The Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Abubakar, has lamented that justice in Nigeria has become a “purchasable commodity”.
He said the poor in the country are now victims while the rich do not face prosecution.
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Mr Abubakar spoke as a guest speaker at the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA)’s Annual General Conference in Enugu on Sunday evening.
He regretted that the integrity of the judicial system was being undermined by corruption and inequality.
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“Today, justice is increasingly becoming a purchasable commodity, and the poor are becoming victims of this kind of justice, while the rich commit all manner of crime and walk the streets scot-free,” he said.
The Sultan, however, commended the NBA for choosing the theme “Stand Out and Stand Tall”, explaining that it aligns with the urgent need for lawyers to deliver on their professional mandate.
He maintained that the legal profession must remain committed to upholding the rule of law to ensure fairness, accountability, and equality before the law, adding that such commitment can help solve Nigeria’s governance issues.
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“You are resolving to uphold the highest principles of the rule of law to ensure that everyone, including those in power, is subject to and accountable under the law.
“If we are able to do this, we would have addressed the core of the crisis of governance in this country,” he said.
Mr Abubakar urged lawyers taking part in the conference to use the occasion to address “critical issues” shaping Nigeria’s future.
“Three things are particularly important: continuing efforts at law reforms to gradually decolonise our laws and make them closer to our values, culture and history; addressing social justice to tackle glaring inequalities and foster cohesion; and improving access to justice, especially considering the rising cost of litigation and the exclusion of the weak and vulnerable,” he said.
‘Law, the conscience of the nation’
In his opening remarks at the NBA conference on Sunday, Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State said law is more than a profession, as it serves as the conscience of Nigeria.
“Let me say this: the theme of this year’s conference, ‘Stand Out, Stand Tall,’ is a timely reminder of the responsibility we bear as lawyers and leaders.
“The law is not just a profession – it is the conscience of the nation. We are not only courtroom advocates; we are also defenders of truth, architects of peace, and champions of equity,” Mr Mbah said.
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The governor restated the commitment of his administration to reform in the justice sector, saying that such reform remained the cornerstone of his government.
“Since assuming office, we have made justice sector reform a cornerstone of our governance,” he said.
He listed some steps his administration has taken towards justice sector reform to include rehabilitation and digitisation of courtrooms in the state’s three senatorial districts, expansion of access to pro bono legal services for indigent citizens, as well as implementation of financial autonomy for the judiciary.
“Perhaps one of the reforms I am proudest of is that we introduced real-time transcription for our courts.
“Attaining Verbatim Reporting for the courts has eliminated the strain of longhand recording on judges, cut down on delays and improved productivity,” the governor said.
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