The Sultan of Sokoto and Chairman of the Northern Traditional Rulers Council, His Eminence Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III, has issued a stern warning about the declining integrity of Nigeria’s justice system, describing it as increasingly commodified and biased against the poor.
Speaking at the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Annual General Conference in Enugu on Sunday, the Sultan stated that justice is steadily becoming a purchasable privilege, where the affluent avoid consequences while the underprivileged suffer unfair treatment.
“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 lamented.
While commending the NBA for choosing the theme “Stand Out and Stand Tall”, the Sultan emphasized the importance of legal practitioners upholding the principles of fairness, accountability, and equality before the law.
He urged lawyers to hold power to account and safeguard the rule of law, which he described as fundamental to addressing the country’s governance challenges.
“If we are able to ensure that everyone, including those in power, is accountable under the law, we would have addressed the core of the crisis of governance in this country,” the Sultan said.
He described justice as the bedrock of any stable society and reminded the legal community that the law must always strive toward justice as its ultimate goal.
Calling on the NBA and legal stakeholders to use the conference to tackle pressing national issues, the Sultan identified three critical areas for focus:
- Reforming laws to reflect Nigeria’s unique cultural and historical values,
- Promoting social justice to reduce inequality and strengthen unity, and
- Improving access to justice, especially for vulnerable groups affected by the rising cost of litigation.
He also pointed out Nigeria’s recurring problem with poor implementation of well-crafted policies, emphasizing the need to close the gap between legislation and meaningful change.
“Law and learning are inseparable,” the Sultan noted, “and at the heart of legal education is the pursuit of justice — a core value that must guide every legal system.”
Among the attendees at the conference was South African opposition leader Julius Malema, highlighting the event’s continental significance.
