Don’t defend Kidnappers, terrorists at all cost – Wole Ogunbiade SAN advises lawyers

To mark the final day of the Nigerian Bar Associations Law Week,
Kaduna chapter, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Wole Ogunbiade, has
advised lawyers not to defend kidnappers and terrorists at all
cost, so as not to endorse crime.

Ogunbiade said this in Kaduna on Tuesday where he spoke on the
topic; ‘Law and morality: The question of offering defence to
kidnappers and terrorists, where do we draw the line?’

He said that although offering legal services to kidnappers and
terrorists was allowed in the the rules of professional conduct,
lawyers should however adhere strictly to the ethical standards and
code of conduct of the law profession.

Ogunbiade added that lawyers should not allow emotions and
personal interest or any other gratification to hinder them from
carrying out their duties in accordance to the ethics and the law,
and always justify their actions with clear conscience.

“It is the responsibility of a legal practitioner to uphold and
observe the rules of professional conduct, promote and foster the
course of justice.

“A legal practitioner has a duty to accept any brief in the
court, unless there are special circumstances that justify his
refusal.

“However, it is the duty of every legal practitioner to decide
what cases to take to court for the plaintiff and what cases to
contest in court for the defendant.

“Where a legal practitioner undertakes a defence of a person
accused of a crime, the legal practitioner should exert himself by
all fair and honourable means to put before the court all matters
that are necessary in the interest of justice.

“Any legal practitioner who offers his services to a defendant
in a trial for kidnapping or terrorism, should do it in order to
uphold the fair trial of the defendant as enshrined in our laws but
not to defend him at all cost, legal practitioners should not
endorse crime.

“Every accused person has a right to be tried before proven
guilty, when evidence and substantial elements are provided against
any suspect of kidnapping or terrorism, lawyers should not maneuver
at any rate to have the suspect go free,” he said.

(NAN)

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