The President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Afam Osigwe (SAN), and NBA presidential candidate, Lateef Akangbe (SAN), have called on lawyers to take a leading role in driving reforms aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s justice system and restoring public confidence in legal institutions.

The two senior lawyers made the call in separate messages at the 2026 Law Week of the NBA Gombe Branch, themed “Strengthening Justice Through Reforms: Lawyers as Agents of Change.”

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the Law Week, Osigwe said the strength of any justice system is measured not merely by the laws it enacts but by the confidence citizens have in its ability to deliver justice fairly, efficiently and without prejudice.

In a statement shared on his X handle on Tuesday, the NBA president said the strength of any justice system should be measured not only by the laws enacted but also by the confidence citizens have in the system’s ability to deliver justice fairly, efficiently and without bias.

He commended the leadership and members of the NBA Gombe Branch for convening what he described as an important conversation at a time when the legal profession and the justice sector must reflect on their responsibilities to society and the urgent need to strengthen public trust in institutions.

According to Osigwe, despite the enactment of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015, several of the challenges the legislation was designed to address continue to persist.

“While the enactment of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015 marked a significant milestone in the reform of our criminal justice system, many of the challenges it sought to address remain,” he said.

He noted that correctional centres across the country remain overcrowded, while bail conditions are often excessively stringent.

The NBA president also expressed concern that key provisions of the ACJA, including those relating to bondsmen, are yet to be fully utilized to improve access to justice and reduce impunity.

“Our correctional centres continue to be overcrowded, bail conditions are often excessively stringent, and critical provisions of the law, including those relating to bondsmen, are not being fully utilized to promote access to justice and reduce impunity,” he stated.

Osigwe urged lawyers and other stakeholders in the justice sector to move beyond merely identifying the challenges confronting the system and commit to ensuring that reforms contained in existing laws produce tangible benefits for citizens.

“The effectiveness of any reform lies not in its enactment, but in its implementation,” he said.

He stressed the need to rebuild public confidence in the justice system through professionalism, integrity and accountability, describing lawyers as key agents of change in the administration of justice.

“I emphasised the need for us to rebuild public confidence in our institutions by upholding the highest standards of professionalism, integrity, and accountability while embracing our role as genuine agents of change,” he said.

According to him, the credibility of the justice system depends largely on the commitment of those entrusted with its administration.

Osigwe acknowledged that significant work remains to be done but expressed optimism that meaningful progress could be achieved through collective action and renewed dedication to justice.

“Through collective action, courage, and a renewed dedication to justice, we can strengthen our institutions, improve the administration of justice, and restore public trust in the legal profession,” he added.

He thanked the NBA Gombe Branch for the opportunity to address participants and share his views on the challenges and prospects of justice sector reforms in Nigeria.

Also, In a goodwill message to the branch, Akangbe described the Law Week theme as timely and compelling, saying it reflects the realities confronting the nation’s justice system.

“The theme of this year’s Law Week is both timely and compelling. It speaks directly to the realities of our justice system and underscores the urgent need for purposeful engagement by members of the legal profession in advancing reforms that enhance access to justice, strengthen institutions, and deepen public confidence in the rule of law,” he said.

Akangbe noted that lawyers have historically been at the forefront of advocacy, institutional development and the defence of democratic values, adding that the profession must continue to embrace its role as a catalyst for meaningful and lasting change.

“Today, more than ever, the legal profession must embrace its responsibility not only as an interpreter of the law but also as a catalyst for meaningful and enduring change,” he stated.

The senior advocate said reform requires courageous leadership, professional integrity, innovation and an unwavering commitment to justice.

He also commended the leadership of the NBA Gombe Branch for selecting a theme that challenges legal practitioners to reflect on their role in building a more responsive and effective justice sector.

“I am confident that the discussions, engagements, and resolutions arising from this Law Week will generate practical ideas and actionable solutions that will contribute significantly to the advancement of the legal profession and the administration of justice in Nigeria,” Akangbe added.

Both senior lawyers expressed optimism that collective action by members of the legal profession would help strengthen institutions, improve the administration of justice and restore public trust in the legal system.

While Osigwe emphasised the need for effective implementation of existing reforms, Akangbe urged lawyers to continue championing initiatives that promote access to justice, accountability and the rule of law.

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The Kwara State Government has filed a criminal defamation suit against former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, accusing him of making false claims about the educational background of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.

The case, instituted before the Kwara State High Court in Ilorin, was filed by the state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Senior Ibrahim, alongside the Director of Public Prosecutions, Ayoola Akande, and Assistant Chief State Counsel, B.L. Abdulsalam.

The matter came up on Wednesday before Justice M.O. Folorunso.

According to court documents, the government alleged that Saraki, on April 17, 2026, published and circulated statements through social media and newspaper platforms claiming that AbdulRazaq did not attain secondary school education.

The prosecution argued that the publication was false, malicious and intended to bring the governor and the state government into disrepute.

It further alleged that the statements contained insulting and abusive expressions capable of provoking public unrest and disturbing public peace, contrary to Section 399 of the Penal Code, Cap. P4, Laws of Kwara State, 2006.

At the proceedings, prosecuting counsel, R.O. Balogun, urged the court to issue a bench warrant against Saraki, arguing that the former Senate president failed to appear despite being served with the court processes.

“The defendant was duly served but failed to appear before the court. We, therefore, urge Your Lordship to issue a bench warrant to compel his attendance,” Balogun submitted.

He also opposed an application for adjournment filed by the defence, maintaining that the prosecution was ready to proceed with the case.

However, Saraki’s lawyer, Jimoh Mumini (SAN), challenged both the jurisdiction of the court and the validity of the service of the processes on his client.

“This matter falls within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court. In addition, the defendant was not properly served with the processes relied upon by the prosecution,” Mumini argued.

After hearing submissions from both sides and standing down the matter for about two hours, Justice Folorunso ruled that the defendant was entitled to seek an adjournment and fixed July 3, 2026, for the hearing of the preliminary objection and possible arraignment.

The PUNCH reports that the latest suit deepens the legal confrontation between the AbdulRazaq administration and Saraki.

Earlier on April 9, the state government filed a separate 20-count charge against Saraki, former Kwara State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed, and two former aides over allegations relating to the arming of suspects convicted in connection with the 2018 Offa robbery attacks.

The other defendants in that case are Yusuf Abdulwahab, a former Chief of Staff to Ahmed, and Alabi Olalekan.

Responding to the earlier charges, Saraki denied any link to armed robbery or other criminal activities and insisted that previous investigations had cleared him of wrongdoing.

“I have nothing to do directly or indirectly with any case of armed robbery or any criminal matter,” Saraki said in a statement he personally signed.

The former Senate President maintained that he had been exonerated by both the police and the Director of Public Prosecutions in the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation, describing the prosecution as politically motivated.

In a statement issued on Wednesday by his media office, Saraki said his lawyers, led by  Mumini (SAN), appeared before the Kwara State High Court in Ilorin to challenge the suit filed over a social media post he made on April 17, 2026, in response to an earlier statement by the state government.

The case arose from allegations that Saraki’s comments on Facebook and X questioned the educational qualifications of Governor AbdulRazaq and amounted to criminal defamation and cyberbullying.

According to the statement issued by the Press Officer on Local Matters, Abubakar Bukola Saraki Media Office, Abdulkadir Abdulganiy, Saraki’s legal team, led by Mumini, maintained that the social media posts in question constituted a legitimate exercise of freedom of expression and a right of reply.

“Dr Saraki’s post on Facebook and X being complained of were mere exercises of his freedom of speech and right of reply, as the leader of the opposition to Governor Abdulrazaq’s political party,” the statement said.

It wondered why Saraki’s social media post could constitute criminal defamation and cyberbullying against the governor.

The statement noted, “We note that it is a recurring decimal for the Kwara governor to seek to use the courts to harass and intimidate the leaders of opposition in the state any time they make any comment against the policies and actions of his administration.

“We believe that, like his earlier efforts to abuse the judicial process to silence the opposition, this case will fall like a pack of badly arranged cards.

“We note that the Kwara State government believes the alleged defamatory social media post deserves more attention than the issue of acute insecurity plaguing the state, in which two of the three senatorial districts in the state have become a den of kidnappers, bandits, and insurgents.

“Also, the case of 176 people kidnapped from the Woro community in the northern part of the state who have been in captivity since early February is taking a back seat behind the issue of a social media post, which the governor’s handlers believed was unpleasant to him.

“Today, we noticed that the governor and his handlers mobilised the media and their supporters to the court premises. We believe the energy and resources deployed to achieve that could have been better utilised as part of the resources to secure the release of the captives in the kidnappers’ den across the state.

“We have mentioned these more sensitive alternatives that require the attention of Governor AbdulRazaq and his government instead of dissipating resources on the impact of words that he exchanged with the opposition leader in the state to demonstrate that the court case is just another diversionary tactic.”

It added, “Dr Saraki continues to retain his confidence in the Nigerian judiciary and its ability to do justice to all parties, in all cases and situations.

“That is why his lawyers will also continue to defend his position and strongly put forward his case before the court on all matters, including this case arising from a social media post.”

The former Senate President appealed to his supporters across the state and beyond to remain calm and law-abiding.

He assured them that all the oppressive tactics aimed at intimidating and silencing him would come to nought.

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