Former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has criticised the Supreme Court for inconsistency and overreliance on technicalities, urging a reform of Nigeria’s justice system to prioritise fairness over formality.
Former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has faulted the Supreme Court for inconsistency and excessive reliance on technicalities over substantive justice.
Osinbajo, a Professor of Law, stated this in Ilorin during the second Prof. Yusuf Ali Annual Lecture organised by the Kwara State University (KWASU).
“The essence of any justice system is to serve the people, not to glorify procedural formalities,” he said. “Many judicial decisions, including those of the Supreme Court, often lean towards form rather than substance.”
He noted that English courts had evolved beyond rigid practices by prioritising fairness and urged similar reforms in Nigeria.
Osinbajo warned that a justice system obsessed with technicalities risks losing public trust.
Legal scholar Prof. Chidi Odinkalu (SAN) echoed his views, saying Nigeria’s legal system remains tied to colonial legacies.
KWASU Vice Chancellor, Prof. Jimoh Shaykh-Luqman, and host Prof. Yusuf Ali (SAN) also called for unity and institutional renewal in Nigeria’s legal and governance structures.