Osinbajo Decries Rot in Judiciary, Calls for Legal Reforms

Summary

• Former VP Yemi Osinbajo says Nigeria’s legal system is collapsing under corruption and ethical violations
• Urges legal profession to embrace technology, revamp training to remain relevant
• Bayelsa Governor Douye Diri pledges commitment to rule of law amidst AI disruption fears

Yenogoa, Nigeria — The immediate past Vice President of Nigeria, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo (SAN), has raised concerns over the state of the nation’s judiciary, saying it is “crumbling under the weight of corruption, ethical violation and poor standings.”

Osinbajo made the remarks during the 2025 Law Week Plenary Session of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Yenagoa Branch, held on Friday at the Nigerian Content Tower, Swali, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.

“The legal profession is crumbling under the weight of corruption, ethical violation and poor standings,” he said. “Stories of counsel acting as conduit for the giving of bribes to judicial officers are rife. The perception that our system of justice is corrupt and the bar and bench are culpable is enough damage.”

Speaking on the sub-theme “The Legal Profession: A Vision for a New Era,” Osinbajo highlighted how rapid technological advancement and globalisation have changed the legal landscape, stressing the need for urgent reforms.

“Our profession needs a new vision, a new set of tools in a new era… Technology is fast replacing basic legal analysis and opinion writing,” he noted. “A big part of our cake has been bitten off by technology and more will be bitten off very soon and very quickly.”

He urged the legal community to revise legal training curricula to integrate legal technology and artificial intelligence, enabling future lawyers to effectively engage with tools like ChatGPT and other AI systems.

Declaring the session open, Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri acknowledged fears surrounding AI and job losses, but reaffirmed his administration’s dedication to upholding the rule of law.

“We will always continue to work in the rule of law where justice will prevail and where justice will be served in an impartial manner,” he said. “If this country must survive, you have to make it survive… you are the last hope of the common man.”