Veronica Dariya
Abuja – Justice Kezziah Ogbonnaya of the FCT High Court, Kubwa, has urged lawyers to imbibe the ethics of legal practice and spirit of professionalism in their service.
Ogbonnaya said this when she addressed, Mr Kanayo Okafor, counsel to the respondent and L.P Aso, counsel to the applicant, in Abuja on Friday.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the court was to hear and adopt processes in a suit filed by Mr Olugbenga Owodina against the EFCC for alleged violation of fundamental human right.
The judge said that it was imperative for lawyers to inculcate a sense of responsibility and diligence in all their work in order to establish global standard of practice.
“Lawyers must desist from the habit of serving processes in court; it is unethical and not practiced anywhere except in Nigeria.
“It is against the ethics of your profession and does not portray you as someone who does his or her work thoroughly.
“Even litigants who are in court would get the impression you have no idea of how the job is being done and may ignore your service for another.
“Learn to be thorough and desist from this habit; it is unheard of.”
Ogbonnaya noted that the matter was not ripe for hearing since the counsel to the respondent was just served in court and the counsel to the applicant was yet to serve the court with the processes.
She adjourned the matter till March 30 for hearing.
Earlier, Aso told the court that his colleague just served him with the processes just before the case was called.
He, however, applied to the court to grant him a short adjournment to respond to the process.
