By Ogungbayi Adeyemi S. | adeyemi@ddnewsonline.com
Editor, DDNews |
Port Harcourt, Rivers State – August 26, 2026
DDNewsOnline – Lagos
Former Vice President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo has advocated a people-centred approach to justice reform, urging stakeholders to reposition Nigeria’s justice system around the actual needs and daily experiences of citizens as the country prepares for the 2027 general elections.
Osinbajo spoke on Tuesday in Port Harcourt during a panel session at the ongoing 66th Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA).
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Represented by former Lagos Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Ade Ipaye, the former Vice President asserted that a citizen-focused justice system remains critical to strengthening governance and guaranteeing maximum protection for everyday Nigerians.
Highlighting the need for data-driven strategies, local ownership and strategic prioritisation, Osinbajo, also a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), stated that reform efforts must start with rigorous data collection on justice needs and case outcomes.
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“What is measured is what gets funded and fixed,” Osinbajo declared.
He pressed the legal community to prioritise high-impact sectors, particularly pre-trial detention, small claims courts, first-response mechanisms and legal assistance, adding that early successes in these areas would build support for more difficult reforms.
According to him, justice reform would be far more effective when domesticated and adopted by state governments, noting that it must be “embedded in institutions, rather than treated as a government-only initiative.”
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Addressing members of the Bar, the law professor called on the NBA to take the lead in driving policy, professional development and structural reforms that expand access to justice while maintaining quality and ethical standards.
He urged the association to champion continuous education in mediation, legal tech, legal aid and community justice, while pushing for improved funding across the broader justice sector.
The former Vice President particularly singled out pro bono work as a game-changer, noting that a legal profession of the size of Nigeria’s, if it took its pro bono obligations seriously, “could provide a significant national legal aid mechanism for citizens who could not afford legal representation.”
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“The people-centred approach asks us to move from abstraction to reality, from system convenience to citizen need, from exclusive pathways to inclusive ones,” he stated.
Osinbajo further emphasised that justice should be viewed not merely as an institutional function, but as “a living public good.”
Recalling the historical role lawyers played in Nigeria’s struggle for independence and the fight against military rule, he charged the current generation of legal practitioners to uphold that legacy.
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“It falls to our generation today to prove that law can give service to the people, all of the people,” he said.
“That surely is in everyone’s interest.”
Falana Criticises NBA Over Weah Invitation
Meanwhile, human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, criticised the NBA for inviting former Liberian President George Weah to speak at its annual conference.
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Falana accused Weah’s administration of undermining judicial independence in Liberia and questioned the decision to give him a platform to address Nigerian lawyers on democracy and the rule of law.
Speaking a day after Weah delivered the keynote address at the opening ceremony, Falana said the NBA should reconsider inviting African leaders whom he described as dictators to address its conferences.
He alleged that during Weah’s presidency between 2018 and 2024, Liberia’s judiciary was compromised to such an extent that citizens had to seek justice through the ECOWAS Court.
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Falana cited the case involving the Mandingo people of Liberia, whose landed properties were allegedly confiscated during the country’s civil war. According to him, although the ECOWAS Court ruled in favour of the affected people, Weah’s administration failed to enforce the judgment.
Tax Reforms Also Dominate Conference
In a separate panel session titled “Pay Now, Prosper Later,” Nigerian lawyers threw their weight behind the Office of the Tax Ombud’s drive to increase voluntary tax compliance, describing taxation as critical to funding infrastructure and social services.
The Tax Ombud, Dr John Nwabueze, said the Office was created to address grievances that discourage compliance and to make tax administration more transparent.
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“Since January, we have received 22 complaints and resolved 14 efficiently,” Nwabueze said.
“Our goal is to alleviate administrative burdens and strengthen confidence in the system so that more Nigerians pay their taxes willingly.”
He added that the Office, though non-judicial, provides early resolution of disputes and can ease the burden on courts.
Senior Advocate of Nigeria Ahmed Raji and other panellists agreed that a fair and accountable tax system is necessary to fund national development.
Also speaking, Senator Osita Izunaso called for the effective implementation of Nigeria’s new tax reforms, stressing that increased taxation must be matched by improved public services, transparency and accountability.
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Izunaso said the success of the reforms would depend less on the passage of legislation and more on how effectively the new framework was implemented.
He stressed that low-income Nigerians and small businesses must be protected, while individuals and businesses with greater economic capacity should make a fair contribution.
“The principle should be straightforward: everybody should contribute according to the law and according to their capacity, but nobody should be subjected to an arbitrary or unnecessarily burdensome tax system,” he said.
By Ogungbayi Adeyemi S. (Beedee)
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