El-Rufai Urges Lawyers to Lead Reforms, Restore Trust in Judiciary
Former Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, has called on Nigerian lawyers to champion institutional reforms, restore public confidence in the judiciary, and play a leading role in economic and governance transformation. He made the call while delivering the keynote address at the 2025 Law Week of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Bwari Branch, held in Abuja.
El-Rufai, himself a trained lawyer and reform advocate, said Nigeria is at a critical crossroads, grappling with economic instability, governance challenges, and declining trust in public institutions—particularly the judiciary. He urged legal practitioners to move beyond courtroom litigation and take active roles in shaping policies that address the country’s deep-rooted structural problems.
Recalling Nigeria’s economic standing in 2007, when the country had over $40 billion in foreign reserves and $30 billion in the Excess Crude Account, El-Rufai lamented that such gains were squandered due to poor leadership and a lack of foresight. He warned that the country is again at an inflection point and emphasized that lawyers must lead the charge in rebuilding institutional credibility. Quoting the Supreme Court decision in Alkamawa v. Bello (1998), he noted that “the law must be dynamic and responsive to societal needs.”
Highlighting the pivotal role of legal professionals in past reform efforts, El-Rufai cited his own tenure as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and Director-General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises, where lawyers drafted key legislations such as the Electric Power Sector Reform Act and the 2023 Electricity Act. He credited the success of reforms in sectors like telecommunications, pensions, and electricity to the legal frameworks provided by committed lawyers, and praised state governors who supported the constitutional amendments that made the 2023 Electricity Act possible.
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El-Rufai urged the legal community to push for further reforms in public procurement, land administration, taxation, and commercial dispute resolution. He called for the establishment of specialized commercial courts and greater investment in alternative dispute resolution mechanisms to ease the burden on the judiciary.
Addressing the crisis of public confidence in the judiciary, the former governor pointed to issues such as delayed judgments, forum shopping, inconsistent rulings, and perceptions of corruption. He said judicial appointments must be more transparent, and the National Judicial Council must impose stronger disciplinary actions against erring judges. Quoting the late Justice Chukwudifu Oputa, he warned that a corrupt judiciary leaves citizens with no recourse for justice.
El-Rufai also challenged young lawyers and local NBA branches to spearhead grassroots legal advocacy by promoting consumer protection, legal literacy, and community engagement. He stressed that most Nigerians experience the justice system at the magistrate court level and urged lawyers to simplify legal processes and engage in pro bono work, classroom sensitization, and public interest litigation. He cited the Supreme Court decision in NBA v. AGF (2015) as affirmation of the Bar’s vital role in defending the rule of law.i
On the intersection of technology, security, and civil liberties, El-Rufai called for a balance between national security and digital rights, referencing the Court of Appeal ruling in DSS v. Agbakoba (1999), which underscored that security concerns must not override fundamental freedoms. He also charged the NBA to enforce professional discipline and uphold ethical standards, referencing Gani Fawehinmi v. NBA (1989), where the apex court emphasized the association’s role in maintaining public trust in the legal profession.
Concluding his address, El-Rufai described law as a vocation of conscience and urged lawyers to be more than professionals, but patriots who are willing to defend the Constitution even when inconvenient. “Let us shape policies, challenge unjust laws, and uphold the rule of law with integrity,” he said, invoking the Latin maxim, Fiat Justitia. Nil Tremefacit—“Let justice reign, no shaking.”
The event drew attendance from justices of the Supreme Court, senior advocates of Nigeria, and members of the Bench and Bar. The Chairman of the NBA Bwari Branch praised El-Rufai’s insightful remarks and pledged to prioritize reform initiatives in the branch’s future activities.
By PRNigeria
