Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara has warned that technicalities, political manipulation and unnecessary delays must not be allowed to undermine the administration of justice, saying the judiciary’s reputation has been damaged by “brazen corruption” and unjust precedents.
Fubara spoke on Saturday at the 66th annual conference of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in Port Harcourt, where he called on the legal profession to reflect on its role in strengthening democracy and good governance.
The governor said the judiciary remains essential to any country seeking to build a true democracy, stressing that courts are not simply places for resolving disputes but should serve as a refuge for every citizen, including ordinary Nigerians.
“The courts are not merely venues for resolving social disputes. They serve as the ultimate refuge for all, including the common man like myself.”
Fubara said judges responsible for administering justice must consider the wider impact of their decisions on society because the quality of justice delivered by the courts is connected to law, order and national development.
He urged judges not to become “mere apologists or conformists”, arguing that they must remain strong guardians of democracy, the rule of law, peace and good governance.
The governor also called for Nigeria’s legal system to remain responsive to present-day realities, warning against allowing justice to be restricted by outdated precedents, technicalities, limited access to justice, unnecessary delays, rigid procedures, political interference or corruption.
“We cannot continue to insulate our laws from today’s reality. It is not possible.”
Fubara said the persistence of such problems had become a serious obstacle to justice and had affected public confidence in both the judiciary and the legal profession.
“The prevalence of these serious impediments to justice in our polity has damaged and continues to damage the reputation of the judiciary and the bar.”
He urged members of the bench and bar to examine their responsibilities to society and recommit themselves to serving the public interest with character and compassion.
Source: Rivers State Government.
