The President of National Association of Catholic Lawyers (NACL), Chukwuma Ezeala, has charged practitioners to instill fairness and justice in their practice.
Ezeala told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos Friday that the charge became imperative as Christians all over the world commemorate Good Friday.
Ezeala urged legal practitioners to take a cue from the reflection of Jesus’ persecution, unfair treatment, conviction and sentence to death on the cross to strive to remedy the wrongs in the profession.
According to Ezeala, while it is needless to go into the theology of why Christians choose to call the day Good Friday instead of gloomy or bad Friday, it suffices to say that this is a day when Jesus as man, gave his life for the world.
Ezeala, therefore, stressed the need for Christian lawyers to constantly reflect on the trials of Jesus, and adopt a more just and equitable approach in their daily legal practice.
“Catholic lawyers may have to look and focus on the trial of Jesus beginning from his arrest on Holy Thursday to his crucifixion and death at 3.00 pm on Friday.
“What offence was He being tried for and even if convicted, was a death penalty accurate?” he asked.
According to him, the unfair trial of Jesus is reminiscence of what we see today as practised by many lawyers and judges in our various courts.
“How can it be explained that despite the fact that Pilate did not find any fault against him but to maintain friendship with the authorities he gave Jesus up to be crucified.
“Some judges became targets for doing the right things and some simply became Pilates to avoid trouble.
“We must note that for each time we work against humanity, what we say is crucify him.
“Let us all, therefore, rise as Christians to receive the message of the crucified Christ to work towards enthroning justice and good governance in the polity,” he said.
NAN reports that among Christian faithful, Good Friday commemorates Jesus Christ’s crucifixion. It is regarded as a Holy day of obligation of sober reflection, fasting and abstinence to identify with the sufferings and death of Jesus Christ.
Christians observe the day by fasting and attending church services or re-enactments of Jesus Christ’s last hours.