How Nigerian Lawyers and Their Allies Have Desecrated the Temple of Justice in Recent Times, By Femi Falana, SAN
Across the country, courtrooms that ought to symbolize order, decorum, and the rule of law have increasingly degenerated into arenas of chaos and disgrace. There have been multiple reported incidents of lawyers physically assaulting one another within court premises, exchanging blows, wielding chairs, and even being docked for violent altercations during proceedings. These shameful episodes represent not only individual lapses but a collective embarrassment to the legal profession.
In recent years, the Nigerian legal profession, once revered as the custodian of justice and the conscience of society, has witnessed a disturbing decline marked by misconduct, ethical breaches, and the steady desecration of the courtroom.
Across the country, courtrooms that ought to symbolize order, decorum, and the rule of law have increasingly degenerated into arenas of chaos and disgrace. There have been multiple reported incidents of lawyers physically assaulting one another within court premises, exchanging blows, wielding chairs, and even being docked for violent altercations during proceedings. These shameful episodes represent not only individual lapses but a collective embarrassment to the legal profession.
Beyond physical misconduct lies a deeper crisis of professional indiscipline. Senior lawyers have disrupted proceedings in open court, undermining judicial authority and eroding respect for due process. More troubling are cases where lawyers facing criminal allegations have attempted to improperly approach judges, raising grave concerns about the ethical foundations of the bar.
Judicial officers themselves have sounded the alarm. Some have openly warned against interference and undue influence, while others have exposed attempts at bribery and financial inducement. In certain tribunals, judges have revealed attempts to compromise proceedings through monetary offers, indicating a justice system increasingly vulnerable to manipulation.
The crisis extends beyond the conduct of lawyers alone. State actors and security agencies have, in some instances, invaded courtrooms, re-arrested defendants within judicial premises, and disrupted proceedings to the point where judges and lawyers were forced to flee. There have also been persistent reports of harassment of legal practitioners, obstruction of access to courtrooms, and interference with the right to legal representation, actions that strike at the heart of fair hearing and the rule of law.
Even more alarming are public revelations suggesting high-level interference in the judicial process. Statements by political actors indicating informal engagements with judicial officers, as well as open disregard for court orders, have further eroded public confidence in the judiciary.
At the administrative level, allegations of extortion by judicial officials continue to surface, while warnings have been issued that the practice of “mobilizing” bailiffs constitutes bribery. The proliferation of conflicting court orders—often linked to forum shopping and jurisdictional manipulation, has become a recurring feature of the legal landscape.
Taken together, these developments paint a grim picture: a justice system under siege—not only from external pressures but from within its own ranks.
To underscore the gravity of this decline, I present the following recent incidents that illustrate the scale of misconduct and institutional decay within the legal system
HOW NIGERAN LAWYERS AND ALLIES DESECRATED THE TEMPLE OF JUSTICE IN RECENT TIMES
1. Reactions as lawyers exchange blows inside courtroom https://blueprint.ng/reactions-as-lawyers-exchange-blows-inside-courtroom/
2. Show of shame as 2 lawyers fight inside Courtroom – The Sun Nigeria https://share.google/DgnjI0zKwFQ6bibr3
3. Two Female Lawyers Docked For Fighting In Court – The Metro Lawyer https://share.google/vlYECZcOjzBBw8JzW
4. TWO FEMALE LAWYERS FIGHT IN COURT. https://share.google/77pLkWP8MglwzE4IW
5. Watch Disgraceful Moment Two Popular Nigerian Lawyers Fought With Chairs in Court https://share.google/eiJXj8L3uJAgmgQWd
6. Misconduct: Two Lawyers fight in court during proceeding. https://barristerng.com/misconduct-two-lawyers-fight-in-court-during-proceeding/
7. Show of shame as 2 lawyers fight inside Courtroom – The Sun Nigeria https://share.google/DgnjI0zKwFQ6bibr3
8. Drama in court as senior lawyer interrupts LP proceedings https://share.google/wRNQg8uhBZjY1p1PJ
9. Judge exposes attempt by lawyer facing forgery charge to meet him privately https://share.google/XiPA6lBXFo55rX9J3
10. ‘Don’t approach me’ — judge warns lawyers against interference after granting Malami bail | TheCable https://www.thecable.ng/dont-approach-me-judge-warns-lawyers-against-interference-after-granting-malami-bail/
11. Why I disobeyed some court orders —Ministerial nominee, Malami – Punch Newspapers https://share.google/LS8WTCQPE1IpwWwxY
12. SAN, six other lawyers to face panel over conflicting court orders – Daily Post Nigeria https://share.google/w39CVnBIznxGl8m2N
13. Judge, lawyers flee as DSS operatives invade court, rearrest Sowore – Punch Newspapers https://share.google/djcnz1shOmRI68qQo
14. Lawyer Petitions Chief Judge, Accuses DSS Of Harassing Lawyers, Blocking Court Access During Nnamdi Kanu’s Trial | Sahara Reporters https://share.google/MzLXm4Wy9IKMqsSmn
15. Judge Exposes Lawyer Who Tried To Bribe Him In Plateau – TheNigeriaLawyer https://share.google/HGe0hDohPACkuFmv1
16. Tribunal judge raises alarm of financial inducement in Kano | The Guardian Nigeria News – Nigeria and World News https://share.google/ISMr8dn3FTPVUNita
17. VIDEO: As Appeal Court President, My Wife Extended Help To My Colleagues — Senator Bulkachuwa • Channels Television https://share.google/i0PI04jnyGtthafF3
18. “We Met Supreme Court Justices In Their Villages,”— Kwankwaso Recalls 2019 Legal Battle After Kano Election Was Declared Inconclusive, Yusuf Dumps NNPP – TheNigeriaLawyer https://share.google/XtZR8Xi3aDQknpre5
19. How Judicial Officials Extort Lawyers In Lagos Courts – Daily Trust https://share.google/bYAv9VLuBqtcykBPm
20. Judge Says Lawyers Mobilizing / Paying Bailiffs Are Giving Bribes And It’s Criminal – TheNigeriaLawyer https://share.google/uiKWOOnBc6Kivtp30
THE NBA MAY WANT TO TAKE UP THE ABOVE-MENTIONED CASES TO
ENHANCE THE INTEGRITY OF THE TEMPLE OF JUSTICE.
Femi Falana SAN
These incidents, widely reported across multiple platforms, represent a pattern, not isolated occurrences.
The Nigerian Bar Association, as the umbrella body of legal practitioners, cannot afford to remain passive. It must act decisively to investigate these cases, enforce disciplinary measures, and restore ethical standards within the profession.
The temple of justice must not be allowed to collapse under the weight of misconduct, impunity, and institutional decay.
Femi Falana, SAN
March 28, 2026
