The President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, has called for urgent judicial reforms to address the increasing incidence of conflicting judgments by Nigerian courts, warning that the trend is creating uncertainty in the nation’s legal system and weakening public confidence in the administration of justice
The NBA President made this known while speaking at the Law Week of the NBA Aniocha Branch themed: “Justice Delivery and Prevailing Conflicting Judgements: An Imperative for Urgent Judicial Reforms.”
Speaking on the state of the judiciary, he observed that it is becoming increasingly difficult for lawyers to advise clients with certainty on what the law is, particularly in political cases, due to conflicting decisions delivered by courts on similar issues.
According to him, the inconsistency in judicial pronouncements has continued to raise serious concerns within the legal profession and among members of the public who look to the courts for clarity and justice.
He further noted that the problem extends beyond political litigation and has also affected disciplinary proceedings involving legal practitioners. Citing the uncertainty surrounding appeals from decisions of the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC), the NBA President lamented that lawyers sanctioned by the LPDC are often left in a state of limbo due to the unresolved controversy over the proper appellate forum.
He pointed out that in several cases, the Supreme Court has referred affected lawyers to a non-existent Appeals Committee of the Body of Benchers, thereby creating procedural confusion and uncertainty within the disciplinary process.
The NBA President stressed the need for urgent reforms and a change in judicial attitude towards these recurring issues, emphasizing that certainty, consistency, and predictability are fundamental to the effective administration of justice and the preservation of the rule of law.
He commended the NBA Anocha Branch for choosing such a timely and thought-provoking theme for its Law Week, noting that the topic directly addresses some of the most pressing challenges confronting the justice sector today.
He congratulated the Branch on the successful hosting of the Law Week and wished members fruitful and engaging deliberations throughout the programme.
Photos:
