By Friday Temitope Eugenia
National News – The Chief Judge of Ogun State, Justice Mosunmola Dipeolu, has stressed the importance of integrity, strong character and a sound conscience in the legal profession, warning that the administration of justice cannot thrive without ethical practitioners.
Speaking through Justice Tajudeen Okusokan of the Ogun State High Court at the third Annual Law Dinner of the College of Law, Chrisland University, Abeokuta, on Tuesday, Dipeolu urged aspiring lawyers to look beyond academic excellence and cultivate values that would sustain their careers and strengthen the justice system.
According to her, legal education is not only about mastering statutes, judicial precedents and legal doctrines, but also about building character and a commitment to fairness. She cautioned that a lawyer without integrity poses a threat to society, while a judge lacking conscience endangers justice.
The Chief Judge advised students to pursue both legal knowledge and justice, noting that technical expertise should never overshadow fairness and humanity. She added that reputation is built from the earliest stages of legal training and remains a defining factor throughout a lawyer’s professional journey.
Dipeolu further urged the students to prepare for the demands of the profession through discipline, hard work, courage and dedication to public service. She commended Chrisland University for its commitment to producing competent and ethical lawyers, noting that the judiciary depends on law faculties to nurture disciplined and responsible legal practitioners.
Also speaking at the event, the Registrar of the Ogun State Judiciary, Olakulehin Oke, encouraged the students to embrace academic excellence, resilience and continuous learning as essential tools for success in the legal profession.
Earlier, the Vice-Chancellor of Chrisland University, Prof. Oyedunni Arulogun, reaffirmed the institution’s commitment to academic excellence and the development of graduates capable of making meaningful contributions to society. She congratulated the law students on their admission and assured them of the university’s support throughout their academic journey.
The Dean of the College of Law, Dr. Kayode Akinsola, said the annual Law Dinner serves as a platform for students to interact with leading legal practitioners and distinguished professionals. He expressed confidence that such engagements would inspire the students to pursue excellence and compete favourably with their peers both nationally and internationally.
