A senior member of the Nigerian Bar, Oluwayomi Ojo, has criticised the Nigerian Bar Association, alleging that the body has drifted from its core mandate of protecting the interests of legal practitioners.
Speaking during an interview with Adamimogo FM Lagos, Ojo argued that the NBA, which he described as an involuntary association of lawyers no longer adequately protects members or promotes legal development but has become more focused on collecting fees than advancing the welfare and professional interests of its members.
Ojo also lamented that leadership contests within the NBA have become heavily commercialised, with aspirants spending significant sums on campaigns despite serving only two-year terms describing the trend as evidence that leadership within the association has become “a business rather than a profession.”
Commenting on recent concerns about corruption in the judiciary, Ojo backed the NBA President’s assertion that some court judgments are influenced by financial inducements rather than evidence.
While acknowledging that many judges remain honest and committed to justice, he said corruption among a significant number of judicial officers has damaged public confidence, adding that the judiciary is widely perceived by many Nigerians as lacking integrity.
