Nigeria Cannot Progress Without Justice Reforms, Equality Before Law -Okutepa
By Sunday Etuka
Legal luminary Jibrin Okutepa SAN has said Nigeria cannot make meaningful progress without justice, institutional reforms and equality before the law.
Okutepa, in a post on his X handle on Wednesday, said no nation can rise above the quality of its institutions of justice and no society can achieve meaningful progress where rule of law is sacrificed on the altar of political convenience, personal interests and selective justice.
He said if Nigeria must experience genuine transformation, economic prosperity, political stability and sustainable development, it must urgently reform institutions of justice and insist that those entrusted with governmental powers submit themselves to supremacy of the Constitution and laws of land.
According to him, rule of law must not be a weapon against political opponents while serving as a shield for political allies, adding that justice must not be available to the powerful and influential while the poor and vulnerable are abandoned to fate.
He said law that punishes weak but protects powerful is not an instrument of justice but an instrument of oppression, noting that a country cannot continue to profess democracy while tolerating impunity, institutional compromises, disobedience to court orders and selective enforcement of the laws.
Okutepa stressed that the Constitution must remain supreme over every individual, institution and political interest regardless of status or position.
He said courts must be truly independent, courageous and impartial, while law enforcement agencies must serve the Constitution rather than the interests of those temporarily occupying political offices.
He added that institutions of accountability must be strengthened to function without fear, favour, affection or ill will.
He said those who govern Nigeria must understand that political power is sacred public trust not licence to disregard law or manipulate institutions of justice, noting that no public office confers immunity from constitutional accountability beyond what the Constitution expressly provides.
He said justice delayed, justice compromised and justice selectively administered are grave threats to national development, explaining that investors require certainty of law, citizens require protection of rights, democracy requires credible institutions and national unity requires shared confidence that everyone will be treated equally under the law.
Okutepa said Nigeria does not lack laws but urgently needs political will, institutional courage and moral integrity to apply laws faithfully and impartially.
He said great nation cannot be built on foundation of injustice, institutional weakness and governmental impunity, adding that Nigeria desired will not emerge merely from political promises, beautiful speeches or endless constitutional declarations but when justice becomes common inheritance of every Nigerian, when institutions become stronger than individuals and when those who make and enforce laws are themselves first to obey them.
He warned that until law becomes supreme over political power and justice is administered without discrimination, Nigeria’s aspirations for genuine progress and meaningful development will remain seriously endangered.
