..Says rule of law, justice delivery critical to attracting investment
From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
Retired Supreme Court Justice, Amina Augie, has warned that corruption, prolonged court proceedings and the high cost of justice are undermining public confidence in Nigeria’s legal system, calling for urgent reforms.
Augie spoke while delivering an anniversary lecture titled, “The Rule of Law and Justice Delivery: The Last 40 Years, Today and Tomorrow — Whither Nigeria?” at the 40th anniversary celebration of the Nigerian Law School Class of 1986, known as the Centennial Class of ’86, in Abuja.
She said Nigeria had made democratic progress since the return to civilian rule in 1999 but warned that such gains could not be sustained without institutions capable of protecting citizens, restraining government power and holding public officials accountable.
“The essence of the rule of law is that we should never operate under the rule of force or fear,” she said.
According to Augie, the rule of law is fundamental to economic development, investment and the protection of individual rights.
“For a developing country like Nigeria, it is not the reward of prosperity; it is the precondition of prosperity,” she said, adding that investors would be reluctant to commit capital where contracts could not be enforced, property rights were uncertain and disputes took years to resolve.
“Investment is an act of confidence in tomorrow, and the rule of law is what makes tomorrow predictable,” she added.
Augie identified the excessive number of appeals reaching the Supreme Court as a major structural weakness, arguing that constitutional reforms were needed to enable the apex court to focus on matters of national importance.
Recalling her experience on the Bench, she said the court was burdened with cases that should have been resolved at lower levels. She also expressed concern that some cases were being assigned hearing dates as far ahead as 2031.
“The only way forward is to amend this Constitution,” she said, advocating reforms to restrict appeals.
She criticised the high cost of litigation, warning that financial resources could determine who was able to pursue justice.
The retired justice also condemned public authorities that disobey court judgments, particularly orders for the release of detained persons. She said such conduct undermined judicial authority and sometimes forced litigants to seek redress from institutions such as the ECOWAS Court.
“A nation cannot ask its people to obey the law while its government refuses to be bound by it,” she said.
Augie identified insecurity, poverty and inequality as additional factors weakening public confidence in the state. She also expressed concern over allegations of lawyers offering inducements to influence judicial decisions, urging the Bar, Bench and court registries to enforce ethical standards consistently.
She said public trust depended on professional conduct rather than titles or declarations of commitment to ethics.
On electoral justice, Augie welcomed what she described as the absence of post-election litigation following the recent Osun governorship election, expressing hope that the 2027 general elections would produce a similar outcome.
She stressed, however, that the courts must remain available to address genuine electoral grievances.
Citing the World Justice Project’s Rule of Law Index, she said Nigeria ranked 120th out of 143 countries, reflecting persistent institutional weaknesses.
Looking to the future, Augie urged lawyers to embrace artificial intelligence (AI) without surrendering professional judgment or responsibility. She warned that reliance on AI-generated research could expose courts to fabricated cases and false citations.
While AI could assist with research and summarise judgments, she said it could not replace moral judgment, compassion or courage.
“A machine can summarise a thousand judgments, but it cannot feel the weight of sending a person to prison or taking a child from a parent,” she said.
“Let the machine carry the load. Never, never, ever let it carry the conscience of justice,” she added.
She also urged law firms to develop expertise in international commercial law, arbitration, technology law, data protection and AI regulation to remain competitive globally.
Augie charged members of the Centennial Class of ’86 to defend the rule of law and mentor younger practitioners.
Earlier, Chairman of the anniversary organising committee, Mohammed Adoke, a former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, urged members to strengthen professional fellowship, mentorship and ethical standards.
The class chairman, Marcel Oru, said members had distinguished themselves in the judiciary, academia, public service, the military and the private sector. He highlighted the class’s contributions to legal education, including the construction of four moot courts, donation of a Toyota Hiace bus and establishment of an award for the best student in professional ethics skills.
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