NBA PRESIDENT URGES CLEAR TIMELINES FOR RESOLVING LEGAL DISPUTES
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By: Muftau Fatimo
President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, has called for a far-reaching expansion of judicial reforms to cover commercial, criminal, and fundamental rights cases, insisting that the time-bound efficiency achieved in election petitions can be replicated across Nigeria’s entire justice system.
Osigwe made the call on Monday at the public presentation of the book “The Bar, Bench and Good Governance in Africa: Legal Essays in Honour of Afam Osigwe, SAN.” He lamented that while the judiciary has perfected swift resolution of political disputes, routine commercial transactions and everyday cases that drive the economy remain crippled by delays.
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According to him, the credibility of the judiciary is closely tied to the speed, consistency, and predictability of court judgments, warning that public trust is eroding because many citizens believe they are “getting judgment without getting justice.”
“We seem to have got it right with constitutional timelines for pre-election and election matters,” Osigwe said. “But the same cannot be said for commercial transactions, criminal trials, fundamental rights cases, and simple disputes that should support economic growth.”
The NBA president stressed that meaningful reform cannot be achieved by the Bar alone, calling for a collaborative approach involving the executive, legislature, judiciary, and the media to drive policy change and institutional buy-in.
He also defended the Bar’s role in governance, noting that criticism of the justice system is necessary when it is directed at producing practical and workable solutions. Osigwe emphasized that the NBA’s advocacy extends to amending court rules, promoting merit-based judicial appointments, and enforcing accountability within the legal profession.
“We must hold accountable judicial officers whose decisions undermine good governance, as well as lawyers who file frivolous cases with no legal basis,” he said.
Expressing concern over the declining public confidence in the judiciary, Osigwe attributed the trend largely to inconsistent judgments, which he said have driven many Nigerians away from the courts.
“People are increasingly losing faith because they see no predictability and no consistency in some judicial decisions,” he warned.
While acknowledging that the challenges facing the justice system cannot be resolved overnight, Osigwe called for a holistic national conversation and sustained commitment to reform.
The book presentation provided a forum for senior members of the Bar and Bench to examine the role of the legal profession in strengthening accountable governance and the rule of law across Africa.
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