Former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has called for a comprehensive overhaul of Nigeria’s legal and judicial philosophy, criticizing the courts for prioritizing procedural technicalities over substantive justice.
Osinbajo, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and Professor of Law, made the call on Thursday in Ilorin, Kwara State, while delivering a lecture at the second Professor Yusuf Ali Annual Lecture organized by the Kwara State University (KWASU), Malete.
He stressed that the justice system must focus on fairness and the needs of the people rather than rigid adherence to procedure.
“The essence of justice is not in the form but in the substance. Unfortunately, many of our court decisions, including some of those delivered by the Supreme Court, tend to focus more on procedure rather than the core issues of justice,” Osinbajo said.
The former Vice President emphasized that reforming the legal system to prioritize fairness and substance would strengthen public confidence in the judiciary and enhance the rule of law.
