A former chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Lagos branch, Yemi Akangbe, has called on lawyers to embrace service, humility and integrity in their professional conduct. He made the appeal in a Good Friday message, urging legal practitioners to draw inspiration from the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. "On this solemn occasion of Good Friday, I join Christians across Nigeria and around the world in reflecting on the profound sacrifice, love and redemption that this day represents," Akangbe said. He described the day as a call to uphold justice, defend the rule of law and serve humanity with courage. Akangbe prayed that the values of compassion and service would guide the legal profession toward a more united and just bar.
Oaikhena Osagie, a former chairman of the NBA's Young Lawyers Forum, echoed the call, describing Good Friday as a moment for sober reflection. He urged lawyers to renew their commitment to defending the vulnerable. "To my fellow legal practitioners, our profession demands that we face adversity in difficult times," Osagie said. He linked the suffering at Calvary to the endurance required in advocating for the voiceless.
Calling on lawyers to emulate Christ's sacrifice does not alter the daily reality of court adjournments, case backlogs or the growing public distrust in legal outcomes. Yemi Akangbe's message, while spiritually sound, offers no reckoning with the systemic flaws that weaken the profession's credibility. Moral appeals cannot substitute for accountability when justice is delayed or denied. For ordinary Nigerians, a more just bar means performance, not sermons.
