The Chief Judge (CJ) of Kwara State, Justice Ayinla Bamigbola, at the weekend chided the nation’s judicial system for its inability to diligently prosecute offenders against equity and probity.

Bamigbola condemned the rate at which corrupt government officials often escape unpunished, just as he bemoaned the high rate of violence in Nigeria, which perpetrators also escape sanctions despite the existence of adequate provisions by the law of the land for their prosecution and punishment.

He urged the Bench and the Bar, “who are leaders in their own rights,” to live up to their callings towards an egalitarian society.

Bamigbola spoke at the weekend in Ilorin during a special meeting of members of the Body of Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN) in honour of two elevated members of the Ilorin branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA).

The two members, Dayo Akinlaja and Abeny Mohamed, were conferred with the SAN honour in Abuja on May 12, 2012. Mohamed was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1983 and Akinlaja in 1991.

According to Bamigbola, “there is a system failure in Nigeria today; it is indeed a leadership problem. The rate of the rot is increasing daily. Leadership starts with the lawyers because no man saddled with authorities today can take any step without consulting with the lawyers.

“Even the day we were called to Bar, they called us leaders. But if we look at the level of atrocities in the country today, you will ask the whereabouts of the leaders. People are committing crimes and going scot-free. We need to sit down and look for the way out so that the lot of Nigerians can improve.”

Bemoaning the spate of insecurity in the country with its attendant death toll, he said the wanton destruction of lives and property must be halted, not only by those occupying elective positions, “but also by the lawyers.”

He added: “Give higher services to your nation, join the anti-corruption crusades and contribute your own quota. We are noted for industry and honesty, therefore, discharge your duties meritoriously.”

Meanwhile, he commended the members if the Bar in the state “for not tempting the judges,” adding that they remained a few proponents of good practice in the nation’s judicial system.