A former First Vice President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ikeazor Ajovi Akaraiwe, SAN has warned that the nation’s justice system is slowing under what he calls “tenacious clogs.”
Akaraiwe, SAN, who delivered the warning on Tuesday during the opening ceremony of the NBA Umuahia 2025 Law Week, told lawyers and judges that deep structural failures trap Nigeria’s justice system. He said the system will continue to struggle until the country confronts its institutional weaknesses.
Akaraiwe argued that the first major clog comes from the Constitution itself. He said the Second Alteration Act, which limits appeals to the Supreme Court, is still ignored. He warned that the Supreme Court remains overwhelmed by appeals that should not reach it.
He noted that some versions of the Constitution circulating nationwide are outdated or incorrect. He described that situation as “scandalous,” and urged strict enforcement of the correct constitutional text.
The senior advocate then turned to poor infrastructure and manpower shortages. He said Nigeria’s courts are far too few for a population exceeding 200 million people. He compared Nigeria’s facilities with Canada’s, noting that Vancouver alone has sixty high courts.
He argued that states like Abia should have at least one hundred High Courts. He said judges are overworked, case lists are overloaded, and justice delivery is painfully slow. He urged heavy investment in technology and case management systems.
Akaraiwe also highlighted poor remuneration and weak professional ethics. He said many young lawyers struggle financially and resort to needless delays to earn appearance fees. He praised the 2023 Remuneration Order but warned that enforcement is still weak.
He said the profession is undermined by unhealthy competition, underpricing and a declining sense of dignity. He added that the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee must enforce higher standards.
Akaraiwe then addressed the quality of appointments to the Bench. He called for a transparent peer review of prospective judges. He argued that Nigeria must only select candidates with proven competence, integrity and temperament.
He warned that judicial independence remains fragile. He noted that courts in many states still depend on the executive for funding and logistics. He said no judge can be independent when basic resources depend on the goodwill of political leaders.
He described weak enforcement of judgments as another major clog. He cited repeated violations of court orders by government agencies. He warned that such disobedience destroys public confidence in the courts.
Akaraiwe also criticised the growing number of frivolous appeals linked to the quest for the Senior Advocate rank. He said many lawyers file unnecessary appeals simply to meet the numerical requirements for the title. He proposed new criteria based on subject-matter groupings. He said this would cut down on needless appellate work and reduce pressure on higher courts.
He also suggested creating a second pathway to the SAN rank. This pathway would rely on a high number of trial court judgments rather than appellate appearances. He argued that this system would encourage faster trials and more pro bono work.
Akaraiwe urged the legal community to commit to institutional, professional and moral renewal. He said Nigeria lacks statesmen who prioritise justice over power. He argued that justice delivery requires political will, professional integrity and ethical discipline.
He called for robust legal education with a strong focus on professional ethics. He said ethics should be taught repeatedly from university to law school. He argued that early training builds moral resilience in young lawyers.
He ended with a call to action. He urged lawyers and judges to remove the clogs delaying justice. He said the courts exist for citizens, not for lawyers. He urged the profession to uphold justice with honesty, courage and humility.
Akaraiwe reminded the audience that Nigeria’s legal legends fought boldly for justice. He urged today’s lawyers to continue that legacy. He said Nigeria can fix its justice system once it finds the will to confront the problems directly.
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