The Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar, has urged members of the Nigerian Bar Association to deploy their profession in addressing issues of social justice and uniting the country.
Speaking at the NBA’s 2025 Annual General Conference in Enugu on Sunday, the Sultan further warned that the rising cost of litigation had excluded the poor and vulnerable from accessing justice.
“I hope that you will find time to address the issues of social justice, end inequalities in our societies and create a more integrated nation with the kind of profession that can see us through these very tough times,” Abubakar said.
He stressed the need for lawyers to break barriers hindering access to justice, saying, “Access to justice is very important, considering the increasing cost of litigation and the consequences of exclusion in the administration of justice for the weak and vulnerable.
“Most countries around the world were precipitated by exclusion, which elicits resentment and propels people to conflict; something I am well aware of, having spent years in the military.”
Calling for a more united Nigeria where all citizens are accepted regardless of their location, the Sultan recalled his experience in Enugu.
“I remember some five years ago when I visited Enugu, I had a very good time going round Nsukka, my own city where I started. I felt accepted, welcomed and loved.
“This was the Nigeria we had some 40 years ago. We must bring that Nigeria back. And you are the ones to do that. You are the ones who will interpret laws in the courts,” he told the lawyers.
On his part, the NBA president, Afam Osigwe, SAN, underscored the significance of the conference theme, “Stand Out, Stand Tall.”
“The theme is more than a slogan; it is a charge to stand out, to be visible; not for show, but for service. To stand tall is to uphold dignity, integrity and honour even when the odds are stark and difficult decisions must be made in the best interest of the legal profession and the country,” Osigwe said.
He called on lawyers not to remain silent in the face of injustice, urging them to “have the courage of conviction in moments where silence would otherwise be more comfortable. This is a call we must embrace.”
