The Convener of the Fight Against Corruption in the Judiciary (FIACIJ), Mr Bayo Akinlade, has called on lawyers to contribute to elimination of corruption in the justice sector by resisting and reporting the vice.
Akinlade told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Lagos that lawyers had a responsibility to portray the sector in good light through their actions.
“FIACIJ is a group that seeks to bring back confidence in our justice system, we cannot ove-remphasise the importance of fighting corruption to a standstill.
“Lawyers have the responsibility of making sure that the judiciary is purged of all negative perceptions.
“Our successes in the fight against corruption in the judiciary has largely depended on the resolve by lawyers to resist and report acts of corruption.
“We had much successes in Lagos under the retired Chief Judge Opeyemi Oke, who had anti-corruption as a focal point; that helped to boost our visibility and achievements in Lagos State,’’ he said.
Akinlade, a former Chairman of the Ikorodu Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association, said that the battle against corruption would be won with lawyers’ commitment to anti-corruption crusade.
He, however, told NAN that some lawyers had demonstrated willingness to fight corruption by exposing corrupt tendencies.
He said that such lawyers should be encouraged especially by chief judges of their states.
