Abuja – The Chairman, Unity Bar of Nigerian Bar Association, Mr John Elachi, has said that the perception index of the people about judiciary is low.
Elachi, who made this assertion in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Thursday, said this informed the theme `self-audit` in the just concluded law week.
“The perception index of the justice sector, the judiciary, and the lawyers, is in fact low.
“What we have demonstrated to the Nigerian public is that we are not afraid to look at ourselves and say we are doing wrong in this or that area.
“We can make the needed change and improvement that will lead to more effective legal system. We cannot standby and expect that the change will come by itself.
“We are focussing on the discipline in the profession, we are conducting a self-audit; we are trying to look inward at ourselves and see how we are faring.’’
He said the self-audit was to ensure that lawyers as officer in the temple of justice uphold and champion the rule of law.
Elachi said that there had been criticisms about the rule of law and that President Muhammadu Buhari had also challenged lawyers in this regard.
“This self-audit at this critical time is an opportunity to agree and demonstrate that as a people, we believe in doing the right thing and promote what is right and good for the society.
“ As a lawyer we have a sacred duty and when the sacred duty is bestowed on you, you cannot choose or select whether to comply with these provisions of the law or not.’’
Elachi said that lawyers were special breeds of people and as such should work hard to ensure that the public have confidence in them. (NAN)