How Social media lawyers jeopardize the justice system and legal ethics — Ahiakwo

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Justice Osai Ahiakwo, a legal practitioner and public commentator, has cautioned that the increasing abuse of social media by attorneys jeopardizes both public trust in Nigeria’s legal system and professional ethics.

According to Ahiakwo, who spoke to ZINGTIE, the digital revolution has given rise to a new generation of online attorneys whose work frequently conflates partisan campaigning with legal instruction. He pointed out that although social media aids in public education, it has also evolved into a tool for political manipulation and self-promotion.

He clarified that a growing number of attorneys, particularly those involved in politics, are using internet platforms to sway public opinion on legal issues. This practice is against the Rules of Professional Conduct (RPC) and compromises the honor of the legal profession.

He claimed that prior to social media, lawyers’ notoriety was mostly confined and restricted to traditional media.

“Now, lawyers dominate X, Facebook, and YouTube, discussing court rulings and political disputes more for popularity than professionalism,” he observed.

Ahiakwo stressed that the “social media lawyer” is a combination of enlightenment and ethical deterioration, characterizing this development as both “innovative and dangerous.” He cautioned that freedom of expression must not turn into actions that jeopardize justice, quoting Lord Atkin.

He pointed out that although the new RPC, which goes into effect in 2024, forbids attorneys from soliciting clients or making disparaging remarks about ongoing cases, these regulations are broken on a regular basis.

“As Justice Oputa once said, when moral rectitude collapses, the temple of justice trembles,” he reminded.

The development of lawyer-politicians who use social media as a tool to sway public opinion or disparage judges was denounced by Ahiakwo.

He cited Okike v. LPDC (2005), which defines misconduct as actions that bring the profession into discredit, to support his claim that such behavior is unethical and against the lawyer’s oath.

He called on the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to establish unambiguous digital rules, encourage responsible discourse, and bolster sanctions against online misbehavior.

Social media can promote public enlightenment, but it shouldn’t be used as a forum for bias or conceit, Ahiakwo continued.

“The future of the legal profession depends not on how loud a lawyer speaks online but on how ethically he defends justice,” he said.

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