By Blessing Fali
Former Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, and human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN, have called for reforms that would make Nigeria’s judiciary more responsive to citizens and strengthen democracy and the rule of law.
Osinbajo made the call during a panel session at the 66th Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. He urged stakeholders to redesign the justice system around the needs and everyday experiences of Nigerians.
Represented at the session by former Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Ade Ipaye, Osinbajo said justice reform should be driven by reliable data, clear priorities and local ownership.
He urged the legal community to focus on areas with immediate impact, including pre-trial detention, small claims courts, first-response mechanisms and legal assistance.
The former Vice President also called on the NBA to promote continuous professional development in mediation, legal technology, legal aid and community justice, while advocating increased funding for the justice sector.
Osinbajo identified pro bono legal services as another important way of expanding access to justice, particularly for Nigerians who cannot afford legal representation. He said the size of Nigeria’s legal profession gives it the capacity to provide significant national legal aid.
He further urged lawyers to preserve the profession’s historic role in Nigeria’s struggle for independence, democracy and the rule of law, stressing that justice should be treated as a public good rather than merely an institutional function.
Meanwhile, Falana criticised the NBA over its decision to invite former Liberian President George Weah to address the conference.
The Senior Advocate argued that the NBA should be cautious about giving platforms to African leaders whose administrations have been accused of undermining democracy and judicial independence.
Falana specifically questioned Weah’s record on judicial independence during his presidency, arguing that the NBA should uphold its commitment to democracy, human rights and the rule of law when selecting speakers for its conferences.
The interventions by Osinbajo and Falana came as legal practitioners and other stakeholders gathered in Port Harcourt to deliberate on reforms needed to strengthen Nigeria’s justice system and democratic institutions.
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