By Emmanuel Kwada
Former Vice President and legal luminary Professor Yemi Osinbajo has launched a scathing critique of the Nigerian Supreme Court, accusing it of inconsistency and an overreliance on technicalities that undermine substantive justice.
Speaking at the second Prof. Yusuf Ali Annual Lecture in Ilorin, Kwara State, on Thursday, October 9, 2025, Osinbajo called for a radical restructuring of Nigeria’s justice system to prioritize the people’s needs over outdated procedural rigidities.
Addressing an audience at Kwara State University (KWASU), Malete, the ex-VP, a seasoned law professor, argued that the essence of any justice system lies in serving the populace, not in exalting formalities. “Many judicial decisions, including those of the Supreme Court, often lean towards form rather than substance,” he said. “Even English courts, whose practices we inherited, have evolved beyond such rigid technicalities by allowing amendments at any stage to ensure justice is served.”
Osinbajo highlighted the judiciary’s persistent attachment to colonial legal doctrines as a key factor eroding public trust. While acknowledging occasional flexibility—particularly in electoral cases—he warned that inconsistency remains a glaring flaw.
“A justice system that glorifies form over substance risks losing its relevance and effectiveness,” he added, urging legal practitioners, academics, and policymakers to adopt “critical, decolonised thinking” to reform legal education, practice, and justice administration.
Echoing Osinbajo’s sentiments, Prof. Chidi Odinkalu (SAN), a prominent human rights advocate, delivered the keynote lecture titled “Towards Decolonising Legal Briefs.”
He argued that Nigeria’s legal framework remains shackled to its colonial past, lacking the occupational and ideational independence needed for a credible judiciary. “We need to dismantle the colonial legacies embedded in our laws and institutions to reflect our realities and aspirations,” Odinkalu asserted.
The event, hosted by Senior Advocate of Nigeria Prof. Yusuf Ali, also featured insights from KWASU Vice Chancellor Prof. Jimoh Shaykh-Luqman, who celebrated the Faculty of Law’s progress, announcing the completion of a departmental building, a 500-seat auditorium, and two 250-seat lecture theatres by December.
Ali, meanwhile, lamented Nigeria’s lack of a unifying national identity, noting, “The only time Nigerians truly unite is during international football matches, and even that fades quickly. We must confront our systemic failures instead of romanticising the past.”
Osinbajo’s call for overhaul has sparked fresh debate on judicial reform, with stakeholders awaiting the government’s response as Nigeria navigates its legal and national identity challenges.
