By Felix Kuyinu
An Archbishop of Metropolitan See of Lagos, Most Reverend Alfred Martins, has advised lawyers to uphold professionalism, Integrity and fairness in their legal practice.
The clergyman admonished the legal practitioners to adhere to the regulations of the profession in order to ensure improvements in the judiciary.
The religious leader also urged the lawyers to operate in line with the teachings of Jesus Christ and ensure that the judiciary is seen hope for all and sundry.
He gave the admonition on Sunday during a sermon delivered to mark the 2024 Annual Conference New Legal Year Mass of National Association of Catholic Lawyers, NALC, held at the Holy Cross Cathedral, Lagos Island.
The religious leader said, “I urge our law practitioners to place the words of Jesus Christ in proper position in their lives so that other things concerning their lives would be properly placed and positioned.
“God will not fail to be present and be with all those that do His will. God will prosper them and they would not come to any harm.
“This has become a prophecy for the people of Israel and it would become your prophecy as you commence the new legal year.”
He added, “Your fidelity and faith in God would be rewarded and your prosperity would be assured in the new legal year. This prayer is not exclusive to the people of Israel but also to all those who had faith in the Lord.
“Jesus invites us to consider carefully what He means in our lives and his worth. It is what Jesus means to us that would determine whether we would allow his words to guide us.”
The President, NACL, Lagos Archdiocese, Florence Atuluku, urged members of the association to uphold and protect Catholic values in the judicial system even in the face of daunting challenges.
“Let us continue to commit to the cause of justice, equity, and fairness, as we show up for the downtrodden. Let our catholic values shine forth in our service as catholic lawyers to the Church and Society”, she said.
Making his remark, the Chairman, AGM Planning Committee, Keneth Kelle, said that the event provided them the opportunity to converge as a community and reflect as brethrens united by faith and the pursuit of justice for the benefit of humanity.
Kelle said, “Let us draw inspiration from our shared commitment to upholding truth, fairness, and integrity in all our endeavours.
“We are equally reminded of the vital role faith plays in our legal practice, in a country filled with vortex of complexity, volatility, uncertainty, and a lot of injustice.
“Let us allow our Catholic faith to serve as our moral compass, guiding us to uphold the highest ethical standards and to remain steadfast in our commitment to justice and human dignity.
“As Catholic lawyers, we are called not only to be advocates of the law, but also to be servants of justice, truth, compassion, and mercy.
He added, “The legal profession, at its best, is a vocation – a calling to use our knowledge of the law and skills to promote the common good, defend the vulnerable, and ensure that justice prevails in all circumstances.”
