He stated that the judiciary’s responsibility to adjudicate on electoral disputes, constitutional interpretation, and protection of fundamental rights has placed it under intense scrutiny.
The Attorney-General emphasised the need for the judiciary to be principled, independent, and impartial, delivering justice transparently, consistently, and with intellectual rigor, noting that the judiciary’s strength lies not in the volume of its judgments but in their clarity, coherence, and courage.
He said, “Recently, the role of our judiciary in consolidating our democracy has aroused much public interest and discussion. It is a universal truism that the judiciary sustains the rule of law, which is the bedrock of our democracy. Over the years, the judiciary has increasingly been called upon to adjudicate on matters that strike at the heart of our democracy—electoral disputes, constitutional interpretation, protection of fundamental rights, and other legal or public policy matters. Yet, this rising responsibility has firmly placed the judiciary in the court of public opinion.
“It is quite concerning to see the adverse ratings and negative perception indexes of our judiciary. Public confidence in the judiciary has been shaken by perceptions of undue influence, inconsistent rulings, and delays that frustrate justice. Allegations of corruption, though often unproven, cast long shadows. While I agree that the judiciary should be accountable less to public opinion and more to public interest, may I respectfully insist that in this climate, the judiciary should discharge that accountability by being principled, independent and impartial. It must not only deliver justice—it must do so transparently, consistently, and with intellectual rigour. It is therefore the responsibility of everyone present here and beyond to ensure that, like Caesar’s wife, the judiciary is above reproach and suspicion. I wholly adopt the admonition of my Lord, Kekere-Ekun, JSC (as he then was), that it is the role of the court in the administration of justice to provide a conducive atmosphere for both parties – see BABAGANA HAMIDU v. THE STATE (2024) LPELR-62503(SC) (P. 24, paras. B-D)”
He urged that, “Let our judgments be written not only for lawyers, but for the citizens whose lives they shape to preserve public trust and sustain the common man’s last hope. I humbly pray that Your Lordship, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, will cause ongoing reforms to gain momentum in the new legal year.”
The Attorney-General expressed concern over adverse ratings and negative perceptions of the judiciary, citing perceptions of undue influence, inconsistent rulings, and delays that frustrate justice.
Fagbemi emphasised the importance of collaboration between the Federal Ministry of Justice and other stakeholders, including state governments, to advance justice sector reforms.
He highlighted the adoption of the National Justice Policy as a framework for driving constitutional, statutory, and institutional reforms of the justice sector.
Fagbemi continued, “On my honour, I wish to affirm that my Office remains committed to working with the judiciary and other stakeholders in the justice sector to advance reforms that will elevate the standard of justice delivery in Nigeria. I support the ongoing administrative and legislative interventions, which include strategic and constant capacity building, strengthening institutional safeguards for judicial independence, and case management reforms to reduce delays and improve access to justice. Your Lordships, I must emphasise that at this juncture the operations and proceedings of the Supreme Court ought to have become fully digitised or automated.
“I respectfully urge the National Judicial Council and the various Heads of Courts to accord topmost priority to full deployment of technology in the running of our courts to enhance case management. While our quest for judicial reform is not limited to infrastructure, digitisation, and procedural efficiency, the reforms must extend to our legal philosophy and culture, how we conceive, pursue, and achieve justice. It is our abiding duty to continue to evolve a legal system that serves a modern and informed society.”
In addition, he expressed concern over the increasing number of complaints against senior members of the Nigerian Bar, noting that these complaints border on professional misconduct and could damage the reputation of the prestigious rank of SAN.
Fagbemi emphasised that the complaints, although few, are troubling and require urgent attention to prevent damage to the legal profession’s reputation.
He stressed that the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria should not confer immunity from disciplinary measures for professional misconduct, advocating for equal treatment of all lawyers.
The AGF highlighted the importance of maintaining the integrity of the legal profession, both locally and internationally, citing recent cases that have brought the profession into disrepute.
“This brings me to a matter that should be of concern to us all: my office has, in recent times, taken note of the increasing number of complaints against senior members of the bar. Thankfully, these are few and far between, but they still constitute such numbers as to be troubling. The complaints border on professional misconduct and, if not addressed urgently, are capable of bringing this prestigious rank into disrepute locally and, as we have seen recently, internationally. We need to reverse the perception that the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria confers immunity from disciplinary measures for professional misconduct. We simply cannot have a Bar where one law applies to juniors and another to seniors,” Fagbemi added.
He congratulated the 57 new Senior Advocates of Nigeria, reminding them of their additional responsibilities, including upholding ethical standards, professional excellence, and best practices.
“To all the 57 new silks, I offer my warmest congratulations and welcome you to the elite advocacy corps of the legal profession in Nigeria. You have earned this honour through years of excellence and integrity. But with this rank comes a solemn duty—to be architects of reform, defenders of judicial clarity, and mentors in the art of legal reasoning. In entering this profession and on being further admitted to the inner Bar with all the privileges attaching to the status, we become ambassadors of the finest tradition of Africa’s largest Bar,” Fagbemi added.
