Defend Constitution, Restore Public Trust in Judiciary, El-Rufai Urges Lawyers
Former Kaduna State governor and prominent Social Democratic Party (SDP) figure, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, has called on lawyers across Nigeria to rise to the challenge of defending the constitution and restoring waning public trust in the judiciary.
Speaking as the keynote speaker at the 2025 Law Week of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Bwari Branch, El-Rufai delivered a critical assessment of the country’s judicial landscape in a speech titled “Lawyers as Agents of Change: Navigating Economic Reforms, Judicial Policy and Contemporary Issues.”
El-Rufai lamented what he described as a widening disconnect between law and justice in Nigeria.
“In Nigeria, there is a seemingly unbridgeable gulf between law and justice. Not only is justice wanting, but the law that is administered seems to be according to the wishes of the Executive,” he said, highlighting the judiciary’s increasing alignment with political interests.
He decried practices such as “forum shopping” and the abuse of ex parte orders in politically charged cases, warning that such actions are undermining the credibility and independence of the judiciary.
“Public confidence is essential to any judiciary. When the people lose faith, democracy suffers,” he warned.
Drawing from history, El-Rufai commended past judicial courage, notably the Supreme Court’s reversal of illegal impeachments under the leadership of Justice Muhammadu Uwais. He urged current judges and legal practitioners to draw inspiration from such landmark moments in judicial activism.
The former governor also questioned recent legislative and executive actions, including the legality of President Bola Tinubu’s state of emergency declarations and the frequent use of unverified voice votes in the National Assembly.
He called for strict adherence to constitutional norms and greater accountability in governance.
On economic reforms, El-Rufai emphasized the indispensable role of lawyers, recalling his work in restructuring the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and overseeing privatization initiatives at the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE).
He lauded recent constitutional amendments that empower subnational governments to operate electricity markets and advocated for more legal innovations to unlock Nigeria’s economic potential.
In closing, El-Rufai challenged lawyers to transcend technical legalism and actively engage in nation-building.
“Lawyers more than any other group must stand as custodians of conscience and agents of accountable change,” he declared.
His remarks have ignited renewed conversation within legal and political circles about the judiciary’s role in safeguarding Nigeria’s democracy, especially amid growing public dissatisfaction with legal and institutional processes.
