The issue of corruption in the nation's judiciary dominated talks at the 2015 Awards/Dinner of the Kwara State branch of the Nigeria Bar Association(NBA).

Virtually all the speakers at the colourful event made remarks about the disturbing issue of alleged complicity of members of both the bar and bench in the endemic problem of corruption in Nigeria.

The event was held at the Banquet Hall, Government House, Ilorin. The highlight of the well- attended ceremony was the conferment of awards on eminent personalities in the country.

The award recipients include the chief judges of Kwara and Kogi states, Justices Sulaiman Kawu and Nasiru Ajanah; speaker, Kwara State House Of Assembly, Dr Ali Ahmad, Malam Yusuf Ali (SAN) and Kehinde Eleja(SAN).

The chief judge of Kwara State, Justice Suleiman Kawu set the ball rolling when he charged legal practitioners in the country to muster the courage in the fight against corruption in the judiciary.

He posited that based on the symbiotic working relationship between lawyers and judges, the former have the unique opportunity, moral and ethical responsibility "to expose the few bad eggs in our midst." The jurist said that judges' performance is significantly influenced by the conduct of lawyers.

"My comment is on the impression being created in the media that the Nigerian judiciary is absmally corrupt. I must admit that judges are not saints and that as human beings they are fallible which is why we have some few bad eggs in our midst.

"This fact, however, is not sufficient ground for a sweeping and indiscriminate and sometimes criminally reckless castigation and condemnation of judges and the Nigerian judiciary as an institution.

"I say it loudly and without any apology that Nigeria is blessed with some of the best judges in the world and that Nigerian judiciary as an institution has always risen to the occasion in sanctioning erring judges and court officials whenever their misconduct is brought to the attention of the authority.

"Some of us are worried and concerned that the loud and increasing waves of unsubstantiated allegations of corruption against judiciary is creating negative impression about judges and eroding public confidence in the judiciary as an institution designed to en throne the rule of law. "This situation if left unchecked poses the danger of unwittingly advertising rule of force and anarchy as an alternative to the rule of law.

"Members of the bar should always act in accordance with their professional ethics and offer suggestions on how the judiciary can improve on its performance. Members of the bar are closest to members of the bench as they practice and ply their trade in and around the courts, Kawu posited." Aligning with his colleague, the chief judge of Kogi State, Justice Nasiru Ajanah accused some legal practitioners of "helping the judge to depart from the way of administering justice to all manner of people without fear of favour.

"Ordinarily, all lawyers are ministers in the temple of justice and their primary function, especially in litigation, is to ensure fair dispensation of justice to all that appears before the court." Ajanah added that judges were compromised in three ways, which invariably lead them to engage in corruption.

He said "the first is by monetary inducement, the second is by intimidation and the third is by what I call unholy association." Also,the speaker, Kwara State House of Assembly, Dr Ali Ahmad asked the federal government to ensure that every individual involved in the alleged billion dollars arms scam is prosecuted.

Describing the revelations on the alleged arms deal as embarrassing Ahmad said it was disheartening to know the rate at which the nation's treasury was looted in the last political dispensation.

The speaker also urged the federal government to as a matter of urgency give the military officers who were earlier condemned to death national honour as compensation for what they had gone through.

According to the speaker, "Well, it is good we are seeing the results especially with the arms scandal. You will remember that some military personnel were during the last administration jailed when they cried out that they couldn't face the insurgents with the kind of weapons and ammunitions they possessed, I think those officers that have been condemned to death deserve to be given national award or national honour. That is the least Mr President can do for them.

"And these guys that have squandered our money and exposed the officers to unquantified danger should be made to face the music, return our money and let them go to jail."

He also challenged the NBA to work closely with the Nigeria Police Force in order to ensure that half or one-third of the forth-coming recruitment exercise that would be done in the force are lawyers. This, Ahmad noted would undoubtedly assist the country in the prosecution of offenders at the courts of law and enhance the fight against corruption.

He urged members of Ilorin bar to close ranks and work together with a view to achieving common goals capable of encouraging upcoming members in the profession. In his address,Kwara State governor, Abdulfatah Ahmed urged members of the Ilorin branch of the NBA to be united.

He also advised the leadership of the bar to run an all-inclusive government, devoid of antagonism so as to ensure rule of law. He added that the NBA should be a role model for other professional bodies, urging members of the bar to jettison all forms acrimony and rancour.

The governor, who was represented by the state's attorney-general and commissioner for Justice, Kalmadeen Ajibade charged members of the bar to be upright in their professional callings and dealings with their clients.

He said "Our task is to ensure that government remains committed to safe-guarding the constitutional liberty of the people of the state to ensure that justice is available and affordable."

Earlier, the NBA caretaker committee chairman, Sir Joseph Bamigboye (SAN) harped on the imperativeness of unity amongst members of Ilorin branch of the association.

He added that "disagreements may and in practical reality is bound to arise, but we must iron them out in an atmosphere of dialogue, logical reasoning, persuasion, compelling argument and rational conclusion.

"It is unlike us to malign, attack, defame and exhibit traits of indiscipline in order to make a point. We are learned gentlemen and must comport ourselves at all times as such, we are gold and God forbids that we rust. We must be above prevailing societal rot, and in our public and private conducts and utterances must like Caesar's wife, be above board."