The Sultan of Sokoto and Chairman of the Northern Traditional Rulers Council, Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III, has raised alarm over what he described as the increasing commercialization of justice in Nigeria.
Speaking as a guest speaker at the 2025 Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Annual General Conference in Enugu on Sunday, the Sultan cautioned that corruption and inequality were steadily eroding the integrity of the country’s judicial system.
“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.
He urged the legal profession to remain steadfast in upholding the rule of law and ensuring fairness, accountability, and equality before the law.
According to him, lawyers play a crucial role in curbing the governance crisis Nigeria continues to face.
“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 stated.
Commending the NBA for choosing the theme “Stand Out and Stand Tall”, the Sultan stressed that the conference should serve as a platform to tackle critical issues affecting Nigeria’s future.
He highlighted three priorities: continuous law reforms to reflect Nigerian values and culture, stronger commitment to social justice to address inequality, and wider access to justice in the face of rising litigation costs.
He also lamented the country’s recurring problem of poor policy implementation, despite having “very good policies” on paper.
“Law and learning are inseparable. At the core of the study of law is the knowledge of value, and justice is one of those core values the law is supposed to achieve,” the Sultan noted.
The conference was attended by key figures in the legal profession as well as South African opposition leader Julius Malema.