Former Kaduna State Governor and SDP chieftain, Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, has criticised Nigeria’s judiciary for failing to uphold justice. Speaking at the 2025 Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Law Week in Bwari, he urged lawyers to restore public trust in the legal system.
El-Rufai said Nigeria missed a crucial chance for progress in 2007, a time when the country was largely debt-free and had substantial foreign reserves. He blamed the failure on post-2007 leadership, describing a decline in national fortunes since then.
“The judiciary today faces a crisis of public confidence,” El-Rufai said. “There is a wide gap between law and justice, with courts often influenced by executive interests.”
He called on lawyers to become “custodians of conscience” and fight against systemic judicial failures. “We must question whether justice in Nigeria is blind and whether the scales are fairly balanced,” he added.
El-Rufai cited recent cases such as Alkamawa v. Bello and Okocha v. The State, highlighting issues like judicial inefficiency, ex parte orders, and forum shopping. These, he said, have deepened the perception that justice is accessible only to the wealthy and powerful.
Despite these challenges, El-Rufai acknowledged positive interventions of the judiciary in the past. He praised the Uwais-led Supreme Court for reversing controversial impeachments that strengthened democracy. “Now, all eyes are on the judiciary under Chief Justice Kekere-Ekun regarding the state of emergency rulings,” he noted.
He also stressed the role of legal professionals in economic reforms. Recalling his time at the Bureau of Public Enterprises, El-Rufai credited lawyers for key reforms in the Federal Capital Territory’s governance and Nigeria’s electricity sector.
He urged lawyers to go beyond legal technicalities and act as agents of accountable change for Nigeria’s future.
The former governor’s speech challenges the judiciary and legal community to regain public trust and lead national reform efforts.
