Yemi Osinbajo.

Former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has criticised the Nigerian judiciary for what he described as its overreliance on technicalities at the expense of substantive justice, calling for a comprehensive reform of the nation’s legal and judicial philosophy.

Osinbajo, a Professor of Law, made the remarks on Thursday in Ilorin, Kwara State, while speaking at the second Prof. Yusuf Ali Annual Lecture organised by Kwara State University (KWASU), Malete.

He stated that the primary purpose of any justice system should be to serve the people, not to “elevate procedural technicalities above fairness.”

“Even English courts, whose practices we inherited, have evolved beyond such rigid technicalities by allowing amendments at any stage to ensure justice is done,” Osinbajo said.

The former vice president expressed concern that many judicial rulings, including those from the Supreme Court, often prioritise form over substance, thereby weakening public confidence in the judiciary.

“Though the Supreme Court has occasionally adopted a more flexible approach, particularly in electoral matters, inconsistency remains a major concern,” he added.
“A justice system that glorifies form over substance risks losing its relevance and effectiveness.”

Osinbajo urged legal practitioners, academics, and policymakers to adopt critical, decolonised thinking in reforming legal education, legal practice, and the administration of justice.

Odinkalu: Nigeria Still Bound by Colonial Legal Framework

In his lecture titled “Towards Decolonising Legal Briefs: Effective Implementation of the Local Content Law for the Benefit of Nigerian Lawyers,” Prof. Chidi Odinkalu (SAN) also emphasised the need for Nigeria to break free from colonial legal influences.

Odinkalu argued that although Nigeria is politically independent, it remains intellectually and professionally dependent on external models.

“It is time for Nigeria to move from political independence to intellectual independence,” he said.
“Our justice system still bears the marks of colonial domination and must be reformed.”

He further stressed that establishing an independent and trustworthy judiciary is central to achieving true decolonisation within the country’s legal system.

KWASU, Yusuf Ali Emphasise National Unity and Legal Growth

KWASU Vice Chancellor, Prof. Jimoh Shaykh-Luqman, expressed gratitude to stakeholders for their support and announced that several key projects — including a departmental building, a 500-seat auditorium, and two 250-seat lecture theatres — would be completed by December.

Meanwhile, Prof. Yusuf Ali (SAN) noted that every nation needs a unifying principle, which Nigeria currently lacks.

“The only time Nigerians appear truly united is during international football matches,” he observed.
“We must confront our systemic challenges rather than romanticise the past.”

Ali called for renewed national consciousness, stressing that unity and accountability are essential to addressing Nigeria’s ongoing dysfunction.