By Chinelo Audrey Ofoegbunam
A lawyer’s work often begins in defense of others securing rights, shielding the vulnerable, and interpreting the law for justice. Yet, in a troubling irony, those who champion protection are increasingly left without it themselves. Across Nigeria, the safety of legal practitioners is becoming a growing concern, which is still too easily overlooked.
Security is not a privilege. For a lawyer, it should be a professional right.
A Profession at Risk
In recent times, stories have surfaced, some whispered, others shouted of lawyers facing harassment, arbitrary arrest, intimidation, or even violent attack while discharging their professional duties. For some, it happens in the courtroom. For others, it occurs at police stations, in remote communities, or while representing clients in contentious matters. The message is clear in each case: practicing law in Nigeria can come with a personal cost.
This threat cuts across seniority. Whether young or experienced, in solo practice or corporate law, lawyers are finding that their safety is no longer guaranteed simply because they operate within the boundaries of the law.
What began as isolated cases now echoes as a pattern.
The Invisible Toll
Beyond the obvious physical risks, the psychological impact is real. Lawyers who have been targeted often carry the burden in silence. They grow more cautious, more withdrawn. Some abandon certain types of cases entirely especially human rights, land disputes, or politically sensitive matters — out of fear, not fatigue.
When a legal professional begins to choose silence over service, not because of apathy but because of fear, then the integrity of justice itself is at stake.
Why Protection Matters
Legal practitioners do not ask for weapons. They do not ask for guards at every door. What they require is an acknowledgment of their unique exposure to risk and a system that acts swiftly when that risk becomes real.
Protecting lawyers is not about special treatment. It is about preserving the very ecosystem of justice. If lawyers are not safe, how can they confidently represent clients? How can they challenge abuses or hold powerful actors accountable?
No democracy thrives when its legal professionals are unprotected.
What Must Be Done
1. Legal Protection Protocols, and implementation thereof
There must be clearly stated and widely enforced legal protections for lawyers in the course of their work. These protocols must apply to law enforcement agencies, court officials, and private actors, no exceptions. Lawyers must be free to represent their clients without fear of persecution or harm.
2. Independent Emergency Response Channels
In moments of crisis — illegal detention, physical assault, or obstruction of duty, lawyers should have immediate access to an active emergency response support. A hotline, staffed by legal responders or security partners, can make the difference between timely intervention and irreversible harm.
3. Public Awareness Campaigns
Many threats stem from ignorance or misplaced hostility. Public campaigns that reinforce the role of lawyers in society can help reduce suspicion, prevent escalation, and promote respect for the rule of law.
4. Community-Based Security Partnerships
Especially in volatile or rural areas, lawyers need to form trusted networks with community leaders, media outlets, and civil society to create informal safety nets. Protection begins with visibility and local support.
5. Documentation and Exposure
Every case of harassment or violence against a legal practitioner must be documented, published, and followed through with determination. Silence protects the aggressor. Exposure deters repetition.
A Final Word
When lawyers do not feel safe, the entire system of justice is weakened. It is not just the individual at risk, it is the voice they represent, the client they defend, and the rights they stand for.
This is not just a legal issue. It is a welfare issue. It is a human issue.
We need to rise to defend our own. Let no lawyer walk alone in fear, knowing that their duty to others has left them vulnerable. Let us build a system where justice does not require personal sacrifice, only professional courage, backed by real protection.
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