Human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) and others have agreed with the former Vice President, stating that the Nigerian judiciary needs radical reform to make justice accessible to ordinary Nigerians.
The former Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, has made an allegation of inconsistency by the Supreme Court, which has sparked comments. Senior lawyers say that what the former VP said should not be seen as criticism of the apex court, but as a challenge to put its house in order.
Femi Falana emphasised that, according to Section 17(2)(a) of the Constitution of Nigeria (1999, as amended), every citizen is entitled to equality of rights, obligations, and opportunities before the law.
He, however, said in practice, rich and poor defendants are not treated equally by Nigerian courts. Wealthy litigants often have the resources to hire the best lawyers in any area of the law. At the same time, judges sometimes exhibit bias in the ongoing class struggle faced by the Nigerian people.
Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa (SAN) argued that it is time to reform the administration of justice in the country. He noted that meaningful justice requires mechanisms accessible to all citizens, not just the elites.
Adegboruwa highlighted the need to address structural barriers in the legal system and ensure that reforms enhance, rather than obstruct, public access to courts and remedies.
He called for practical, system-wide improvements rather than mere cosmetic changes that would guarantee the judiciary’s independence and access to justice for all.
Also, some senior lawyers who spoke to LEADERSHIP said the court should take Prof Osinbajo’s observation seriously and not be discourteous.
Abdul Balogun, SAN, said the comment may sound like criticism, but it is not.
According to him, Prof Osinbajo is not just a leader in the legal profession; he is one of the leaders in this country who should be able to speak the truth to power.
“Professor Osinbajo is a leader in this country, a professor of law and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria; he has all the qualities of someone who should advise when things are not going the right way in a profession he has contributed to, in building.
“He will be doing a disservice to the country and the legal profession if he sees what is not right and keeps quiet”, he said.
Constitutional lawyer, Barrister Bashir Usmane, said the former Vice President is saying what Nigerians already know. He says many, especially in the legal profession, have not been bold enough to talk.
“Many cases can be cited that were decided on technicalities, particularly political cases.
“Some politicians have no business in political offices but for the cases decided in their favour on technicalities, so, if this is coming from a professor of law who has spent decades in the legal profession, I think the Supreme Court shouldn’t discard it, they should look into it and see it as constructive criticism to sharpen the legal profession further,” he said.
Barrister Bello H. Seidu called for overhauling Nigeria’s justice system. He said the Supreme Court should be consistent in its judgments, essential for maintaining public trust and developing a stable legal system.
He said that for any court to be consistent, it must allow for the development and maintenance of predictable laws, adding that Supreme Court precedents are a guide for lower courts to follow.
