Former Vice President of Nigeria, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, has called for urgent reforms in the nation’s judiciary to tackle delays in civil cases and ensure faster access to justice. Speaking as Special Guest of Honour at the public presentation of the fourth edition of a book authored by Hon. Justice Amina, Osinbajo emphasized that judicial inefficiency remains one of the biggest obstacles to Nigeria’s development.
Osinbajo recalled how a former Chief Justice of Nigeria once testified in an English court that civil cases could take up to 30 years to conclude in Nigeria, a situation the English Court of Appeal described as “catastrophic” if left to Nigerian courts. According to him, such commentary is not only embarrassing but also underscores the need for urgent and practical solutions.
“This is not a supernatural problem. It is a human problem that can be solved. The effort we need to put into resolving it is one we must all address our minds to,” Osinbajo stressed.
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Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the Future of Law
Highlighting one of the systemic issues, the former Vice President criticized the frequency of adjournments and preliminary objections in Nigerian courts. He noted that lawyers often raise jurisdictional challenges and interlocutory appeals that drag cases for years without resolution.
“At some point, access to justice ceases to be the problem,” he said. “The real issue becomes how to exit the justice system.”
Osinbajo also spoke extensively on the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on legal practice, describing it as a force that is rapidly changing the global legal landscape.
He revealed that his former law firm has begun using AI tools capable of analyzing internal databases and generating legal opinions in the firm’s unique style. He further explained that some AI-powered systems can record entire proceedings automatically and generate judgments with multiple possible outcomes, leaving the judge to decide among alternatives.
“AI is going to change practically everything,” Osinbajo declared. “Even our very definitions will change. For example, what constitutes a ‘document’ is already being redefined because AI separates human thought from the final product.”
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Turning to the purpose of the event, Osinbajo praised Justice Amina for publishing the fourth edition of her book, describing it as a major contribution to legal thought and practice in Nigeria.
“Most people manage to do one or two editions,” he said. “A fourth edition is a true testament to your dedication, commitment to the law, and to legal scholarship. We pray there will be a fifth, a sixth, and many more.”
He also expressed gratitude that the author remains in good health and vibrant, looking much the same as she did during the launch of the first edition.
