A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Chukwudi Enebili, has sounded the alarm over what he describes as a troubling decline in ethical standards within the Nigerian legal profession, warning that the trend threatens the future of justice in the country.
Speaking at a press conference on Friday at the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Ikeja Branch centre, Enebili — who chairs the 2025 Law Week Planning Committee — said Nigeria was facing a “trying period” that had also taken a toll on legal practice.
“We are going through a very trying period, not just as a country but also within our profession,” he said. “That is why the theme this year was chosen to remind us where we are as professionals and as Nigerians.”
This year’s edition of the NBA Ikeja Annual Law Week, which began on Friday, is themed “Preserving the Legal Profession for Tomorrow.” Enebili described the focus as “both timely and necessary” amid what he called a visible erosion of professionalism and ethical conduct among practitioners in recent years.
The week-long event opened with a Jumat service at the Old Secretariat Mosque, followed by a Christian thanksgiving on Sunday at the Bar Centre. Monday’s proceedings will continue with an evening cocktail at the same venue.
The flagship plenary session, slated for Tuesday, July 15, at the Marriott Hotel in Ikeja, will feature a keynote address from the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede. The day will also host a special “Young Lawyer Session” under the theme “Walking Steadily to the Top,” celebrating 30 emerging legal professionals making significant strides in the courtroom.
The day will end with a formal dinner in honour of Chief Emeka Ozoani (SAN).
Plenary sessions will resume on Wednesday, July 16, at the Providence Hotel, GRA Ikeja, with a keynote from Prof Fabian Ajogwu (SAN). Other high-profile speakers expected at the event include Prof Kemi Pinheiro (SAN), Prof Foluke Dada of Caleb University, and Oyinkansola Badejo-Olusanya.
Additional sessions will feature leading voices in the profession, including Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa (SAN), Olalekan Ojo (SAN), and Dele Adesina (SAN).
The Law Week will conclude with the Alao Aka-Bashorun Memorial Lecture on Thursday, July 17, also at the Providence Hotel — an event traditionally dedicated to reflecting on the role of law in Nigerian society.
In his welcome remarks, NBA Ikeja Branch Chairman, Mr Adeniyi Quadri, emphasised that this year’s Law Week is not just ceremonial but a platform for critical engagement.
“This Law Week is not just another gathering. It’s a call to action,” Quadri said. “We are focusing on strategies to safeguard the future of the legal profession because if we don’t act now, we may not have much left to protect.”
He added that the week would continue its tradition of fostering dialogue around both national and global socio-political challenges, while also pushing for reform within the legal sector.
As Nigeria’s legal community gathers for reflection and renewal, the call from senior members of the Bar is clear: the future of the profession depends on a return to its core values.
