Human rights lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, has cautioned Nigerians that calling a legal practitioner a “charge and bail lawyer” could lead to legal consequences, as it is considered defamatory.
Effiong shared the warning on the social media platform X, highlighting the risk of lawsuits for those who use the term to belittle lawyers.
Effiong stated that while some may use the phrase to undermine or dismiss a lawyer’s credibility, it is a misconception that can have serious legal ramifications.
He explained that calling a lawyer “charge and bail”—a derogatory term used to refer to lawyers who operate at police stations or handle minor criminal cases—does not reflect the quality of their work or their professional achievements.
Instead, he noted that many lawyers face such accusations simply for being involved in contentious or prominent legal matters.
“A lawyer who has never been referred to as a ‘charge and bail lawyer’ is probably not doing serious legal work or has no opinion on topical or controversial issues in the country,” Effiong remarked.
He added that even those unfamiliar with a lawyer’s career or legal experience can easily resort to using the term.
Effiong also emphasised that the courts have ruled that such references are defamatory, stressing the importance of refraining from using this term. “It is important to bear this in mind because you may be sued one day by a lawyer that finds it offensive,” he warned.
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