RismadarVoice Reporters, May 10, 2026
The President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, has called for urgent judicial reforms to address the increasing incidence of conflicting judgments in Nigeria’s courts, warning that the trend is undermining public confidence in the justice system.
Osigwe made the call while speaking at the Law Week of the NBA Anaocha Branch, themed “Justice Delivery and Prevailing Conflicting Judgements: An Imperative for Urgent Judicial Reforms.”
The NBA President expressed concern that lawyers now face difficulties advising clients with certainty on the state of the law, particularly in political cases where courts often deliver contradictory decisions on similar matters.
According to him, the growing inconsistency in judicial pronouncements has created uncertainty within the legal system and weakened confidence in the administration of justice.
Osigwe also highlighted concerns surrounding disciplinary proceedings involving legal practitioners, especially appeals arising from decisions of the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC).
He noted that some lawyers affected by disciplinary actions had been directed by the Supreme Court to approach a non-existent Appeals Committee of the Body of Benchers, a situation he said has further complicated the disciplinary process.
The NBA President stressed that certainty, consistency and predictability remain fundamental pillars of justice delivery, urging stakeholders in the judiciary to pursue urgent reforms and adopt measures capable of restoring confidence in the legal system.
He commended the NBA Anaocha Branch for selecting what he described as a timely and thought-provoking theme for its Law Week programme.
