The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has called on the Supreme Court to clarify the status of the Code of Conduct Tribunal ( CCT ) on whether it is an organ of the executive arm or a quasi-judicial tribunal capable of being vested with criminal jurisdiction.
Rising from its week-long 59th Annual General Conference in Lagos yesterday, the NBA President, Mr Paul Usoro, said it was necessary to determine the status of the tribunal in the interest of justice.
He said the association encourages judicial officers to be independent, courageous and unbiased in the execution of their functions without regard to the appointing authority in order to bolster and retain investor confidence.
It acknowledged the roles of the different stakeholders in the improvement of the legal profession, the Nigerian economy and the entire society.
“Government should increase confidence in the domestic business environment by protecting the sanctity of contracts, streamlining the regulatory environment and effecting fraud deterrents.
“Government is encouraged to imbue the principles of transparency and accountability to the citizens and establish processes to show that funds are applied judiciously.
“Laws with severe punitive measures for sex offenders should be enacted, sensisitisation programmes and community dialogues should be promoted to remove the stigma around gennder-based violence.
“Government is encouraged to adopt the voluntary principles on security and human rights, and develop a legal framework for effective enforcement of the principles in the extractive industry,” it said.
On legal practice, it recommended review of the Rules of Professional Conduct for an improved and efficient disciplinary process.
“The patriarchal language of the bar should evolve to recognise and embrace gender diversity in the bar and bench and, beyond the creation of NBA Women Forum, entrench gender equality in its constitution.
“The prevalence of bullying and sexual harassment in the legal profession should be addressed in the Rules of Professional Conduct,” the association added.
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