Former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has called for a people-centered approach to justice reform, urging Nigeria’s legal and judicial stakeholders to redesign the justice system around citizens’ needs.
Osinbajo made the call during a session at the 66th Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. The conference, themed “Beyond Limits,” is holding from August 21 to 28.
Represented at the session by former Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Prof. Ade Ipaye, Osinbajo said justice reforms should be driven by reliable data, clear priorities, and local ownership.
He urged stakeholders to collect better data on justice needs, case resolution, and outcomes, while prioritizing areas capable of delivering immediate results, including pre-trial detention, small claims, legal aid, and first-response mechanisms.
According to him, early improvements in these areas could increase public confidence and create support for broader justice reforms.
Osinbajo also urged state governments and institutions to take ownership of reforms, stressing that justice reform should not be treated solely as a government project.
He called on the NBA to take a leading role in policy development, professional training, and efforts to expand access to justice. He also advocated continuous training for lawyers in mediation, legal technology, legal aid, and community justice.
The former Vice President further highlighted the importance of pro bono services, saying lawyers could help create a stronger national legal aid system for Nigerians who cannot afford representation.
He said the key question was no longer whether Nigeria needed justice reform, but whether stakeholders were prepared to redesign the system from the perspective of those who needed it most.
Osinbajo said justice should be viewed not merely as an institutional function but as “a living public good” that must be accessible, affordable, and responsive to citizens.
He also urged lawyers to draw from their historic role in Nigeria’s struggle for independence and democracy by ensuring that the law continues to serve and protect the people.
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