Retired Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Mary Peter Odili, on Wednesday, declared that media trial is one of the issues plaguing Nigeria and cautioned lawyers against granting press interviews after court proceeding.
Describing the action as unethical, Justice Odili said the negative resultant effect of media trial is pre-judgement of a matter which can erode the foundational pillar of an individual’s right to a fair and unbiased trial.
Odili, who is the Chairman of the Body of Benchers, stated this on the second day of the Call to Bar Ceremony of 4,412 new lawyers in Abuja.
She also revealed that a committee has been set up to address the worrisome issue of conflicting judgments of courts in the country.
The retired justice of the Supreme Court implored the newly sworn in lawyers to demonstrate the highest level of professional ethics and behave with honour at all times.
Justice Odili also urged the new lawyers to be honest, not to mislead the court, and abide by the judicial dress code.
She said, “One of the issues plaguing our dear country in recent times is the contentious and polarizing spectacle of media trial.
“The negative resultant effect of media trial is pre-judgement which can erode the foundational 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.”
