…Says institutions now serve the powerful, not the people
…Condemns lawyer’s detention, warns of creeping tyranny
Nigeria’s justice system has lost its integrity and is now serving the interests of the powerful instead of the people, fiery legal luminary and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Jibrin Okutepa, declared on Monday.
In a scathing statement posted on his X (formerly Twitter) account, Okutepa condemned what he described as “a total collapse of justice” in Nigeria, citing the continued detention of Owerri-based lawyer, Chinedu Agu, as a glaring example of institutional abuse.
“The institutions of justice in Nigeria appear to me to have been reduced to satisfying the most powerful individuals in society rather than the people or the interests of Nigerian society at large,” he said.
“The continued detention of Chinedu Agu Esq, a legal practitioner based in Owerri, Imo State, is troubling. It is worrisome. It is an unjust misuse of institutions of justice. It is the wickedness of an extraordinary kind not acceptable in a democratic society.”
‘Justice has become unpredictable’
The respected SAN lamented that the rule of law in Nigeria has been replaced by inconsistency and political manipulation.
“I am just tired of the unjust systems in Nigeria. In our very eyes, institutions of justice have been destroyed by those entrusted with the responsibility to uphold them. Justice has taken the shape of a chameleon. It is no longer predictable on settled precedents. Judgments are inconsistent to the irritation of rationality,” Okutepa stated.
He accused some judges and lawyers of turning the courtroom into a tool for political vendettas rather than justice.
“When a legal practitioner sitting in adjudication wilfully orders detentions of anyone when such legal practitioners lack jurisdiction in the matter, that in my view is an abuse of criminal process. It is not promoting the rule of law. It is not fostering the cause of justice,” he said.
“Allowing yourself to be used as an instrument of perversion of justice is both unethical and wicked. It should not be encouraged.”
‘System now designed to please those in power’
Okutepa warned that the justice system has been deliberately structured to protect those in authority while oppressing ordinary Nigerians.
“We have been tolerating these bad systems, and the systems keep getting worse day by day. Justice is now open-eyed. It can follow any path that suits the partisan political interest of those in power or closely connected to them,” he lamented.
The senior lawyer further expressed concern over the misuse of the Cybercrimes Act, warning that it has become a weapon for silencing dissenting voices.
“The level of misuse of the Cybercrimes Act needs to be looked into. I think Nigerians are in for trouble. Many of those in power can do anything to us and go scot-free. If those in and around power could cancel the most credible free and fair elections in 1993, then there is nothing they cannot do to destroy the systems of justice in Nigeria,” he warned.
‘A nation of hypocrisy and oppression’
Okutepa lamented what he described as “a nation of hypocrites,” where those in authority oppress citizens while pretending to uphold justice.
“Policies are fashioned not for the good of society but for the absolute interests of those who have forced themselves on Nigerians. Nigerians are just at the mercy of those in power. Independent institutions are not available in Nigeria. Everyone in power is feared and worshipped,” he said.
He ended his statement with a call for truth, compassion, and genuine justice as the only path to peace and national development.
“Those who are rascals celebrate rascal politics and policies. The unjust celebrate unjust decisions. To agree to be used as an instrument of oppression against a fellow being is contrary to the prayers that God should help us build a nation where no man is oppressed,” Okutepa concluded.
“Today, there are oppressions and misuse of state apparatus against ourselves. Yet at every function, we sing the national anthem and pray that God helps us to build a nation where no man is oppressed. What a nation of hypocritical people. It is sad. No humanity. No empathy. Let us be kind to one another. Let truth prevail. Let justice undiluted reign in Nigeria. That is the only route to peace and development.”
