In a clarion call for transformative change within Nigeria’s legal system, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice of Lagos State, Mr Lawal Pedro SAN has emphasized the urgent need for an ethical revival and deeper integration of technology in judicial processes.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Lagos Branch Law Week 2025, the Attorney General challenged legal practitioners to embrace integrity, innovation, and service as the pillars for rebuilding public trust in the justice system.The event, held at MUSON centre, Onikan, drew leading voices from the bar and bench, policymakers, and industry experts.
Addressing a packed audience of legal professionals, the Attorney General underscored the importance of aligning the legal profession with global digital standards to improve access to justice and efficiency in case management. He stressed that ethics must not be negotiable, particularly in an era where public confidence in legal institutions is waning. The theme of this year’s Law Week, “Reimagining Legal Practice: Ethics, Technology, and Access to Justice,” provided a fitting backdrop for discussions on how lawyers can lead the charge in restoring dignity to the profession while adapting to the fast-paced demands of a tech-driven world.
Read full statement below;
GOODWILL MESSAGE BY THE HONOURABLE ATTORNEY GENERAL & COMMISSIONER FOR JUSTICE, LAGOS STATE, MR. LAWAL PEDRO SAN AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE 2025 NBA LAGOS LAW WEEK
PROTOCOL
Theme: “Reimagining the Practice of Law: Ethics, Innovation & the Future – Let’s Be Lawyers Again”
It is with great honour and sincere appreciation that I convey my goodwill and warmest regards today at this auspicious Opening Ceremony of the 2025 NBA Lagos Law Week. Permit me to begin by commending the leadership and entire membership of the NBA Lagos Branch for sustaining the proud tradition of using Law Week as a platform for critical introspection, bold conversations, and professional renewal.
This year’s theme – “Reimagining the Practice of Law: Ethics, Innovation & the Future – Let’s Be Lawyers Again” – is not only timely, but underscore the imperative to capture the deep yearning across the legal profession and the broader society for a return to core values of being social engine even as we confront the disruptions and possibilities of a rapidly evolving world.
As lawyers, we are custodians of the rule of law and guardians of justice. However ethics remains the moral compass of our practice. The importance of Legal ethnics include:
* Public Trust: Ethical conduct builds and maintains trust in the legal system and the legal profession, which is essential for its functioning.
* Fairness and Justice: Ethical principles ensure that legal proceedings are fair and just, protecting the rights of all individuals involved.
* Integrity of the Legal Profession: Ethical conduct is crucial for maintaining the integrity and reputation of the legal profession.
* Protecting Clients: Ethical conduct protects clients’ rights and interests by ensuring they receive competent, diligent, and honest representation.
Let me share a brief anecdote, In 1959, the legendary Chief FRA Williams, once remarked during a lecture:
“The legal profession survives only to the extent that it is trusted. And it is trusted only to the extent that it is honourable.”
Those words still ring true today – perhaps now more than ever. In an age where Artificial Intelligence drafts arguments, virtual court hearing, and global law firms running 24-hour cycles, the call to “be lawyers again” is a call to anchor our practice in integrity, empathy, and service, no matter how much technology reshapes our methods.
In Lagos State, we have also had to reimagine justice delivery through the digitization of case management and deployment of technology in the administration of Justice.
Foremost among our initiatives to reimagine justice delivery is the Lagos Criminal Information System (LCIS)—a digital databank and biometric registry of individuals who have been in contact with the criminal justice system in our Courts in Lagos State. It has streamlined record-keeping, enhanced investigative accuracy, and supported data-driven criminal justice reforms.
We also have the Lagos State DNA and Forensic Centre (LSD&FC)—the first ISO-accredited, state-owned facility of its kind in Nigeria—providing vital scientific support in criminal investigations, including rape, homicide, disaster victim identification, and paternity disputes. Although the centre was tragically destroyed during the #EndSARS protests, the State Government has commenced partial repairs to provide functional forensic facility as a stop-gap measure, ensuring continued operations pending full renovation.
As Lagos continues to evolve as Nigeria’s commercial and legal nerve centre, the future of our legal system must reflect the boldness, excellence, and ethical grounding that our profession is known for. Innovation is necessary, but ethics is non-negotiable.
To the Senior lawyers present here today – and indeed all of us – as Legal Practitioners, beyond our briefs and fees, we are nation-builders. The call to “be lawyers again” is a summons to leadership – ethical, informed, courageous leadership.
I therefore look forward to the conversations this week, and more importantly, to the concrete reforms and renewed professional ethos they will inspire. I assure you that the Lagos State Ministry of Justice remains a willing partner in the quest to reimagine and reinvigorate the Nigerian legal profession.
Thank you once again for the honour, and I wish you all a successful and transformative Law Week.
Mr. Lawal Pedro SAN, FCIArb.
Hon. Attorney General &
Commissioner for Justice, Lagos State
