UK Court Once Warned That Leaving a Case to Nigeria’s Judiciary Would Be “Catastrophic” — Osinbajo

UK Court Once Warned That Leaving a Case to Nigeria’s Judiciary Would Be “Catastrophic” — Osinbajo

 

 

 

Former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has raised fresh concerns over Nigeria’s judicial system, citing international criticism that underscores its inefficiency and slow pace in delivering justice.

 

Speaking at a book launch aired by SYMFONI TV on Thursday, September 11, 2025, Osinbajo reflected on the deep-rooted structural problems that have plagued the judiciary for decades.

 

“I have three children. Two were expected to become lawyers, but none of them pursued law. I think it’s because we burden them with excessive reading and too many books, which discourages them from practicing law,” Osinbajo said, while lamenting the unattractive state of the legal profession in Nigeria.

 

On a more serious note, he decried the endless delays that characterize court proceedings in the country. “One major challenge over the years has been the inability to ensure that cases, particularly civil ones, move swiftly through the courts. Criminal cases face their own unique issues,” he stated.

 

The former Vice President recalled the testimony of a former Chief Justice of Nigeria regarding the notorious delays in the system. He cited the case between Ipoh and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), during which a UK court commented on the dysfunction of Nigeria’s judiciary.

 

“The former Chief Justice said that resolving a civil case in Nigeria could take 20 to 30 years. The English Court of Appeal concluded that leaving such a case in Nigeria’s courts would be catastrophic,” Osinbajo said.

 

Describing the ruling as a “very sad reflection” of the country’s judicial system, he stressed that the issues are not insurmountable but require urgent reform.

 

“Consider the endless adjournments. Preliminary objections are raised on nearly everything, including jurisdiction. Standard phrases are repeated, interlocutory appeals prolong the process, and cases drag on endlessly. In such situations, justice is no longer about access—it becomes about trying to leave the system at all,” he remarked.

 

Osinbajo’s comments add to growing calls for sweeping reforms in Nigeria’s justice delivery system, which many observers argue remains one of the biggest obstacles to economic development, foreign investment, and public trust in governance.