In a reflective Easter message to members of the legal profession, Lateef Omoyemi Akangbe, SAN, former Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Lagos Branch, has called on lawyers to renew their commitment to justice, equity, and constitutional integrity. Acknowledging the challenges confronting Nigeria—including injustice, insecurity, economic hardship, and the erosion of the rule of law—Akangbe drew parallels between the resurrection of Christ and the enduring hope for national transformation.
Emphasizing the symbolic power of Easter as a beacon of hope amid adversity, the Senior Advocate urged legal practitioners to stand firm as custodians of justice and moral courage. He encouraged the legal community to let the season reignite belief in their noble calling and in the possibility of a better Nigeria. His message resonates deeply with the current state of the nation, serving as both a call to reflection and a rallying cry for principled leadership within the legal space.
Read full statement below;
Happy Easter!
As Christians across the globe mark the sacred occasion of Easter—the Resurrection Day—we are reminded of the profound truth that, even in our darkest moments, life and hope have a remarkable way of breaking through.
At this point in our national journey, the Nigerian state—and, by extension, our legal system—is encumbered by forces that threaten the very soul of our constitutional democracy: injustice, insecurity, economic inflation, institutional decay, and a troubling erosion of the rule of law.
But just as the Resurrection emerged from Golgotha’s gloom,
I hold, with unshaken conviction, that the adversities before us shall not have the final word. We must, as custodians of justice, hold steadfast to the ideals of equity, moral courage, and constitutional integrity.
Let Easter stir in us the courage to believe again—in our nation and in our noble calling.
Wishing you and your loved ones a reflective, peaceful, and uplifting Easter.
LATEEF OMOYEMI AKANGBE, SAN, FCIArb (UK)
Former Chairman, NBA Lagos Branch.
