The founder of the Afe Babalola University Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), Chief Afe Babalola (SAN), has called on lawyers to correct the malaise bedeviling the judicial arm of government.

The legal icon, who said that all is not well with the bench and the bar, lamented that the judiciary is now being ridiculed on the pages of national newspapers.

Babalola stated this at the weekend in Ado-Ekiti, while performing the dual role of receiving the executives of the Akure Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), who came to present to him the Icon Award for Excellence and also declaring open the maiden edition of ABUAD Industrial Park Trade Fair, in conjunction with the state chapter of the Nigeria Society of Engineers (NSE).

Legal luminary and elder statesman, who described law as a dignified profession, urged the NBA to do something to correct the ills facing the once noble calling.

He particularly condemned unpatriotic activities of those in the habit of calling for the breakup of the country over excuses that can be addressed through mutual understanding and agreement, saying that he would never be part of such moves.

Babalola expressed hope that the country would come out of the doldrums, noting that Nigeria is not too big to be a united country if the United States of America could be one entity.

“Nigeria can be greater. The way we are doing things here, with hard work, honesty and faith, Nigeria can be better and get out of the doldrums. I believe that hardship breeds determination, determination breeds faith, and faith never fail,” he said.