A Port Harcourt-based lawyer and political commentator, Mr Princewill Dike, has called on lawyers to live in conformity with the principles and letters of the law they preach.
Dike spoke in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, at the weekend, as lawyers from across the country prepare to converge on the Garden City for the 2026 Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association. NigeriaGovernment News
Dike said the onus was on members of the legal profession to defend, through their conduct, the principles of their profession.
The conference, which is expected to bring together thousands of lawyers, judges, academics and other stakeholders, has a theme, “Beyond Limits — Redefining the Practice of Law.”
“The theme of the conference carries a profound responsibility for lawyers”, stressing that “going beyond limits must include a renewed commitment to professional ethics, justice, integrity and the rule of law”, Dike said.
He said lawyers should not only sermonise about the law in courtrooms, lecture halls and public spaces, but must also demonstrate obedience to the law in their personal and professional dealings.
The lawyer maintained that members of the bar occupied a unique position in society as advocates and defenders of justice, adding that “their conduct should, therefore, inspire confidence in the legal profession and the justice system.”
Dike welcomed lawyers to Port Harcourt, describing the city as a fitting host for the gathering of legal minds and expressing optimism that the conference would “provide an opportunity for meaningful intellectual engagement and professional networking.”
Read Also: ‘No Enugu APC candidate will struggle to win poll in 2027’
He urged participants to “use the conference to critically examine the challenges confronting the legal profession and justice delivery in Nigeria, while developing practical ideas capable of strengthening the rule of law.” Dike also called on young lawyers attending the conference to take advantage of the gathering to learn from experienced practitioners, judges and other distinguished members of the profession.
He stressed that the future of the Nigerian legal profession would depend largely on practitioners’ ability to uphold its core values, maintain professional discipline, and remain committed to justice, irrespective of circumstances.
Dike further urged lawyers to make the 2026 NBA Annual General Conference memorable by combining robust intellectual discussions with conduct that reflects the ideals of the legal profession.
He expressed the hope that the gathering would mark another important step towards taking the Nigerian legal profession “Beyond Limits” while remaining firmly anchored on the principles of law, justice and professional integrity.