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Justice Ahiakwo Comments On Lawyers Use of Social Media

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Public commentator and legal practitioner, Justice Osai Ahiakwo, has warned that the growing misuse of social media by lawyers endangers professional ethics and public confidence in Nigeria’s justice system.

Speaking with DAILY POST, Ahiakwo said the digital revolution has produced a new breed of online lawyers whose activities often blur the line between legal education and partisan advocacy. While social media helps to enlighten the public, he noted, it has also become a tool for self-promotion and political manipulation.

He explained that many lawyers, especially those in politics, now use digital platforms to influence public opinion on judicial matters — a trend that violates the Rules of Professional Conduct RPC and undermines the dignity of the legal profession.

Before social media, he said, publicity among lawyers was limited to traditional media and largely contained.

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

Ahiakwo described this development as both “innovative and dangerous,” stressing that the “social media lawyer” represents a mix of enlightenment and ethical decay. Quoting Lord Atkin, he warned that freedom of expression must not degenerate into acts that compromise justice.

He noted that the new RPC, effective from 2024, bars lawyers from solicitation and prejudicial commentary on pending cases, yet these rules are violated daily.

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

Ahiakwo condemned the rise of lawyer-politicians who weaponize social media to manipulate public opinion or discredit judges.

“Such conduct is unethical and contrary to the lawyer’s oath,” he stated, citing Okike v. LPDC (2005), which classifies acts that bring the profession into disrepute as misconduct.

He urged the Nigerian Bar Association NBA to set clear digital guidelines, promote responsible communication, and strengthen disciplinary measures against online misconduct.

Ahiakwo added that while social media can advance public enlightenment, it must not become a platform for vanity or bias.

“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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Breaking: Nigerian Workers Demand N300,000 Minimum Wage, FG Faces Fresh Salary Pressure

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The Federal Workers Forum, FWF, has demanded an immediate increase in the federal minimum wage from N70,000 to N300,000, noting that the current salary structure can no longer sustain civil servants amid Nigeria’s rising cost of living.

The Forum made the demand in a letter dated September 2, 2026, addressed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the National Assembly, with the Senate President, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Chief Justice of Nigeria and Head of the Civil Service of the Federation listed among the recipients.

The workers also proposed a new salary structure that would place the highest-paid Level 17 officer on a monthly salary of N1.5 million, while Level 1 Step 1 workers would earn N300,000.

“We call for justice and immediate wage review now, adjust the federal minimum wage to N300,000 and a maximum wage of N1.5m for the Level 17 officers,” the Forum said.
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The FWF argued that the Federal Government had not fully implemented the 2024 minimum wage agreement, claiming that federal workers had yet to receive the full consequential adjustment and associated allowances.

“It will surprise you to hear that the Federal Government has not fully implemented the new national minimum wage since July 2024. We have been in the battle for full consequential adjustment of the new minimum wage,” it said.

Recall that the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, in August 2026, demanded an upward review of the minimum wage to N500,000.

In July 2024, President Bola Tinubu’s government increased the minimum wage to N70,000 per month from N30,000.

However, the cost of living for many Nigerians has tripled between 2024 and 2026.
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BREAKING NEWS: ‘No Support For Military Coup in Niger’ – FG

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The Federal Government has said Nigeria will never support a military coup or any unconstitutional change of government, following claims that the country backed a failed coup attempt in the Niger Republic.

The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Sola Enikanolaiye, made this known in a statement issued on Thursday.

According to the statement, the claims circulating on social media are baseless and misleading.

Enikanolaiye said Nigeria remained committed to democracy, constitutional rule and political stability in West Africa and would not support any attempt to remove a government through unconstitutional means.
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“Nigeria will never support illegality or unconstitutional change of government anywhere, no matter who is involved or which country is concerned,” he said.

The minister also rejected claims that Nigeria, through its membership of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), supported or endorsed the military takeover in Niger.

He said the Federal Government had already stated its position on the situation in Niger in an earlier statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on August 30, 2026.

According to him, Nigeria remains deeply concerned about developments in Niger and wants the country to return peacefully to stability and constitutional order.

Enikanolaiye said Nigeria’s close historical, cultural and fraternal ties with Niger made peace and stability in the neighbouring country particularly important.

“Nigerians at home and abroad should disregard the videos and narratives circulating online, they are intended to create confusion and tarnish Nigeria’s image,” the statement said.
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