No Society Can Attain Sustainable Devt Without Rule Of Law – Gov Sani

By AZA MSUE, Kaduna

Kaduna State governor, Uba Sani, has stated that no society can attain sustainable development when the rule of law is weak, institutions are fragile, and justice is inaccessible to ordinary citizens.

Sani has argued that the judiciary remains indispensable guardians of constitutional order, protectors of civil liberties, defenders of due process, and custodians of societal equilibrium.

The Governor noted that during periods of uncertainty and national strain, “it is often to the judiciary that citizens turn for reassurance that justice, fairness, and reason shall ultimately prevail.”

Governor Sani, who made the remarks on Monday at the commissioning of the Justice Muhammadu Bello Bar Centre in Kaduna, added that “the independence, integrity, and institutional strength of the justice sector must never be compromised.”

“As a government, we fully recognise the pivotal role of the judiciary and the legal profession in sustaining democratic stability, advancing peaceful coexistence, protecting rights, resolving disputes, and deepening public confidence in governance.

“Our administration, therefore, remains committed to supporting initiatives that strengthen judicial infrastructure, enhance institutional capacity, improve access to justice, and promote professional excellence within the legal ecosystem,” he said.

He described this year’s Law Week theme, “Activate! Empowering Lawyers in the Digital Age,” as timely and profoundly significant.

“The world is undergoing a fundamental transformation driven by technology, artificial intelligence, digital communication, and rapidly evolving systems of knowledge production.

“These changes are redefining economies, governance structures, commercial transactions, evidentiary standards, privacy rights, and even the nature of legal practice itself,” he added.

Governor Sani stressed that the legal profession must not merely react to technological transformations but proactively shape them.

Speaking at the event, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, described the commissioning of the Justice Mohammed Bello Bar Centre and the opening of the NBA Kaduna Branch Law Week 2026 as symbolic of the enduring strength, resilience, and progressive vision of the legal profession in Nigeria.

Fagbemi commended Governor Sani for his commitment to advancing justice, institutional development, and the rule of law in Kaduna State, particularly for his support in completing the Bar Centre project.

He also paid tribute to the late Justice Mohammed Bello, former Chief Justice of Nigeria, describing him as “an icon of judicial integrity, intellectual distinction, and statesmanship whose contributions to Nigerian jurisprudence remain indelible.”

According to him, the Bar Centre should serve not just as an administrative facility but also as “the intellectual heartbeat of the legal community” and a hub for continuing legal education, policy discourse, innovation, professional collaboration, and access-to-justice initiatives.

Also speaking, the President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Afam Osigwe, SAN, commended the Kaduna Branch for completing the Bar Centre project and acknowledged the contributions of past administrations and the Kaduna State Government toward its realisation.

Osigwe urged NBA branches across the country to invest in infrastructure that would not only provide meeting spaces for lawyers but also generate revenue for their branches.