The Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar, has raised alarm that justice in Nigeria is increasingly being commodified, leaving the poor disadvantaged while the wealthy evade accountability.
Speaking as a guest speaker at the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Annual General Conference in Enugu on Sunday, the Sultan warned that corruption and inequality are eroding the integrity of the judicial system.
“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.
He commended the NBA for adopting the theme “Stand Out and Stand Tall”, noting that it reflects the urgent need for lawyers to uphold their professional duty in defending the rule of law.
“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 stressed.
The Sultan emphasized that justice is the foundation of stable societies, insisting that fairness and equality must remain the law’s ultimate aim. He urged participants to use the conference as a platform to tackle critical national challenges.
“This conference, I hope, will also give you the time to address issues that are pertinent to the future of our society. 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.
He also lamented Nigeria’s recurring problem of poor policy implementation despite the existence of “very good policies.”
“Law and learning are inseparable. At the core of the study of law is the knowledge of value, and justice is one of those core values the law is supposed to achieve,” the Sultan added.
