Ilorin, Kwara State – Former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo don raise serious matter wey dey worry the Nigerian judiciary. For one lecture wey happen yesterday, he chop mouth on how our courts dey prioritize technicalities pass real justice. Una hear am? This Professor of Law talk say legal system suppose dey serve people, not just dey follow procedural wahala.
Osinbajo no gree gloss over issue; him sabi say many judicial decisions, especially from the Supreme Court, dey lean on form rather than substance. Na wetin make dem no dey allow amends when matter don enter court. Even English courts, we wey wan pattern after, don don evolve pass that kind level:
“Even English courts, whose practices we inherited, have evolved beyond such rigid technicalities, allowing amendments at any stage to ensure justice is done,” he explain.
In fact, Osinbajo dey vex for this outdated technicalities wey dey undermine real justice and dey make people no trust the courts again. He no hold back as he call on all legal practitioners, academics, and policymakers to reason critically and make dem bring fresh ideas to the way we dey do law for Naija.
Praise be! Another oga wey don chook mouth for the matter be Prof. Chidi Odinkalu (SAN), wey drop lecture titled “Towards Decolonising Legal Briefs: Effective Implementation of the Local Content Law for the Benefit of Nigerian Lawyers.” He dey talk say our legal system still dey suffer from colonial hangover and we gatz change am. E say:
“Nigeria may have achieved political independence, but we lack occupational and ideational independence.” Na true talk!
And there, KWASU Vice Chancellor, Prof. Jimoh Shaykh-Luqman, no forget to commend stakeholders for the advancements wey dey happen for the Faculty of Law. Na wa! Him announce say dem go complete major projects like departmental building and auditorium by December. Hope dem go finally give am value!
As for Prof. Yusuf Ali, the host of the lecture wey suffer for this shade, e remind us say we no fit be one nation without something wey dey unite us. Him vex as e say the only time we fit rally together na when naija dey play international football matches. But as we sabi, that love dey quick fade once the match don finish.
So, my people, make we dey think am well o! The justice system no suppose dey too rigid, e suppose dey fit change with the times and follow wetin we really need as citizens. Osinbajo and co don don talk; now na our turn to make noise and demand real change for Nigeria!
Do you have a news tip for NNN? Please email us at editor@nnn.ng
