Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has charged judges to consider the overall impact of their judgements on the polity, stressing that the quality of justice delivered by the courts is closely linked to law and order and national development.
Fubara made the call in Port Harcourt on Sunday August 23 2026 while declaring open the 66th Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), with the theme, “Beyond Limits.”
The governor urged judges to ensure that truth prevails at all times, irrespective of the status or social affiliations of parties appearing before them.
“We cannot continue to insulate our laws from today’s reality; neither should justice remain shackled by unjust precedents, technicalities, inadequate access, undue delays, slavish adherence to rigid processes, political manipulation, or brazen corruption.
The prevalence of these serious impediments to justice in our polity has damaged and continues to damage the reputation of the Judiciary and the bar,” he said.
According to Fubara, the judiciary remains critical to the sustenance of democracy, good governance and economic development, describing the courts as the ultimate refuge for citizens seeking justice, accountability, human dignity and enforcement of their constitutional rights.
He said the ultimate aim of law was to protect and advance the security and wellbeing of citizens by ensuring equality before the law, safeguarding fundamental human rights and creating an environment conducive to socioeconomic activities and national transformation.
“Consequently, we expect that our judges should not be mere apologists or conformists if they are to be the ultimate guardians of our democracy, the rule of law and the advancement of peace and good governance in our country”.
The governor said public confidence in the judiciary would improve when judges demonstrate sound knowledge of the law, excellent legal reasoning, courage, commitment and integrity in holding both government and citizens accountable to the Constitution and the rule of law.
“This is perhaps the only way to ensure that justice is not merely an ideal but one that can transform our society by being present in the life of our nation and of every citizen, including those at society’s margins, not just the privileged few.
“It is said that in times of uncertainty, particularly when political power attempts to overreach the Constitution and the rule of law, it is the courage of the legal profession that can intervene to nip such aberations in the bud and ensure that the process of power is not used to circumvent the laws of the land and the values of democracy,” he said.
Addressing Nigerian lawyers, Fubara urged them, as ministers and custodians of justice, to rise above real or perceived constraints in protecting the Constitution and advancing the people’s rights to democracy and good governance.
“In Rivers State, we understand what it means to push beyond limits. We have walked through the furnace of power, may have been bruised, yet remain unbowed in our determination to safeguard our unity, peace and progress and are more resolved than ever in our commitment to delivering the dividends of democracy to our people,” he said.
Also speaking at the conference, former President of Liberia, George Weah, who delivered the keynote address, called for an independent judiciary and a fearless legal profession to safeguard democracy and protect citizens’ rights and freedoms.
Weah charged lawyers and judges to remain impartial in the administration of justice, warning that threats to democracy could come from weakened judicial institutions as much as from military force or political leaders who refuse to relinquish power.
According to him, “Democracy doesn’t end on the election night, but it is tested every single day,” he added that “democracy cannot survive on strong men but on strong institutions.”
The former Liberian leader also described as a dangerous threat to democracy, governments that claim to be democratic but are corrupt and collaborate with judges to undermine the rule of law and manipulate society.
