NBA President Urges Urgent Reforms in Justice Sector Amid Concerns for Player Welfare

Afam Osigwe, President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), urged urgent reforms in Nigeria’s justice system, noting that “all is not well.”

He delivered his remarks on Tuesday during the opening ceremony of the NBA Gombe Branch Law Week, which was themed “Strengthening Justice Through Reforms: Lawyers as Agents of Change.”

Osigwe highlighted that the theme reflects the essential role lawyers play as stakeholders in justice administration and called for a renewed commitment to substantive reforms.

He acknowledged progress achieved through the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015, which was intended to enhance the efficiency of Nigeria’s criminal justice system.

Nonetheless, he lamented that correctional facilities nationwide continue to be overcrowded despite these reforms.

He added, “Many courts continue to impose stringent bail conditions that undermine access to justice, while law enforcement agencies have also failed to fully align with the spirit of the reforms envisioned under the ACJA.”

He further noted that although the ACJA allows the use of bondsmen to facilitate bail, courts have largely neglected these provisions, allowing injustice and impunity to persist.

Osigwe expressed hope that attendees of the Law Week would depart with a renewed determination to make the justice system fairer and more effective for all citizens.

He stated, “We must build confidence in our justice system by taking ourselves seriously and projecting ourselves as genuine agents of change.”

While thanking the NBA Gombe Branch for the opportunity to share his views, Osigwe emphasized that significant challenges persist in the justice sector.

He remarked, “All is not well,” stressing the need for collective efforts to restore public trust and confidence in the legal profession and the administration of justice.

He commended the Gombe Branch for organizing what he described as an enriching and timely Law Week that focused on one of the most pressing issues facing the legal profession and the justice sector.

The Law Week will continue with a series of engagements aimed at exploring practical pathways to strengthen justice delivery and advance reforms within Nigeria’s legal system.