Former Vice President and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, has called for a major shift in Nigeria’s approach to justice reform, urging the judiciary and other stakeholders to build a system around the real experiences and needs of citizens.
Osinbajo made the call on Tuesday during a panel session at the ongoing 66th Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association in Port Harcourt.
Represented at the session by former Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Ade Ipaye, the former Vice President said meaningful reform would require the justice system to move beyond institutional convenience and focus more directly on the people it is designed to serve.
Justice Reform Must Be Driven by Evidence
Osinbajo argued that reform efforts should be supported by reliable data, clear priorities and strong local ownership.
He encouraged justice-sector stakeholders to begin by collecting information on the challenges Nigerians face when seeking justice, including case-resolution timelines, outcomes and areas where citizens encounter the greatest barriers.
According to him, measuring the performance of the justice system is essential to identifying where resources should be directed.
“What is measured is what gets funded and fixed,” Osinbajo said.
He stressed that reformers should concentrate initially on areas capable of producing significant improvements for citizens, particularly pre-trial detention, small claims procedures, first-response mechanisms and access to legal assistance.
Early Reforms Could Build Momentum
The former Vice President said visible progress in these areas could generate public and institutional confidence and create momentum for tackling more complex problems within the justice system.
He also cautioned against treating justice reform as an initiative that belongs exclusively to the federal government.
Instead, he advocated reforms that are developed, adopted and sustained by state governments and embedded within institutions so they can survive beyond individual administrations.
Osinbajo said local ownership would make reforms more practical and sustainable because states are better positioned to understand many of the justice challenges confronting their populations.
NBA Has a Major Role to Play
The former Vice President placed significant responsibility on the Nigerian Bar Association to drive improvements across the legal profession.
He urged the NBA to take a leading role in shaping policy, strengthening professional development and promoting reforms that expand access to justice without compromising professional standards, ethics or quality.
He also called for greater emphasis on continuous training in areas such as mediation, legal aid, legal technology and community-based justice.
Beyond professional development, Osinbajo said the NBA could help collect information about Nigerians’ justice needs and use such evidence to advocate for stronger funding of the wider justice sector.
Pro Bono Services Could Expand Legal Access
Osinbajo identified pro bono legal services as another powerful tool for addressing the gap between Nigerians who need legal representation and those who can afford it.
He argued that the size and reach of Nigeria’s legal profession give lawyers the capacity to create a substantial national legal-aid network if members of the profession take their pro bono responsibilities seriously.
Such an approach, he suggested, could help citizens who would otherwise be unable to secure professional legal representation.
Justice Should Be Treated as a Public Good
Osinbajo said the debate surrounding justice reform should no longer centre on whether reform is necessary, but on whether stakeholders are prepared to redesign the system from the perspective of ordinary citizens.
He described the people-centred approach as a move away from abstract institutional thinking towards practical solutions that reflect citizens’ experiences.
“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 said.
The former Vice President added that justice should not be regarded solely as an institutional responsibility but as “a living public good.”
Lawyers’ Historic Role in Nigeria
Osinbajo also drew attention to the historical contribution of Nigerian lawyers to the country’s development.
He recalled the role members of the legal profession played during the struggle for independence and in opposition to military rule, arguing that the profession has historically carried a responsibility to defend citizens and uphold the rule of law.
He said that responsibility remains relevant to the current generation of lawyers, who must demonstrate that the law can continue to serve ordinary Nigerians.
“It falls to our generation today to prove that law can give service to the people, all of the people,” Osinbajo said.
A Stronger Justice System Benefits Everyone
Osinbajo maintained that putting citizens at the centre of justice reform would have benefits beyond individual litigants.
He said a more accessible and responsive justice system would strengthen government institutions, improve transparency within the legal profession and provide stronger protection for citizens.
For Nigeria, he argued, the challenge is therefore not simply to reform existing procedures but to rethink how justice is delivered and experienced by the public.
