Professor Babafemi A. Badejo chairs the NBA's anti-corruption unit.
On Tuesday, he issued a stark warning to lawyers across Nigeria.
Corruption has become normalized in this country, he told the gathering. The problem now feels ordinary to many Nigerians, including legal professionals.
Badejo spoke at an anti-corruption seminar in Port Harcourt. Judges, senior lawyers, and bar members attended the event.
He described corruption as a "pandemic" spreading through government. It infects the public, private, and social sectors equally.
"We are becoming more and more accommodating of corruption," Badejo noted. "This abnormality has grown into a normality," he added.
Institutions have weakened under the weight of corrupt practices. Public confidence has eroded, investment has dried up, and inequality has worsened.
Money meant for schools, hospitals, roads, and security keeps disappearing. Officials divert these funds instead of using them properly.
That theft has fueled the kidnapping crisis gripping Nigeria. Abductions for ransom have become a thriving criminal enterprise.
Lawyers hold a unique responsibility in fighting this battle. They guard the rule of law, not just their clients' interests.
"Our duty to justice must never bow to money or politics," Badejo stated. Financial gain cannot trump ethical obligations.
Corruption and the rule of law cannot coexist. When one grows strong, the other weakens inevitably.
The legal profession risks "professional suicide" if it tolerates corruption within its ranks. Badejo warned that the consequences would be catastrophic.
"We cannot fight corruption nationally while harboring it in our own profession," he said. "Integrity is our only real currency," he emphasized.
Badejo praised NBA President Afam Osigwe for creating this committee. He also commended the decision to establish similar units in branches nationwide.
The legal system needs reforms to address corruption effectively. Badejo called for a stronger, more responsive Disciplinary Committee.
That body must handle complaints quickly and decisively. Delays only encourage more misconduct within the profession.
Lawyers must embrace ethical advocacy in their daily work. Transparency, accountability, and due process must guide every case.
They should also support anti-corruption agencies doing their jobs. Judicial independence requires protection from political interference.
Badejo urged seminar participants to move beyond empty talk. This gathering should spark a real movement for change.
"The road to a corruption-free Nigeria starts in our chambers," he said. Ethical choices made daily matter far more than courtroom speeches.
Nigerian lawyers must reject the idea that corruption is inevitable. Accepting it as normal guarantees disaster for the nation.
Failure to confront this menace will damage development prospects. The cost of inaction grows higher with each passing year.
