Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Kudirat Kekere-Ekun; Emir of Kano Muhammed Sanusi II; and former Minister of Works, Babatunde Fashola, yesterday, said all Nigerians must work together to rid the country of corruption.
The event which holds two Abrahamic faith influence societal norms and examine the role of legal practitioners in navigating the relationship between morality and law, was held at the Musical Society of Nigeria (MUSON) Centre, with the theme; ‘A Public Discourse on Ethics, Morality and the Law,’ organised by the Movement for Islamic Culture and Awareness (MICA) to the honour of Justice Habeed Abiru of the Supreme Court
Others who were present include Captain Emmanuel, Reverend Konyinsola Ajayi; Masjid Al Furqan, Kano, Dr Bashir Aliyu; and Professor Liaisu Adele.
The CJN acknowledged that a minority had tarnished the judiciary’s reputation and called for collective responsibility in bringing about social change.
“In Nigeria, we are people of faith, and our different faiths teach us uprightness and morality. The change we all require and want to see in society is the responsibility of all of us, not just the judiciary or politicians. We all must be responsible in effecting the changes we desire,” she said.
Emir Sanusi addressed the high expectations placed on judges and judicial officials, emphasizing their role in upholding justice without bias or favoritism.
“Being a judge is not an easy task because of the demand to live and judge right,” Sanusi stated.
Babatunde Fashola highlighted the importance of law in advancing human civilization, stressing that the legal system is key to promoting a civil society.
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Fashola pointed to societal changes in behavior, such as the decline in public smoking, as evidence of law’s role in influencing public morality.
“Ethics and morality are the foundation of law. Law has kept us going as human beings and has separated us from animals. It has brought us the civilization we enjoy today,” he said.
Fashola also underscored the delicate nature of applying law, noting that when mishandled, the law could be harmful to itself, citing Nigeria’s ongoing debates over fiscal federalism as an example of legal complexities.
Masjid Al Furqan, Kano, Dr. Bashir Aliyu Umar, who provided an Islamic perspective on ethics and law, framed justice as an extension of divine mercy, arguing that the purpose of divine revelation itself is to guide humanity towards justice and moral truth.
“The law is conceived as an embodiment of God’s mercy to humanity. Justice is the central truth of revelation, guiding the relationship between man and God,” Umar said.
The Nation
