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Judiciary, last hope of the ‘Nigerian common man’ *Many questions yet!
Chinwe, a widow based in Onitsha, is bequeathed a piece of land by her late husband only for a powerful and influential man to confiscates it. The poor widow goes to court but could only afford a low-rate lawyer, the type that society derisively refer as charge and bail lawyer, while the big man hires a powerful lawyer – perhaps in the rank of a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN). At the end of the day, using his superiority of the knowledge of law and perhaps his influence, he gets the court to endorse the act of seizure.
What is that called? Would it be right to state that justice has been done because the court has said so? Does it mean that the said widow was never the owner of that piece of land or no longer the owner because her case was thrown out? What would be the interpretation of the bystanders watching the development. Would they copy the widow by approaching the court or choosing other extra-judicial means, such as the native doctor for remedy?
What about Jegede, the trader at Oshodi market in Lagos, who after a hangout with friends at a joint is double-crossed by a police van and whisked away as he is returning home, only to be charged the next day for armed robbery because he could not afford the N100,000 demanded of him as bribe for his freedom?
What happens after spending 10 years at Kirikiri Prison as Awaiting Trial Mate (ATM) and he regains freedom? What could be the subject of his conversation with other inmates regarding the idea of justice? What hope is for him to get some redress and move on with his life? Who is to blame in the entire process?
If Adamu, the politician wins the election to represent his Jema’a/Sanga constituency at the Kaduna State House of Assembly and the mandate is taken away from him because the political forces in the state deny him the opportunity with the endorsement of the courts, where does that leave the people who had thought that through the judicial process, justice would be done, but were disappointed?
These were the questions that must have agitated the minds of participants as they settled for the day’s business on Friday, November 29, at The Gallery, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Alausa, venue of the 2024 edition of The Gavel International Annual Conference, a yearly event where stakeholders dissect relevant legal issues affecting the polity.
It was an outing that showcased some of the most informed, influential and dedicated legal minds in the country, both in public and private practice, as they fielded their thoughts to a grand audience comprising journalists from different platforms, professionals from all fields and members of the public, who had converged on the venue.
Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice (AGF-MoJ), opened the discourse as the Keynote Speaker, alongside Dele Adesina (SAN), the Guest Lecturer, at the event hosted by Mustapha Kunle Ogunsaki, veteran journalist and Publisher of Gavel International, a leading online medium with special interest on the judiciary, with Gbenga Oyebodea a prominent lawyer as the Chairman, and Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi, former Minister of Health was father of the day.
In tow were also Lawal Pedro (SAN), Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner of Justice, Mr Lawal Pedro (SAN), Gbenga Omotoso, his Information counterpart, Kazeem Alogba, Acting Chief-Registrar, Tajudeen Elias, Anthony George-Ikoli (SAN), former Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Bayelsa State, Layi Babatunde (SAN), Femi Falana (SAN), foremost human rights activist, Maureen Chigbo, President, Guild of Online Publishers (GOCOP), and Mr Eze Anaba, President, Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE).
Others include Hope Eghagha of University of Lagos, Mustapha Sulaiman, Executive Director, NASCO Town Free Trade Zone, Yemi Olayinka of University of Lagos, Afolabi Ajayi of Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Bashorun Tope Alabi, Kayode Filani, Alex Ademola-Bankole, Chairman, Dixambra Group, Kunle Ajibade, Executive Director, TheNews group, Ayo Aminu, Managing Director, New Telegraph Newspapers, Mojeed Jamiu, Sunny Igboanugo, Publisher of Whirlwindnews.com.ng, Kayode Ogunbunmi, Olukayode Oyeleye, Richard Akinnola, Joke Layi-Babatunde, Asabe Waziri, Gbenga Ogunsakin, and a host of other dignitaries.
In issue was the true meaning and correct interpretation of the subject at the heart of the Nigerian justice system with regards to the oft-touted mantra – The Judiciary as the Last Hope of the Common Man Media and Legal Perspective. How true did this fit, given the Nigerian perspective given the clear depiction of justice by the late Chukwudifu Oputa, Justice of the Supreme Court (JSC), as he then was, as a three-way traffic – justice to the accused, to the accuser and the society..
Fagbemi, represented by Olukayode Olatoke, in advancing the theme, maintained that it was one in which both the legal profession and the media had a shared role to promote by holding the judiciary and government accountable, stated: “Media should keep educating the public on their rights and amplifying the voices of the oppressed. Media must ensure that the scale of justice remains balanced and ensure adequate reportage of positive news.
“Regardless of the need to publicise sensational news, we must always remember that we are first of all, Nigerians. It must be conceded that the media is a powerful tool, as it informs, educates and entertains, but when misused, it can harm our nation’s cohesion, stability, and progress. The power of the media be used to address issues constructively.
Stressing that the judiciary remained the pillar of democracy and its strength being a measure of the commitment to justice and equality, he said the media on the other hand, should adopt ethical journalism standards, balance their reports and avoid clickbait headlines, hee also said there was a need for the media to invest in fact-checking, promote constructive content and engage in capacity building.
“While much has been achieved, there is still work to be done and together with the judiciary, the executive, the media and the citizens, we can build a Nigeria where every individual, regardless of status or station, can find justice, hope, and dignity. The media has the power to disrupt or to unite. Let us urge our journalists and media organisations to rise to the occasion, fostering dialogue, promoting understanding, and building a stronger, more unified Nigeria.”
Adesina, a member of the Body of Benchers, who submitted that the judiciary was the last hope of not only the common man, but that of the uncommon, big and small, old and young, educated or illiterate, rich or poor as well as government and the governed, also said for every single case where justice appeared not to have been served, there were thousands of cases where justice have not only been done but have seen to be done.
The former Pro-Chancellor and Chairman Governing Council, Ekiti State University, while condemning violent attacks on the judges and justices of the courts, stating that the sustained blackmailing of the entire judicial system at the moment was not only wrong, but totally unhelpful to Nigeria as a country and even the citizens.
Hear him: “Please understand very well that I do not oppose constructive criticism of the judiciary, nor do I oppose clear and honest appraisal of the judiciary but the criticism of the nature and the kind we are hearing and reading about particularly in recent times are destructive and this will not help our justice system.
“It is my belief that we need to commit to self-examination that will culminate in self-realisation of our ultimate destination. With regards to the media and the judiciary, the golden rule of practice I submit is that the media must not make any comment which will tend to prejudice a fair trial. The media would do a greater service to Judiciary by promoting quality analysis of courts’ judgments.
“This can be done through lectures of this nature, analysis by informed men and women or through the publication of journals. I submit that the media must not make any comment which will tend to prejudice a fair trial. This is without prejudice to their duty to hold the government accountable.”
Ogunsakin, who in his welcome address, identified the judiciary and the media, as the two professions that could restore the hope of the common man, having been saddled with direct constitutional roles in the justice system, stressed the role of the legal profession was statutory, the media had the responsibility to represent the people by covering and reporting court proceedings, except those that had grievous implications on national security or cases involving minors.
Arguing that a country without justice would descend into chaos and anarchy, Ogunsakin, who stressed the need for the optimal recognition of the roles the two professionals played in this regard by those in authority, particularly advocated for inclusivity and transparency in the justice, suggesting for instance the process should include video recording of court proceedings where the constitution permits.”
The communique issued at the end of the lecture, which urged both media and legal professions to work together in restoring the dignity, independence, and equality before the law, the key roles of the judiciary in a society, also raised salient points about the judiciary that must be addressed. They include the following:
- The media must take seriously its duty to faithfully report the judiciary to inform the ordinary citizen about the importance of the Judiciary to the survival of any society, while members of the Bench and the Bar must bring about better implementation of the tenets of the law and uphold the dictum that ‘nobody is above the law’.
- Presently, trust in the judiciary is eroded to the extent that many believe there are two sets of laws in Nigeria – one for the rich and another for the poor and the upgrade in condition of service and introduction of new technologies to the courtrooms have not led to efficient dispense of justice
- We are in a situation where it is more important to know the judge than to know the law. The media has a symbiotic relationship with the judiciary, by highlighting its successes and failures for better outcomes
- The court of justice could be prohibitive for most Nigerians and even where free legal service is available, it might be easily accessible or of high quality. Judges are unable to defend themselves and are often at the mercy of unscrupulous lawyers and their clients
- Because Justice is rooted in public confidence, the conduct of some judges – especially in cases affecting politically exposed persons – is enough for people to have a negative opinion of the Bench. According to a recent poll, over 80 per cent of Nigerians consider corruption to be prevalent in the judiciary.
- Political cases have exposed the rot in the judiciary to Nigerians and most have no trust in the institution. Nigerians can still get justice, but it is not quick and takes determination and grit to get. Judges are often overwhelmed by too many cases and poor preparedness by prosecutors and solicitors
- There are modern technologies that could make life easier for judges, but they are not embracing these technologies. Lawyers complicate matters before the courts and do not like to see timely resolution of cases. There are courageous and upright judges, but the antics of the bad eggs tend to spoil the reputation of the institution
Participants therefore recommended the following:
Judicial workers must restore the dignity of the Judiciary as the last hope of the common man else anarchy would continue to reign and that the media must continue to hold the judiciary accountable and make it clean up its acts, as well as establish that judicial decisions are transparent to ensure justice is not only done, but is seen to have been done
Media should avoid undue sensationalism of cases and stop incidents of trial by media, which might be prejudicial and force judges to compromise on their decisions, access to justice should be a right and not a privilege, while lawyers and the leadership of the Bar must be proactive in rising to defend the honour of judges when under attack unfairly.
Stakeholders should support a bill presently before the Lagos State House of Assembly whose passage would ensure that no civil case lasts more than 12 months, while Magistrates should fulfill part of their duties of office through routine visits to detention centres because they have the power to release anyone deemed to be unfairly locked up.
There is need not only to bring back the cadre of activist judges that brought so much respect to the institution during the era of the military, but for financial autonomy for the judiciary. When courts could not determine how it would meet its own needs, it would have to go cap in hand to the Executive for support and this limits its independence.
In conclusion, participants thanked the management of Gavel International for putting this high-level Annual Lecture together, especially as the country battles with a rising lack of trust in the judiciary and needs to find ways to restore this to avoid a descent to the rule of the mob.
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Why Prominent Individuals Pay Premium for Online Credibility in the Digital Age – Ayobami Eruobami
As the global economy becomes increasingly digital, Eruobami Ayobami, Chairman of Erumedia Group & Charity Trust who also doubled as the founder of Pressford , has shared a bold perspective on the rising demand for online credibility and why individuals are now investing significantly to build it.
In a world dominated by platforms such as Instagram, LinkedIn, and TikTok, first impressions are no longer made in rooms but on screens.
“Credibility today is no longer something people wait to discover about you. It is something they search for instantly,” Ayobami stated. “If your digital presence does not validate your value, you are already at a disadvantage.”
This shift has transformed credibility into a high value digital asset one that professionals, founders, and public figures are now actively building through media exposure, strategic storytelling, and search visibility.
Erumedia Group: Building the Narrative Behind Credibility
As a Public Relations, communications and media company, www.erumediagroup.com focuses on shaping the foundation of credibility helping individuals and organizations define, structure, and communicate their stories with clarity and authority.
“Before visibility comes narrative. Many people struggle not because they lack value, but because they lack structured positioning,” Ayobami explained. “At Erumedia Group, we help clients refine their voice, their message, and the way they are perceived before they ever go public.”
Through brand development, storytelling strategy, and reputation positioning, the company ensures that credibility is not just visible but meaningful and consistent.
Pressford: Distributing Credibility at Scale
While narrative builds the core, Pressford plays a different role amplification.
As a press release distribution and digital PR platform, Pressford enables individuals and organizations to translate their credibility into verifiable public presence across media channels.
“Pressford exists because credibility must not only be built it must be seen, indexed, and validated publicly,” Ayobami said. “It gives individuals the infrastructure to show up in search results, in news mentions, and in conversations that matter.”
By making media visibility more accessible, Pressford addresses one of the biggest gaps in the digital credibility cycle: discoverability.
The Business of Being Seen
Ayobami notes that the increasing willingness to pay for credibility is not driven by vanity, but by necessity.
“Opportunities today are often given to those who appear prepared, visible, and validated. The market responds to perception before it investigates performance,” he stated.
However, he also warns against mistaking visibility for substance.
“If credibility is only built on aesthetics without real value behind it, it will fail. The goal is not to look credible it is to be credible and ensure that credibility is visible.”
A Shift That Cannot Be Ignored
As digital ecosystems continue to shape human interaction and business decisions, Ayobami believes the importance of intentional credibility building will only grow stronger.
“The future belongs to individuals who understand that credibility is not accidental. It is designed, positioned, and distributed,” he concluded.
Eruobami Ayobami is a Professional Public Relations Executive, Media Entrepreneur, Personal Brandinf Expert and communications strategist.
He Chairs Erumedia Group and Charity Trust and Founded Pressford. His work focuses on helping individuals and organizations build, structure, and amplify their digital credibility.
From Goodluck Jonathan, Nigeria’s former President, came a mild rebuke to Atiku Abubakar, former Vice President, who in assessing the quality of his six-year tenure as Nigerian leader, all but dismissed him as “inexperienced.”
Atiku, a guest of Prime Time, a public affairs programme on ARISE NEWS Television, last week, told his host that Jonathan was inexperienced, saying his tenure was marked by notable missteps.
“I know Goodluck Jonathan very well. He is a decent young man, but also inexperienced, and I believe that contributed to his inability to manage the affairs of the country, particularly when he was faced with challenges,” Atiku, currently chasing the number one job the former President exited in 2015 for the seventh time, said.
But in a measured riposte at the 2025 Association of Retired Career Ambassadors of Nigeria awards ceremony in Abuja on Monday, Jonathan, while acknowledging that he must have made some mistakes, argued that errors were inevitably with human beings as only God could be perfect,
Reacting to Atiku’s remarks, he told his audience: “So not too long ago, a very senior politician said, ‘Oh, Jonathan was too young and probably that’s why he made mistakes.’
“If I made mistakes, yes, nobody who becomes a governor or a president will say you did not make mistakes. Even when you promote yourself to the level of a god, you become a deity.
“All human beings must make mistakes. I became president in 2010 at the age of 53. I left in 2015 at the age of 58, and they say I was too young. Must it have been 100 years before I ran the affairs of the state?
“I’m talking to diplomats, so I can say that during my period, I knew what I did for us to appear in the UN Security Council two times… If I were so naive, I don’t think I would have been able to navigate through that process.”
Jonathan also spoke on regional affairs, warning that political instability remains a major obstacle to economic growth across West Africa. He stressed that without stable governance systems, meaningful development in the sub-region would remain elusive.
“We cannot progress economically if we are very unstable societies politically,” he said.
Jonathan noted that while the founders of ECOWAS envisioned strong economic cooperation, persistent political crises have hindered progress, particularly in enforcing democratic standards among member states.
“That means that ECOWAS must interfere with the internal affairs of the states, and the issue of sovereignty becomes a problem,” he said.
Jonathan urged leaders in the region to work collectively towards stability, saying, “The heads of states of ECOWAS must continue to work together and agree on concrete terms and make sure that the sub-region is politically stable.”
He added that economic integration efforts would falter without solid democratic institutions and called on Nigerian diplomats to properly document foreign policy experiences for future leaders.
Paying tribute to ECOWAS founders, including former Head of State Yakubu Gowon, Jonathan described the creation of the bloc in 1975 as a bold and necessary step toward regional unity and economic integration.
Gowon, who was also honoured at the event, recounted the origins of ECOWAS, linking its formation to post-war diplomatic engagements across West Africa.
According to him, “It was as a result of the various efforts of all Nigerians when we went through a very difficult period, and I had to go to the various countries to say thank you.”
He said discussions with regional leaders at the time led to a shared vision for broader cooperation.
“Why don’t we also think about having something that we can at least have in agreement for all of us when we are working together?” he said.
Gowon emphasised that ECOWAS was the product of collective effort rather than individual ambition, crediting government institutions and civil servants for its success.
“This would not have been possible without the support of all the staff of the Ministry of External Affairs and the Ministry of Economic Development,” he stated.
He added that the recognition bestowed on him should be shared widely.
“The honour that is being done to me today should really go back to all the staff that worked so hard to make sure that this became a reality,” he said.
Also speaking, the President of the Association of Retired Career Ambassadors of Nigeria, Joe Keshi, highlighted the importance of honouring excellence in diplomacy, noting that the awards celebrate dedication and service to Nigeria and the continent.
“Diplomacy is one profession where success is often invisible, reflected not by news coverage, but by maintained stability, prevented conflicts, cultivated partnerships,” he said.
Keshi noted that the event coincides with the 50th anniversary of ECOWAS, describing the organisation as “a bold experiment in regionalism,” and urged diplomats to adapt to evolving global challenges.
The Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Waheed Shaibu, also praised Gowon, describing him as a symbol of national unity and visionary leadership.
He said the recognition offers a chance to reflect on a legacy “defined by visionary leadership, courage, and unwavering commitment to the unity, stability, peace, and progress” of Nigeria.
Shaibu added that Gowon’s leadership reflected “patriotism, resilience, and a profound sense of duty,” while commending ARCAN for its continued contribution to diplomatic discourse and Nigeria’s global engagement.
After months of official hiatus, the Federal Government, on Tuesday finally got on the way with the trial of those fingered in the alleged plot to oust President Bola Ahmed Tinubu through a coup, including Timipre Sylva, former Minister of State for Petroleum.
The move, which apart from the former Governor of Bayelsa State, came with the filing of a 13-count charge before the Federal High Court, Abuja, against the alleged plotters including Mohammed Ibrahim Gana, a retired General in the Nigerian Army, Erasmus Ochegobia Victor, a retired Naval Captain, Ahmed Ibrahim, a serving police inspector, Zekeri Umoru, Bukar Goni, and Abdulkadir Sani.
Sylva, whose name surfaced as one of the plotters when the news first broke and believed to be the major financier of what would have led to another military government in Nigeria after the last ended in 1999, was listed as being at large – on the run.
The charge, filed on Monday by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and signed by the Director of Public Prosecutions, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), accuses the defendants of offences ranging from alleged treason and terrorism to failure to disclose security intelligence and money laundering linked to terrorism financing.
The prosecution alleged that the defendants conspired in 2025 “to levy war against the state to overpower the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria”, an offence punishable under Section 37(2) of the Criminal Code.
The Federal Government further alleged that the defendants had prior knowledge of a planned treasonable act involving one Colonel Mohammed Alhassan Ma’aji and others, but failed to alert authorities.
Furthermore, the defendants were also accused, according to the charge, of, while “knowing that a treasonable act was intended to be committed, did not give information thereof with all reasonable despatch to either the President… or a peace officer.”
They were also accused of failing to take preventive steps and “did not use any reasonable endeavours to prevent the commission of the offence”.
Beyond treason, the defendants are facing terrorism-related charges of conspiracy under the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, as they “conspired with one another to commit an act of terrorism in the Federal Republic of Nigeria”.
Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim and Zekeri Umoru were specifically accused of attending meetings linked to the alleged plot “in a bid to further a political ideology which may seriously destabilise the constitutional structure of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
The charge also accused the defendants of providing support for terrorism, alleging that they “knowingly and indirectly rendered support” to facilitate acts of terror.
The prosecution alleged deliberate suppression of intelligence, stating that the defendants “had information which would be of material assistance in preventing the commission of the act of terrorism but failed to disclose the information to the relevant agency as soon as practicable”.
Financially, several defendants were accused of handling funds linked to terrorism financing, in violation of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
Bukar Kashim Goni allegedly “indirectly retained the aggregate sum of N50,000,000, which forms part of the proceeds of an unlawful act, to wit: terrorism financing”, while Abdulkadir Sani allegedly retained N2m from a similar source.
According to the charge, Zekeri Umoru “without going through a financial institution accepted a cash payment of the sum of N10,000,000″ and also retained an additional N8.8m suspected to be proceeds of terrorism financing.
Inspector Ahmed Ibrahim was also accused of taking possession of “the sum of N1,000,000, being part of proceeds of terrorism financing”.
Alleged Coup Plot, Protests
After the Federal Government cancelled the parade to mark Nigeria’s 65th independence anniversary on October 1, 2025, reports had claimed that the move was linked to an alleged coup attempt.
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) dismissed the claims, however, saying the parade cancellation had nothing to do with the alleged coup attempt.
In January 2026, the DHQ confirmed that there was an attempt to overthrow President Tinubu.
The DHQ Director of Defence Information, Samaila Uba, said investigations showed some military personnel were involved in the alleged coup plot.
According to Uba, the officers have been detained and would be arraigned before military judicial panels.
Last month, families of the military officers detained over the alleged coup plot appealed to Tinubu to allow the suspects to be tried in an open court.
Human rights activist Omoyele Sowore protested alongside the detained officers’ families. They also asked for access to the alleged coup plotters.
Why Prominent Individuals Pay Premium for Online Credibility in the Digital Age – Ayobami Eruobami
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