Kaigama warns Catholic Lawyers against manipulation of justice as Aina-Craig Ends Tenure

By Samson Adeyanju

The Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, His Grace, Most Rev. Ignatius A. Kaigama has warned Catholic Lawyers against corruption, manipulation of justice, and the temptation to serve power instead of truth, stressing that Nigeria’s yearning for true justice places a special responsibility on legal practitioners.

Archbishop Kaigama also charged the Catholic lawyers in the Archdiocese to begin the 2025/2026 Legal Year with renewed integrity, vigilance, and commitment to justice, as the leadership of the National Association of Catholic Lawyers (NACL), Abuja Chapter, formally changes hands.

During the Legal Year Thanksgiving Mass and inauguration of the new Executive Committee held at the Catholic Church of the Assumption, the Archbishop commended Aina-Craig’s administration for its dedication, noting especially her “meritorious service” and her role in securing the renewal of the Certificate of Incorporation for the Archdiocese.

He prayed for God’s blessings on the incoming executive, entrusted with steering the association into a new phase of professional and spiritual service.

“The lawyers have asked me to pray with them for safety, success, and progress in the new legal year,” the Archbishop said, describing the Mass as both an act of gratitude and an invitation to deeper commitment in the pursuit of justice and the common good.

Linking the significance of Advent with the beginning of the legal year, Kaigama urged Catholic lawyers to embrace the season’s call to wakefulness, unconditional love, and justice.

He reminded them that their vocation demands ethical advocacy, protection of the weak, and defence of the dignity of every person.

“Catholic lawyers are called to be instruments of light. In your chambers, let your counsel be truthful; in the courtroom, let your advocacy be ethical. Your legal work must become a ministry,” he said.

On her part, the outgoing President of the National Association of Catholic Lawyers (NACL), Abuja Chapter, Mrs. Bunmi Aina-Craig, has expressed gratitude to members of the association and urged the incoming leadership to continue strengthening the bond between faith and the legal profession.

Aina-Craig said her tenure was guided by a commitment to integrity, service, and the values of the Catholic faith.

She highlighted key achievements under her administration, including strengthened spiritual activities such as regular Masses, retreats and prayer sessions, expanded pro bono services for indigent persons, increased legal support to the Church, improved administrative processes, and more active membership engagement.

“These accomplishments reflect the fruits of unity, hard work, and the leading of the Holy Spirit,” she said.

She thanked the executive committee for their loyalty and past presidents for their wisdom and support.

Aina-Craig expressed appreciation to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho, and several Senior Advocates of Nigeria, among them Senator Kanu Agabi SAN, Sir D. D. Dodo SAN, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba SAN, Patrick Ikwueto SAN, Ben Anachebe SAN, Steve Adehi SAN, and Prof. Josephine Agbonika SAN, whom she described as pillars of support to the association.

She also thanked the Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, Most Rev. Ignatius Kaigama; the Auxiliary Bishop, Most Rev. Anslem Umoren; and the chaplains who, she said, nurtured the spiritual life of the association, including Rev. Fr. Ben Ahiamioje, Rev. Fr. Cajetan Okolie, Rev. Fr. Anthony Azuwike, Rev. Fr. Joseph Ilorah and Rev. Fr. Victor Nyoro.

To the new President and Executive Committee, she offered prayers for “fresh grace, deeper insight and the strength to lead boldly,” urging them to continue defending the weak and advancing justice with compassion.

Aina-Craig described her tenure as “one of the most fulfilling honours” of her professional and spiritual life, noting that it strengthened her walk with God and deepened her understanding of servant leadership.

“As I step aside, I do so with joy and confidence that God has prepared capable hands to move this work forward,” she said, ending with the scriptural invocation from Romans 11:36: “For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things.”