NIGERIA: Don’t Allow Yourself to Be Used for Impunity – ICPC Chairman to Lawyers

By Ameenat Hamzat, Lagos, Nigeria

The Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN, has cautioned legal practitioners against allowing themselves to be used as instruments of impunity, stressing that the integrity of the justice system depends on the ethical conduct of those within the profession.

This was disclosed in a press statement signed by the Director, Public Enlightenment and Education who doubles as the Spokesperson for the Commission, Demola Bakare, fsi.

According to the statement, Dr. Aliyu issued the warning during the official launch of Ungogo Bar Voice, a legal-focused publication, held in Kano State.

He described the new magazine as more than a scholarly journal, calling it a platform for engagement, reform, and professional introspection in the legal field.

He said: “The legal profession is increasingly under public scrutiny. Every action or inaction of a lawyer either strengthens or erodes public confidence in the justice system. Lawyers must never allow themselves to be used for impunity under the guise of legal representation.”

He lamented the growing trend of professional misconduct and complicity among legal practitioners in matters that undermine the very system they are sworn to uphold.

He stated: “Ethics, the bedrock of our profession, is under threat,” as he urged lawyers to recommit to the values of integrity and public interest.

Dr. Aliyu emphasized that lawyers are not just legal advocates but custodians of justice, whose responsibilities include safeguarding the principles of fairness, equity, and truth.

He also called on legal professionals and academics to engage in deeper scrutiny of judicial decisions, particularly those coming out of Kano State and beyond, to promote legal reform and strengthen scholarship.

In response to the evolving legal landscape, the ICPC Chairman acknowledged the rise of artificial intelligence and digital technology in the legal profession.

While encouraging innovation, he stressed the need for regulation.

He warned; “Legal tech must serve justice, not commodify it. Innovation without ethics can lead to the erosion of public trust.”

On legal education, Dr. Aliyu advocated for a curriculum overhaul to include ethics, digital literacy, and public interest law as foundational components for aspiring lawyers.

He also referenced the recent Supreme Court judgment on local government autonomy, urging practitioners to defend judicial precedents rather than challenge them with frivolous or diversionary suits.

The ICPC Chairman added; “We have a duty to uphold the integrity of the courts. Undermining the Supreme Court is undermining our democracy. Let Ungogo Bar Voice serve as a torchbearer for ethical practice, responsible commentary, and continuous legal development.”

Also speaking at the event, renowned lawyer Mike Ozekhome, SAN, cautioned against unethical attacks on judicial officers.

Ozekhome noted: “While we must interrogate court decisions, personal attacks on judges have no place in a civilized legal system.”

Justice Helen Ogunwumiju of the Supreme Court also called on legal scholars and practitioners to critique court judgments constructively and support legal reforms that enhance Nigeria’s jurisprudence.

The launch event brought together distinguished members of the bench and bar, reaffirming the profession’s commitment to justice, reform, and ethical conduct.