NewzBy Daniel Abia, Port Harcourt Former Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, has called for a people-centred approach to justice reform, urging stakeholders in Nigeria’s judiciary to reposition the justice system to better serve citizens. Osinbajo made the call during a panel session at the ongoing 66th Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The former Vice President, who is a professor of law, expressed optimism that a justice system centred on the needs of citizens would strengthen governance, enhance the relevance of the legal profession and provide greater protection for Nigerians. Represented at the session by a former Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice of Lagos State, Prof. Ade Ipaye, Osinbajo said justice reform should be driven by data, prioritisation and local ownership.
He urged stakeholders to begin by gathering reliable data on justice needs, case resolution and outcomes, noting that “what is measured is what gets funded and fixed.” Osinbajo also advocated prioritising areas where reforms could have the greatest immediate impact, including pre-trial detention, small claims, first-response mechanisms and legal assistance. According to him, early successes in these areas could help build public confidence and support for more complex reforms. He said justice reform would be more effective when it was domesticated, adopted by state governments and embedded in institutions, rather than treated solely as a government initiative.
The former Vice President charged the legal profession, particularly the NBA, to play a leading role in driving policy, professional development and reforms aimed at expanding access to justice while maintaining professional and ethical standards. He urged the NBA to promote continuous professional development in areas such as mediation, legal aid, legal technology and community justice. Osinbajo also called for improved data collection on Nigerians’ justice needs and greater advocacy for increased funding of the justice sector.
He identified pro bono legal services as one of the important instruments for widening access to justice, particularly for citizens who cannot afford legal representation. According to him, a legal profession of Nigeria’s size, if it took its pro bono obligations seriously, could provide a significant national legal aid mechanism fo…
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