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The Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, has expressed deep concerns over the rising number of complaints against senior lawyers in Nigeria.
Speaking at a special court session to mark the beginning of the Supreme Court’s 2025/2026 Legal Year and the inauguration of 57 senior advocates of Nigeria (SANs), Fagbemi lamented the rot in the Nigeria judiciary.
Fagbemi revealed that his office has been receiving several complaints against senior members of the bar, bordering on professional misconduct.
“My office has, in recent times, taken note of the increasing number of complaints against senior members of the bar,” he said. “Thankfully, these are few and far between, but they still constitute such numbers as to be troubling.”
The AGF also called for transparency in the judiciary, expressing concerns over adverse ratings and negative perception indexes of the judiciary.
“It is quite concerning to see the adverse ratings and negative perception indexes of our Judiciary,” he said.
“Public confidence in the judiciary has been shaken by perceptions of undue influence, inconsistent rulings, and delays that frustrate justice.”
Fagbemi emphasised the need for the judiciary to be principled, independent, and impartial, delivering justice transparently, consistently, and with intellectual rigor.
“It is therefore the responsibility of everyone present here and beyond to ensure that, like Caesar’s wife, the judiciary is above reproach and suspicion,” he said.
The AGF’s remarks highlight the need for reforms in the Nigeria judiciary to restore public confidence and ensure that justice is delivered fairly and transparently.
