Ogun Chief Judge advocates for integrity in the practice of law

Justice Mosunmola Dipeolu, the Chief Judge of Ogun State, underscored the importance of integrity, strong character, and a sound conscience for lawyers and judges to ensure the smooth administration of justice in the country, a stance she conveyed through Justice Tajudeen Okusokan, a judge of the Ogun State High Court, who represented her at the 3rd Annual Law Dinner of the College of Law, Chrisland University, Abeokuta, on Tuesday.

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According to Justice Dipeolu, beyond the academic training received at the university, it is essential for students to cultivate strong character and reputation to build a meaningful career in the legal profession, as this foundation is crucial for their future success.

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She emphasized that the primary purpose of the training at Chrisland University is to prepare students for the legal profession, and that this involves not only learning statutes, cases, and doctrines but also developing strong character, as a lawyer without character poses a danger to society, and a judge without conscience undermines justice.

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Justice Dipeolu advised the students to focus on three key aspects: learning the law, revering justice, and pursuing both, while avoiding the pitfall of becoming overly skilled in technicalities at the expense of fairness, as the law is written in books, but justice is reflected in the lives of the people.

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She also stressed the importance of building a strong reputation from the outset, as the reputation established in the first year can follow a person to the Supreme Court of Nigeria, and that integrity is not something that can be taught in the final year, but rather it is practised in every assignment, examination, and interaction.

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Justice Dipeolu urged the student lawyers to prepare themselves for the demands of the profession, which requires discipline, hard work, courage, and a commitment to public service, and commended the university for its commitment to academic excellence, which is essential for the judiciary to thrive.

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The Registrar of the Ogun State Judiciary, Mr Olakulehin Oke, encouraged the students to embrace academic excellence as the foundation for building successful careers in the legal profession, and to remain disciplined and resilient, while prioritising continuous learning and hard work.

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Earlier, the Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof Oyedunni Arulogun, reiterated the institution's commitment to pursuing academic excellence to produce graduates who can make positive contributions to society, and congratulated the law students on their admission to the university, assuring them of the institution's support to help them achieve their full potential.

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The Dean of the College of Law, Dr Kayode Akinsola, noted that the annual Law Dinner provides a valuable opportunity for students to interact with and learn from eminent legal practitioners and distinguished professionals, which can inspire and motivate them to strive for excellence.

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Dr Akinsola added that the event is designed to give students the platform to stand shoulder to shoulder with any law student or lawyer in the future, by providing them with the opportunity to learn from distinguished personalities and to be further strengthened and inspired to aim for excellence.