Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar, has raised concerns that Nigeria’s justice system increasingly favours the wealthy, leaving the poor to suffer.
The Sultan made the remarks on Sunday in Enugu while speaking at the Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA. He said corruption and inequality are weakening the country’s courts, adding, “Justice is increasingly becoming a purchasable commodity, and the poor are becoming victims, while the rich commit all manner of crime and walk the streets scot-free”.
He warned that this imbalance fuels anger, mistrust, and potential violence, stressing 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.
Analysts note that a justice system skewed 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.
