Don’t defend corrupt clients, Buhari urges Lawyers

on August 23, 2015 / in News 8:24 pm / Comments
By Levinus Nwabughiogu

ABUJA – President Mohammdu Buhari has urged legal practitioners in the country not to defend corrupt Nigerians as clients but expose them.

The President stated that exposing various misdeeds was the only way to arrest corruption and restore the glory of the land.

He stated that legal profession would achieve more credibility if the members of the Bar and the Bench uphold their professional ethics.

Buhari spoke at the opening of the 55th Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in Abuja on Sunday.

“I am convinced that law, law-makers, lawyers, law courts and the law enforcement agencies all have pivotal responsibilities to discharge, if the change we seek is ever to materialize.

“As you all know by now, this administration has taken on the challenge of improving security, fighting corruption and revamping the economy, among many others.

“The fight against corruption is in reality a struggle for the restoration of law and order. Corruption and impunity become widespread when disrespect for law is allowed to thrive in society. Disrespect for law also thrives when people get away with all sorts of shady deals and the court system is somehow unable to check them.

“Ability to manipulate and frustrate the legal system is the crowning glory of the corrupt and, as may be expected, this has left many legal practitioners and law courts tainted in an ugly way.

“In a gathering such as this, I do not need to elaborate on the way that corruption and impunity have damaged our economy. But I would like to say more on what, I believe, should be your role as legal practitioners, in helping us back to the path of rectitude.

“First, we need to make our courts functional and effective again. This means that we must have lawyers who take the ethics of the profession very seriously; lawyers who will not frustrate the course of justice, even though they defend their clients with all legitimate means and resources.

“Nigeria needs ethical lawyers who always keep the end of justice in mind and will never sacrifice the integrity of the legal system to cover the misdeeds of their clients, no matter how lucrative the brief may be,” President Buhari said.
- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/08/dont-defend-corrupt-clients-buhari-urges-lawyers/#sthash.QexIeMfj.dpuf

See why people call Buhari clueless?

How can you charge someone for any crime, let alone corruption, and not allow them have a defense counsel?

Even the US, when they arrest a proven terrorist, like the Boston bomber and our own Fulani Detroit plane pant bomber, they allowed them access to defense lawyers. Na wa for Buhari oh!!!!

The onus is on you, Buhari, to prove that they are corrupt, not dissuading defense lawyers from representing the accused

Lawyers are all about the money.

hope they will listen.

Lawyers are liars.
They live and make ends from lies and thus defending thieves and looters means more money.
Is there anything called ethics when it comes to big money clients?

Confusion saw Buhari & shouted "Thank God Hope Neva Finish..

Hmmmm I don't think is possible.

this is what you get when u elect a dullard as your president

Wailers making a fool of themselves everyday and everywhere; since when has it become a honorable thing to defend thieves?

...and for the Op of this thread, what is despotic about urging lawyers not to defend dubious characters who have impoverished Nigerians and kept us backwards for decades.

Sometimes I ask myself that those ppl calling Buhari Dullard have they hold primary school class rep b4 and succeed?. Just curious though

Francis5:
See why people call Buhari clueless?

How can you charge someone for any crime, let alone corruption, and not allow them have a defense counsel?

Even the US, when they arrest a proven terrorist, like the Boston bomber and our own Fulani Detroit plane pant bomber, they allowed them access to defense lawyers. Na wa for Buhari oh!!!!

The onus is on you, Buhari, to prove that they are corrupt, not dissuading defense lawyers from representing the accused

well said!!!!

I said it that this president buhari is not an intelligent fellow but people thought I hated him.

With such statements one could infer that he doesn't understand the meaning of RULE OF LAW.

A presidential material indeed.

obailala:
Wailers making a fool of themselves everyday and everywhere; since when has it become a honorable thing to defend thieves?

...and for the Op of this thread, what is despotic about urging lawyers not to defend dubious characters who have impoverished Nigerians and kept us backwards for decades.

because APC partisan brigands like don't know that Naija constituion guarantees a fair hearing and upholds that everyone is innocent until proven guilt.
Also, GMB cannot be executive and judiciary at the same time.. This is constitutional democracy no matter how imperfect it might be!

Francis5:
See why people call Buhari clueless?

How can you charge someone for any crime, let alone corruption, and not allow them have a defense counsel?

Even the US, when they arrest a proven terrorist, like the Boston bomber and our own Fulani Detroit plane pant bomber, they allowed them access to defense lawyers. Na wa for Buhari oh!!!!

The onus is on you, Buhari, to prove that they are corrupt, not dissuading defense lawyers from representing the accused

You are obviously a mo-ron. How exactly is Buhari not allowing corrupt people have a defense counsel? Has he promulgated a law that says accused persons must not be represented? He is appealing to the conscience of lawyers. They are free to disregard his wishes with no repercussions...

Genius100:


You are obviously a mo-ron. How exactly is Buhari not allowing corrupt people have a defense counsel? Has he promulgated a law that says accused persons must not be represented? He is appealing to the conscience of lawyers. They are free to disregard his wishes with no repercussions...

Stop being willfully ignorant! It's unpresidential for GMB to ask lawyers not to defend folks that have been ALLEGED to be corrupt... Allegations don't equate to GUILT. GMB is far from being a repented democrat!!

Buhari is despot and autocratic. He knows no democracy, therefore him being Nigeria's president is a big mistake. This sort of despotic tendency is what prompted our saying that setting up special courts to try looters is despotic and attempt by Buhari to influence the outcome of cases because Nigeria has enough criminal courts to try these criminal looting. It is also indictment on the judiciary in the sense that they lack competency hence buhari resulting to special courts while criminal courts abound in the country.

The actual statements by Buhari do not match the interpretation or the thread title. Asking lawyers to defend clients in an ethical manner and to avoid manipulating the legal system is hardly the same as instructing lawyers not to defend clients against corruption allegations.

Threads like this illustrate that APC do not have the monopoly of lies and propaganda.

Buhari still thinking 1984.He is still living in the past. It's a pity. Sorry Mr President, this is democracy. If you don't know it ,then attend democratic institute

adconline:

because APC partisan brigands like don't know that Naija constituion guarantees a fair hearing and upholds that everyone is innocent until proven guilt.
Also, GMB cannot be executive and judiciary at the same time.. This is constitutional democracy no matter how imperfect it might be!

Do you know the meaning of the word 'urge' as used in the report?

...and I asked a question earlier, what do you lovers and defenders of thieves/oppresors gain from defending the same set of people who have rendered your nation a 3rd world slum?

obailala:
Do you know the meaning of the word 'urge' as used in the report?

...and I asked a question earlier, what do you lovers and defenders of thieves/oppresors gain from defending the same set of people who have rendered your nation a 3rd world slum?

By "urging"them not to defend alleged corrupt folks he's implying that he doesn't want a fair trial.. Being denied access to a lawyer tantamounts Kangaroo court of justice..
Folks like u don't get that we elected as the executive president not Chief Justice of Naija. He should stop making statement that might undermine legality of his actions.. The job of the GMB is to build a team that will mount an air-tight case against alleged folks, but they must have their day in court. GMB should stop playing the judge and jury in his case!!

adconline:

By "urging"them not to defend alleged corrupt folks he's implying that he doesn't want a fair trial.. Being denied access to a lawyer tantamounts Kangaroo court of justice..
Folks like u don't get that we elected as the executive president not Chief Justice of Naija. He should stop making statement that might undermine legality of his actions.. The job of the GMB is to build a team that will mount an air-tight case against alleged folks, but they must have their day in court. GMB should stop playing the judge and jury in his case!!

...and since when has 'urging' someone to do something be come a 'command'?

This is a quote from what President Buhari said:

"First, we need to make our courts functional and effective again. This means that we must have lawyers who take the ethics of the profession very seriously; lawyers who will not frustrate the course of justice, even though they defend their clients with all legitimate means and resources."

He recognized that every individual deserve the right to a legal defence but it's illegal and unprofessional for a legal person to help a client to conceal evidence, avade justice and cheat justice. In the UK , no lawyer will continue to represent a client if he finds out that that client's defence is based on lies and that client better not tell the lawyer.
Once the lawyer realized the true situation against his original plea, he will encourage the client to plead guilty for a reduce sentences or for a plead bargain, hence he will tell the client that he cannot represent him further at the risk of his practicing license.

That is the reason Ibori's lawyer was later charged and jailed for conspiracy to commit money laundry along with Ibori and later struck off from practicing law.

Not every lawyer is an advocate. So Buhari is not only referring to those that represented corrupt clients in court but those solicitors that coached clients on what to do or say to the police and in court, which is illegal in legal practice in every democratic legal system.

Those that help clients to falsify documents they presented before the court, those that deliberately withheld evidence from the defence knowing that it is an illegal practice in law.

Those that connive with corrupt Judges to delay cases year after year with no end in sight with postponementd or issuing injunctions that handcuff the law and prevents justice.
Only in Nigeria in a true democratic legal system that courts and Judges issue injunction that prevents one from being arrested or being questioned by the law enforcement agencies. How are they supposed to do their job properly?

There are so many unethical practices within the Nigeria legal system by solicitors, advocates and judges, all in the name of defence. The job of these people is not to help a client to avert justice but to achieve justice. Achieving justice doesn't mean helping a client to cheat the law and the system.

That's what Buhari is saying but idiots who are still in the election mode cannot see what the president was saying.
Do you think that his audience has less legal mind than those of you who knew very little about the justice system? Or his speech writers knew nothing about the subject,?
Nowhere was he telling them not to defend an individual who is perceived innocent until proven guilty but rather he was advocating that they should not to help them unethically or illegally in order to avade justice even when their clients has confessed their guilt to them.

Nowhere in the world is a lawyer's job includes helping a client to commit perjury, conceal evidence and other unethical practices that seems normal in Nigeria legal system to the ordinary lay person, judging by most silly comments here.

Based on some of the comments here, it shows how uninformed and ignorant most people are with regards to a lawyer's legal responsibilities towards a client. And there are lines never to be crossed in the course of defence by a legal professional.
If a client has told his representation that he is guilty of an offence he had already pleaded not guilty, the legal ethical law practice mandatory required the representative to report such a confession to the other side and advice their client henceforth.
So stop wailing and grow some brain.

obailala:
...and since when has 'urging' someone to do something be come a 'command'?

May I urge you to jump into the lagoon after raping your mom

dialfa:


May I urge you to jump into the lagoon after raping your mom

I wasnt talking to you.

Eziachi:
This is a quote from what President Buhari said:

"First, we need to make our courts functional and effective again. This means that we must have lawyers who take the ethics of the profession very seriously; lawyers who will not frustrate the course of justice, even though they defend their clients with all legitimate means and resources."

He recognized that every individual deserve the right to a legal defence but it's illegal and unprofessional for a legal person to help a client to conceal evidence, avade justice and cheat justice. In the UK , no lawyer will continue to represent a client if he finds out that clients defence is based on lies and he better not tell the lawyer.
Once the lawyer realized your situation, he will encourage the client to plead guilty for a reduce sentences or for a plead bargain or he will tell you that he cannot represent you to risk his license.

That is the reason Ibori's lawyer was later charged and jailed for conspiracy to commit money laundry along with Ibori.
Not every lawyer is an advocate. So Buhari is not only referring to those that represent corrupt clients in court but those solicitors that coach clients on what to do or say to the police or in court, which is illegal in legal practice in every democratic legal system.

Those that help clients to falsify documents they presented in court, those that withheld evidence from the defence knowing that it is an illegal practice.

Those that conive with corrupt judges to delay cases for years or issuing injunctions that prevents justice.
Only in Nigeria in a true democratic legal system that a court prevents one from being arrested or being questioned by the law enforcement agencies.

There are so many unethical practices within the Nigeria legal system by solicitors, advocates and judges all in the name of client defence. The job of these people is not to help a client to avert justice but to achieve justice.

That's what Buhari is saying but idiots who are still in the election mode cannot see what the president was saying. Do You think that his audience has less legal mind those of you who knew very little about the justice system?
Nowhere was he telling them not to defend corrupt individual who are innocent until proven guilty but rather not to help them unethical or illegally to avade justice even when their clients has confessed their guilt to them.
Nowhere in the world is a lawyers job includes helping a client to commit perjury, conceal evidence and other unethical practices that seem normal in Nigeria legal system to the ordinary lay person.

Based on some the comments here, it shows how uninformed and ignorant most Nigerians are with regards to a lawyers required legal responsibility to a client. And there is a line never to be crossed in the name of defence.
Stop wailing and grow some brain.

Thank God hopefully some people will learn something from your answer.

obailala:
I wasnt talking to you.

neither was buhari

Eziachi:
This is a quote from what President Buhari said:

"First, we need to make our courts functional and effective again. This means that we must have lawyers who take the ethics of the profession very seriously; lawyers who will not frustrate the course of justice, even though they defend their clients with all legitimate means and resources."

He recognized that every individual deserve the right to a legal defence but it's illegal and unprofessional for a legal person to help a client to conceal evidence, avade justice and cheat justice. In the UK , no lawyer will continue to represent a client if he finds out that clients defence is based on lies and he better not tell the lawyer.
Once the lawyer realized your situation, he will encourage the client to plead guilty for a reduce sentences or for a plead bargain or he will tell you that he cannot represent you to risk his license.

That is the reason Ibori's lawyer was later charged and jailed for conspiracy to commit money laundry along with Ibori.
Not every lawyer is an advocate. So Buhari is not only referring to those that represent corrupt clients in court but those solicitors that coach clients on what to do or say to the police or in court, which is illegal in legal practice in every democratic legal system.

Those that help clients to falsify documents they presented in court, those that withheld evidence from the defence knowing that it is an illegal practice.

Those that conive with corrupt judges to delay cases for years or issuing injunctions that prevents justice.
Only in Nigeria in a true democratic legal system that a court prevents one from being arrested or being questioned by the law enforcement agencies.

There are so many unethical practices within the Nigeria legal system by solicitors, advocates and judges all in the name of client defence. The job of these people is not to help a client to avert justice but to achieve justice.

That's what Buhari is saying but idiots who are still in the election mode cannot see what the president was saying. Do You think that his audience has less legal mind those of you who knew very little about the justice system?
Nowhere was he telling them not to defend corrupt individual who are innocent until proven guilty but rather not to help them unethical or illegally to avade justice even when their clients has confessed their guilt to them.
Nowhere in the world is a lawyers job includes helping a client to commit perjury, conceal evidence and other unethical practices that seem normal in Nigeria legal system to the ordinary lay person.

Based on some the comments here, it shows how uninformed and ignorant most Nigerians are with regards to a lawyers required legal responsibility to a client. And there is a line never to be crossed in the name of defence.
Stop wailing and grow some brain.

God bless you, the OP was already on a truth spinning mission... Half truths, misrepresentation of facts and outright lies won't stand the test of time... OP see how silly you look now?