THE Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III, has sounded a stern warning that justice in Nigeria is fast losing its moral compass, describing it as an increasingly “purchasable commodity” that favours the wealthy while leaving the poor perpetually disadvantaged.
News Point Nigeria reports that the revered monarch made the remarks on Sunday while delivering a keynote address at the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Annual General Conference in Enugu, where legal practitioners, jurists, and thought leaders gathered under the theme “Stand Out and Stand Tall.”
According to him, corruption and systemic inequality have deeply eroded the credibility of the judicial process, with devastating consequences for governance and social cohesion.
“Today, justice is increasingly becoming a purchasable commodity, and the poor are becoming victims of this kind of justice, while the rich commit all manner of crimes and walk the streets scot-free,” the Sultan declared.
He urged members of the legal profession to rise above compromise and remain steadfast in defending the rule of law, stressing that true justice must never be reserved for the privileged few.
“You are resolving to uphold the highest principles of the rule of law to ensure that everyone, including those in power, is subject to and accountable under the law. If we are able to do this, we would have addressed the core of the crisis of governance in this country,” he said.
The Sultan noted that justice forms the foundation of stable societies, warning that any legal system that denies fairness to the weak risks total collapse.
The monarch challenged lawyers and policymakers to seize the conference as an opportunity to address issues critical to Nigeria’s future.
He outlined three urgent priorities:
Law reforms aimed at gradually decolonising Nigeria’s legal system and aligning it with local values, culture, and history.
Social justice initiatives to reduce glaring inequalities and strengthen national unity.
Improved access to justice, especially as litigation becomes increasingly expensive and exclusionary for the poor and vulnerable.
He lamented Nigeria’s recurring challenge of good policies that fail at the point of implementation, insisting that genuine reforms must be matched with political will and accountability.
“Law and learning are inseparable. At the core of the study of law is the knowledge of value, and justice is one of those core values the law is supposed to achieve,” the Sultan told the audience, which also included high-profile dignitaries such as South African opposition leader Julius Malema.
The Sultan’s intervention comes at a time when public confidence in Nigeria’s judiciary has been severely weakened by allegations of corruption, political interference, and selective rulings.
He concluded by urging lawyers to “stand tall” not only in defending the constitution but in restoring justice to its rightful place as the cornerstone of Nigerian democracy.