Justice has become ‘purchasable commodity’ in Nigeria, says Sultan of Sokoto

The Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Abubakar, has lamented that justice in Nigeria has become a “purchasable commodity”, where the poor are becoming victims and the rich commit all manner of crime and walk the streets scot-free.

Penpushing reports that Abubakar made this known while speaking as a guest speaker at the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA)’s Annual General Conference in Enugu, pointing out that the poor in the country are now victims while the rich do not face prosecution.

“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.

Penpushing further reports that he emphasized that the integrity of the judicial system was being undermined by corruption and inequality, stressing that legal profession must remain committed to upholding the rule of law to ensure fairness, accountability, and equality before the law.

The Sultan, maintained that such commitment can help solve Nigeria’s governance issues, however, commended the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) for choosing the theme “Stand Out and Stand Tall”, explaining that it aligns with the urgent need for lawyers to deliver on their professional mandate.

“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 said.

Penpushing also reports that Abubakar urged lawyers taking part in the conference to use the occasion to address critical issues shaping Nigeria’s future, stressing that three things are particularly important

“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.

Penpushing reports that Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State in his opening remarks at the conference pointed out that law is more than a profession, as it serves as the conscience of Nigeria.

“Let me say this: the theme of this year’s conference, ‘Stand Out, Stand Tall,’ is a timely reminder of the responsibility we bear as lawyers and leaders. The law is not just a profession – it is the conscience of the nation. We are not only courtroom advocates; we are also defenders of truth, architects of peace, and champions of equity’, he said.

Penpushing further reports that Mbah restated the commitment of his administration to reform in the justice sector, saying that such reform remained the cornerstone of his government, adding that since assuming office, he made justice sector reform a cornerstone of his governance.

The Governor listed some steps his administration has taken towards justice sector reform to include rehabilitation and digitisation of courtrooms in the state’s three senatorial districts, expansion of access to pro bono legal services for indigent citizens, as well as implementation of financial autonomy for the judiciary.

“Perhaps one of the reforms I am proudest of is that we introduced real-time transcription for our courts. Attaining Verbatim Reporting for the courts has eliminated the strain of longhand recording on judges, cut down on delays and improved productivity’, he added.

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