Augie Warns of Threats to Nigeria’s Rule of Law, Calls for Judicial Reforms

Retired Justice of the Supreme Court, Amina Adamu Augie, has warned that Nigeria’s rule of law is under threat from corruption, delays in the administration of justice, high litigation costs and failure by public authorities to comply with court orders.

Augie raised the concerns on Saturday in Abuja while delivering a public 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, also known as the Centennial Class.

She said Nigeria had made progress since returning to democratic governance in 1999 but stressed that democracy could not be sustained without institutions capable of protecting citizens’ rights, restraining the exercise of public power and holding officials accountable.

The retired justice described the rule of law as a foundation for national development, economic growth and investor confidence. She argued that businesses would be reluctant to invest where contracts could not be enforced, property rights remained uncertain and disputes took years to resolve.

According to her, justice must be accessible to ordinary citizens, regardless of their financial circumstances, if the legal system is to fulfil its constitutional responsibilities.

Augie identified the excessive number of appeals reaching the Supreme Court as a major structural problem, saying the workload prevented the apex court from concentrating adequately on matters of national importance.

Drawing on her experience on the Bench, she recalled cases that she believed should have been resolved at lower courts but eventually reached the Supreme Court. She said some cases were being assigned hearing dates as far ahead as 2031, highlighting the extent of the delays.

She called for constitutional amendments to restrict the categories of appeals that could proceed to the Supreme Court, allowing it to focus on issues requiring authoritative interpretation of the law.

Augie also criticised the high cost of litigation, warning that financial barriers could prevent citizens from pursuing legitimate claims and obtaining remedies for violations of their rights.

She expressed concern over the failure of some government authorities to obey court judgments, saying such conduct weakened judicial authority and undermined public confidence in democratic institutions.

The former justice cited instances involving prolonged detention despite court orders for release, arguing that government institutions must demonstrate respect for the law rather than treat judicial decisions as optional.

She maintained that compliance with court orders was essential to preventing arbitrary exercises of power and ensuring that citizens could rely on the judiciary for protection.

Augie further identified corruption within the legal profession as a serious threat to justice delivery. She warned that misconduct by judges, lawyers and court registry officials could erode public trust, particularly when individuals used improper means to influence judicial decisions.

She urged the Bench, Bar and court registries to uphold professional ethics and discipline practitioners found guilty of misconduct, irrespective of their positions or influence.

On judicial independence, she advocated adequate funding and safeguards against executive interference, stressing that courts should not depend on other arms of government for essential operational needs.

The retired justice also highlighted insecurity, poverty and inequality as challenges that weakened citizens’ confidence in public institutions and limited their ability to protect their lives, property and legal interests.

Reflecting on Nigeria’s democratic journey, she acknowledged the continuity of civilian rule since 1999 and the ability of citizens to challenge government actions in court. However, she said the country had yet to achieve a justice system that was sufficiently affordable, efficient and accessible.

She cited Nigeria’s ranking of 120th out of 143 countries in the 2025 World Justice Project Rule of Law Index as an indication of persistent institutional challenges.

Augie also urged lawyers to embrace technological tools, including artificial intelligence, while maintaining professional responsibility for the accuracy of their work. She warned that unverified AI-generated legal citations could introduce fabricated authorities into court proceedings.

She said technology could assist with research and case management but could not replace human judgment, ethical responsibility and the conscience required in administering justice.

The retired justice called on legal practitioners to defend constitutional governance, protect judicial independence and mentor younger members of the profession.

She stressed that Nigeria’s future depended on respect for court decisions, meaningful access to justice and the willingness of public institutions and legal professionals to uphold the rule of law.