Lawyer Stella Justice Nnennaya has dismissed two long-standing beliefs about the burial of lawyers in Nigeria, describing them as false myths that have been passed down for years without any legal or factual basis.
In a Facebook post that has attracted widespread attention, the legal practitioner explained that there is no Nigerian law, legal tradition, or rule of the Nigerian Bar Association requiring lawyers to be buried in a special manner because of their profession.
Lawyer dismisses common burial myths
According to Stella Justice, one of the most common misconceptions is that lawyers are buried face down because they allegedly told too many lies during their careers.
She also debunked another widespread claim that lawyers are buried wearing their wigs and gowns or alongside law books as part of legal tradition.
Addressing the claims, she wrote: “Two of the biggest lies ever told about lawyers are:
1. That lawyers are buried face down because they told too many lies.
2. That lawyers are buried in their wigs and gowns.
Both are false.
Lawyers are buried like every other human being.
There is no law in Nigeria, no rule of the Nigerian Bar Association, and no legal tradition that requires lawyers to be buried face down, in wigs and gowns, or with law books.”
Burial depends on family, religion and culture
The lawyer stressed that funeral arrangements for legal practitioners are no different from those of other people.
She explained that burial decisions are determined by the wishes of the deceased, family members, religious beliefs, and cultural practices rather than the person’s profession.
She further stated: “A lawyer’s burial is determined by the wishes of the deceased, the family, religion, and culture, not by the legal profession.”
Lawyers do not tell lies for a living
Stella Justice also challenged the common perception that lawyers are trained to lie in court.
She explained that the legal profession is built on presenting facts, interpreting the law, protecting clients’ legal rights, and ensuring that everyone receives a fair hearing before the court.
According to her: “The job of a lawyer is not to tell lies.
A lawyer is trained to present the facts and the law, defend a client’s legal rights, and ensure that everyone gets a fair hearing in court.
So, if anyone tells you that lawyers are buried face down because they lie for a living, don’t believe it.
It’s simply a long-standing myth with no truth behind it.”
She concluded by asking followers whether they had grown up believing the story, inviting them to share their experiences in the comment section.
