Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar, has expressed concerns that the country’s justice system has continued to favors only the wealthy, to the detriment of the common man. The Islamic supreme leader was speaking yesterday Sunday in Enugu during the Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA. He noted that corruption and inequality are weakening the Nigeria’s courts, adding, “Justice is increasingly becoming a purchasable commodity, and the poor is always the victims of the system, while the rich commit all manner of crime and walk the streets scot-free.”
According to Sultan, the imbalance fuels resentment, mistrust, and potential violence, from the mistreated, warning that loss of public confidence in the courts could lead citizens to take the law into their own hands.
The Sultan urged lawyers to uphold truth and fairness above personal or financial interests. “It is only when the legal profession leads by example that the public can trust the system again,” he said.
Experts have noted that a justice system tilted in favour of the wealthy discourages investment, fuels crime, and undermines democracy. Civil society reports show that Nigeria’s prisons are overcrowded with people awaiting trial, many of whom cannot afford legal representation or bail.
The Sultan’s comments reflect long-standing concerns over corruption and inequality in the justice sector and underscore calls for reforms, including transparent court processes, accessible legal aid, and stronger oversight of judicial practices.