Redeem image of judiciary, Delta CJ pleads

The Chief Judge of Delta State, Justice Marshal Umukoro, has called all in the judiciary (the bar and bench) to make concerted efforts towards redeeming the image of the profession particularly now that the profession is facing some challenges across the country.
Justice Umukoro represented by the the Administrative Judge of Effurun Judicial Division, Hon. Justice G.B Briki Okolosi, made the call at the maiden edition of the Effurun Bar/Bench Forum  held at  the  High Court premises Effurun, Uvwie Local Government Area, weekend.
He stated that the forum was necessary for everybody   to re-examine himself, saying it was not meant to witch hunt anybody but to correct the anomaly which has bedevilled the profession.
“There is no gain saying that the legal profession has almost lost its value because of the prevailing situation, so we are here as professional colleagues to rob minds to move the body forward. We must save the profession from collapsing”.
 The chairman of Nigeria Bar Association, D.E Agbaga Esq,  Effurun Branch, said  the members of the profession can’t fold  their hands and allow the image of the  profession to be dragged into the mud and therefore  charged  members  to live up to  the standard by upholding the  ethics of the profession which it  is known for.
He asserted that the legal profession and indeed the judiciary is at present under siege, adding that there is falling standard, upsurge of professional misconduct, corruption, delay in justice delivery, among others.
According to him if all these are allowed to continue, the profession will lose its value in the society.
”The legal profession and indeed the judiciary is currently under siege and if we are not careful, the profession will outlive us.” He stated that there was no such time for such a meeting other than now for the Effurun Judicial Division, the busiest in Delta State.
He emphasised that it was good for lawyers to re-examine themselves to see what can be done to eradicate the menace that have eaten deep into the profession.
Also speaking, the former Attorney   General of    Delta    State, Chief   (Barr.)  Victor Otomewo   said,   the judicial system standard has not fallen   but   it is the attitude of the senior lawyers   in the profession who ought to give good examples for the junior lawyers to emulate that spoil the   profession.
Chief (Barr) , Otomiewo gave a situation  where a senior lawyer will be browsing in the court when a presiding judge is  delivering a serious judgment, noting that if the image of the profession is being dragged into the mud, the senior lawyers should be held responsible.
According to him, “I disagree that the judicial system standard has fallen, it is still there. The problem   we   have   is the attitude of the leaders in the profession”.  
The legal icon therefore charged members to live up to expectation to redeem the image of the profession