Former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has called for a fundamental restructuring of Nigeria’s legal and judicial philosophy, especially the tendency of courts prioritising technicalities over substantive justice.
Osinbajo, a professor of law, spoke yesterday in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, at the second Prof. Yusuf Ali’s Annual Lecture organised by the Kwara State University (KWASU), Malete.
The former Vice President said the essence of any justice system is to serve the people, not to glorify procedural formalities.
He expressed concern that many judicial decisions, including those of the Supreme Court, often leaned towards form rather than substance.
“Even English courts, whose practices we inherited, have evolved beyond such rigid technicalities by allowing amendments at any stage to ensure justice is done,” he said.
Osinbajo posited that Nigeria’s continued attachment to outdated technicalities undermined justice and eroded public trust in the judiciary.
“In view of this, I urge legal practitioners, academics, and policymakers to adopt critical, decolonised thinking to reform legal education, legal practice, and the administration of justice,” he said..
“Though the Supreme Court has occasionally adopted a more flexible approach, particularly in electoral matters, inconsistency remains a major concern.
“It is important to note that a justice system that glorifies form over substance risks losing its relevance and effectiveness,” he said.
Follow the OSUNDOTLIFE channel on WhatsAppKindly share this story | All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from OSUNDOTLIFE.
Contact: editor@osun.life
WhatsApp: 📲 +2348092333666