Siminalayi Fubara, governor of Rivers state, has criticised practices he says are hindering the effective administration of justice, including political manipulation, excessive delays and reliance on technicalities.
Speaking on Saturday at the 66th annual conference of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in Port Harcourt, Fubara said such practices, alongside corruption and what he described as unjust precedents, had damaged the reputation of the judiciary and the legal profession.
He said a strong judiciary remains crucial to the development of democracy and good governance, describing the courts as a place where every citizen should be able to seek justice.
According to Fubara, the responsibility of judges extends beyond resolving individual disputes, as their decisions can have wider implications for the country’s stability and development.
“The courts are not merely venues for resolving social disputes. They serve as the ultimate refuge for all, including the common man like myself,” he said.
He urged judges to approach their responsibilities with independence and avoid becoming “mere apologists or conformists”, arguing that the judiciary has a central role in protecting democracy and the rule of law.
“This means that judges responsible for the administration of law and justice must consider the overall impact of their judgement on the polity because law, order, and the rate of national development are linked to the quality of justice the court can deliver with integrity,” he said.
Fubara said the justice system must be responsive to present-day realities rather than being constrained by outdated practices.
“We cannot continue to insulate our laws from today’s reality. It is not possible. Rather, justice should remain shackled by unjust precedents, technicalities, inadequate access, undue delays, slavish adherence to rigid processes, political manipulation, or brazen corruption,” he said.
He said the accumulation of these problems had created significant obstacles to justice and harmed the standing of both the judiciary and the legal profession.
“The prevalence of these serious impediments to justice in our polity has damaged and continues to damage the reputation of the judiciary and the bar.”
The governor called on members of the bench and bar to reassess their responsibilities and commit themselves to serving the public interest with character and compassion.
Ojo Triumph
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