Osinbajo Faults Supreme Court’s Inconsistency.

Yemi Osinbajo.

Former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has called for a comprehensive reform of Nigeria’s legal and judicial philosophy, particularly criticising the courts’ tendency to prioritise technicalities over substantive justice.

Osinbajo, a professor of law, made this remark on Thursday in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, during the second Prof. Yusuf Ali Annual Lecture organised by Kwara State University (KWASU), Malete.

The former vice president stated that the primary purpose of any justice system is to serve the people, not to elevate procedural technicalities above fairness.

He expressed concern that many judicial rulings, including those from the Supreme Court, often focus more on procedure than on the essence of justice.

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

Osinbajo argued that Nigeria’s persistent reliance on outdated technicalities weakens the pursuit of justice and diminishes public confidence in the judiciary.

“In view of this, I urge legal practitioners, academics, and policymakers to adopt critical, decolonised thinking to reform legal education, legal practice, and the administration of justice,” he said.

“Though the Supreme Court has occasionally adopted a more flexible approach, particularly in electoral matters, inconsistency remains a major concern.

“It is important to note that a justice system that glorifies form over substance risks losing its relevance and effectiveness,” he said.

The guest lecturer, Prof. Chidi Odinkalu (SAN), encouraged Nigerian lawyers and law students to challenge and dismantle the colonial influences that still shape the nation’s legal system.

Odinkalu, who spoke on the topic Towards Decolonising Legal Briefs: Effective Implementation of the Local Content Law for the Benefit of Nigerian Lawyers, pointed out that Nigeria’s justice system remains overly dependent on external models.

He said it was time for the country to move from political independence to intellectual independence by promoting the use of local content.

The Professor of Practice and International Human Rights Law noted that although Nigeria is politically independent, it still lacks professional autonomy.

Odinkalu emphasised that the nation’s legal framework continues to bear the marks of colonial domination and must be reformed.

He underscored the importance of establishing an independent and trustworthy judiciary as a crucial component of the decolonisation process.

KWASU’s Vice Chancellor, Prof. Jimoh Shaykh-Luqman, expressed appreciation to God and the university’s stakeholders for the significant progress achieved in the Faculty of Law.

He revealed that several infrastructure projects, including a departmental building, a 500-seat auditorium, and two 250-seat lecture theatres, would be completed and ready for use by December.

Also, Prof. Yusuf Ali stated that every nation needs a unifying point, which Nigeria currently lacks.

The distinguished lawyer observed that the only time Nigerians appear truly united is during international football matches—a brief moment of togetherness that quickly fades afterwards.

He urged citizens to confront the reality of the country’s systemic challenges rather than romanticise the past, stressing that Nigeria still displays many signs of national dysfunction.