The Former Vice President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mr. Ikeazor Akaraiwe has warned that the spate of unethical practices calls for caution else the profession may be destroyed.

Speaking on Channels television’s breakfast programme, Sunrise Daily, Mr. Akaraiwe stated that one of the major challenges during his reign in the association was the issue of lawyers receiving money from clients and not carrying out instructions for which they were paid.

He opined that sanity must be restored to the profession even at the grassroot level.

“If we do not discipline our profession, the profession is going to implode.” He said.

He further stated that a legal system saturated with corrupt and unqualified practitioners is not permissible.

“We cannot seem to have a situation where lawyers receive fees and monies from clients and fail to (with impunity), carry out the instruction for which they were paid. We cannot have situations where people sell their clients land and refuse to hand over the proceeds.” Mr. Akaraiwe said.

Mr. Akaraiwe, who disclosed he was once Chariman of the Enugu branch of the NBA before becoming the VP of the association, revealed that “the volume of petitions against lawyers at the branch level is overwhelming.”

He advised the The NBA President, Mr. Okey Wali, to start sanitizing the association beginning from the branch levels. He should “ensure that the branches become more responsive in dealing with issues of indiscipline.” He stated.

He lamented the occurrences of unqualified practitioners in the field and advocated that the NBA approves before any lawyer sets up a chamber.