Our Judges Are No Longer Impartial – El-Rufai Raises Alarm Over Legal Rot

Speaking on Monday at the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Bwari Branch Law Week in Abuja, El-Rufai expressed serious concerns about the growing public distrust in the judiciary. He attributed the loss of confidence to delayed court proceedings and perceived biased judgments.

El-Rufai lamented that justice in Nigeria increasingly appears skewed in favour of the wealthy and politically connected, with many Nigerians viewing the judiciary as a tool for the powerful to manipulate outcomes to their advantage.

He particularly condemned the rise in forum shopping and the misuse of ex parte orders—especially in politically charged cases—saying these tactics have worsened the perception that justice in Nigeria is for sale.

“The exploitation of ex parte motions for political advantage has become rampant,” he said. “People now believe that access to justice depends more on money and influence than on the merits of a case.”

El-Rufai also criticised some legal practitioners, accusing them of turning the courts into instruments for advancing personal or political interests. He called on the legal profession to reflect deeply on its role in upholding the integrity of the judicial system.

“Our judiciary, which should be a pillar of justice and order, is now under intense public scrutiny,” El-Rufai said. “Delayed justice, inefficient procedures, and even allegations of judicial compromise have severely undermined public trust.”

He further argued that the gap between law and justice in Nigeria is widening, with judicial decisions too often reflecting the interests of the executive rather than impartial legal principles.

El-Rufai urged lawyers and judges to examine whether the justice system truly upholds the principle of fairness, symbolised by the blindfolded Lady Justice holding balanced scales.

“You must ask yourselves: is Justitia truly blind? Does she hold the scales of justice evenly?” he challenged.