Justice Mary Peter Odili (retd), Chairman of the Body of Benchers, admonished lawyers on Wednesday against addressing the media following court hearings, calling the move unprofessional.
She stated this on the second day of the Call to Bar Ceremony of 4,412 new lawyers in Abuja.
The retired justice of the Supreme Court also disclosed that a committee has been set up to address the worrisome issue of conflicting judgments of courts in the country.
She urged the newly sworn-in lawyers to uphold the highest standards of professional ethics and conduct themselves with dignity at all times.
Justice Odili also asked the new lawyers to be honest, avoid misleading the court, and follow the judicial dress code.
She stated that it is unethical for lawyers to debate and reach conclusions on cases pending before the court.
The Chairman of the Body of Benchers said, “One of the issues plaguing our dear country in recent times is the contentious and polarizing spectacle of media trial. The negative outcome of a media trial is pre-judgment, which can undermine the fundamental pillar of an individual’s right to a fair and unbiased trial.
“Lawyers who engage in media trial sway public opinion and potentially skew the trajectory of justice, sometimes turning the people against the court.
“It is unethical for lawyers to be addressing the media when fully robed, particularly after court sittings as we have seen in recent times.
“For the avoidance of doubt, it is unethical for lawyers to address the press on matters that are pending in court. Rule 33 of the Rules of Professional Conduct states: ‘a lawyer or law firm engaged in, or associated with the prosecution or defence of a criminal matter or associated with a civil action, shall not, while litigation is anticipated or pending in the matter, make, or participate in making any extrajudicial statement that is calculated to prejudiced or interfere with, or is reasonably capable of prejudicing or interfering with the fair trial of the matter or the judgement or sentence thereon’.
“It is therefore also unethical for lawyers to be discussing and arriving at conclusions on matters pending before the court.”