governor, the flight also carried several government officials, including a commissioner, special advisers, and senior special assistants.

The affected aircraft has been grounded at Maiduguri International Airport for repairs, while investigations into the cause of the incident are underway.

Airport authorities have assured passengers that safety remains a top priority and commended the flight crew for their professionalism in managing the emergency.

Laolu Akande, a former presidential spokesperson, has voiced his concerns about the reputation of legal luminary Aare Afe Babalola in the defamation case against lawyer and activist Dele Farotimi.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily breakfast program on Thursday, Akande remarked, “I am really concerned for Afe’s reputation, indeed, because the whole world is watching, and what the police are doing in the name of Afe Babalola.”

While acknowledging Babalola’s right to seek redress over the alleged defamation, Akande expressed disapproval of how the matter has been handled.

He noted that it would have been more appropriate for someone of Babalola’s stature to address the issue through civil means rather than involving the police.

Akande stated, “What I think is inelegant is that someone like Chief Afe Babalola, with all his respect and regard, would rather pursue this matter as a civil case.”

He further criticized Babalola for allegedly instigating the police to harass Farotimi, as evidenced in recent videos.

The case centers on a book published by Farotimi titled Nigeria and Its Criminal Justice System, in which he accused Babalola of corruption and influence over judicial decisions in the Supreme Court.

Earlier this week, the police arrested Farotimi at his Lagos office and transported him to Ekiti State for prosecution.

The police have charged Farotimi with sixteen counts, to which he pleaded not guilty.

The presiding magistrate, Abayomi Adeosun, remanded Farotimi in prison and adjourned the case until December 10, 2024.