President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mazi Osigwe on Monday used the occasion of the Supreme Court’s Special Session marking the start of the 2025/2026 Legal Year to demand urgent reforms within the Nigerian judiciary.
He passionately urged the system to reclaim its constitutional duty as the “last hope of the common man.”
In his address, which coincided with the conferment of the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) on several distinguished members of the Bar, the NBA President highlighted systemic failures that erode public confidence.
He expressed deep concern over persistent delays, especially in resolving constitutional matters, noting that cases concerning issues like declarations of states of emergency “often lose their relevance by the time judgments are delivered,” effectively rendering justice denied.
Osigwe called for the complete digitization of court processes to enhance transparency and efficiency.
This includes implementing electronic filing, digital recording of proceedings, and modern case management systems to curb unnecessary delays.
On judicial appointments, the NBA President criticised the increasing exclusion of private legal practitioners from consideration for judgeships, insisting that the selection process must be guided solely by “transparency and merit.”
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He proposed more stringent evaluation methods, including written tests, to ensure that only individuals of proven integrity and competence are appointed to the bench.
Furthermore, he addressed the misuse of the bail system, cautioning against the prevalent use of remand orders as a “tool of oppression,” particularly in politically sensitive cases.
He urged Chief Judges to activate provisions in the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) by licensing professional bondspersons to prevent the prolonged and unnecessary detention of citizens.
The NBA President congratulated the newly conferred Senior Advocates of Nigeria, reminding them that the rank is “not an ornament, but a call to higher duty, integrity, and leadership.”
He tasked the new silks with serving as mentors and upholding the highest ethical standards of the profession.
Osigwe reaffirmed the Bar’s dedication to collaboration with the judiciary to overhaul the system: “Our collective duty, Bench and Bar alike, is to ensure that justice is not a distant ideal but a daily reality for all Nigerians. May this new legal year mark a turning point in our collective resolve to restore public confidence in the judiciary and to build a justice system worthy of our democracy.”
The ceremony was then followed by the swearing-in of the new Senior Advocates of Nigeria.
