NBA President Afam Osigwe Urges Judiciary to Restore Public Confidence at Supreme Court Legal Year Opening
The President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Afam Osigwe, SAN, has called on the judiciary to urgently take steps to restore public confidence in the justice system, warning that “justice delayed is justice denied.”
Delivering his address at the opening of the 2025/2026 Supreme Court Legal Year and the conferment of the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Osigwe noted that while the Supreme Court handled over 1,000 election-related cases within constitutional timelines, systemic challenges continue to erode citizens’ trust.
Key Highlights of His Remarks
- On declining public trust:“Public confidence in the judiciary may have plummeted, but we can reverse many of the negative perceptions in this legal year.”
- On judicial reforms:“We note the many structural reforms undertaken by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, yet much remains to be done. We must embrace efficiency, transparency, and consistency if we are to reclaim the trust of the common man.”
- On delays in justice delivery:“Justice delayed is justice denied. We must address the causes of delay — including inadequate digitization, congested dockets, and systemic inefficiencies.”
- On election matters:“This Court successfully handled over 1,000 pre- and post-election cases within 60 days of the filing of the Notice of Appeal.”
- On appointments and meritocracy:
Osigwe emphasized that judicial appointments must be based on merit and inclusivity, urging that private legal practitioners should not be sidelined in favor of registrars or public officers. - Why This Matters
The NBA President’s remarks highlight the pressing need for reforms in Nigeria’s judiciary, particularly at the apex court. His call underscores concerns over case backlogs, delayed judgments, and declining public trust, issues which legal experts and citizens alike have long debated.
By urging digitization, transparent appointments, and faster justice delivery, Osigwe is signaling that the Bar will continue to press for a judiciary that is truly the “last hope of the common man”.
