Legal luminary and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Lateef Omoyemi Akangbe, has called on members of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to take the lead in restoring public trust in the country’s judicial system. Delivering a goodwill message to the NBA Benin Branch on the occasion of its 2025 Annual Law Week, Akangbe commended the Branch for selecting a theme that critically addresses the growing concerns over the credibility of justice delivery in Nigeria. The theme of the Law Week, “Restoring Credible Justice: Bridging the Gap Between Law and Public Trust in Nigeria’s Judiciary,” he noted, was both timely and necessary.
Akangbe emphasized that justice must not only be fair but also be seen to be fair, warning that when judgments are perceived as delayed or compromised, public confidence in the judiciary erodes. He charged legal practitioners to champion ethical conduct, advocate for institutional reforms, and remain fearless in upholding the rule of law. “Justice, if it must endure, must wear both the robe of fairness and the face of public confidence,” he said, urging lawyers to make the 2025 Law Week a catalyst for meaningful dialogue and lasting change in Nigeria’s legal system.
Read full statement below;
I salute the NBA Benin Branch for choosing a theme that does not flatter the times but interrogate it: “Restoring Credible Justice: Bridging the Gap Between Law and Public Trust in Nigeria’s Judiciary.”
Justice, if it must endure, must wear both the robe of fairness and the face of public confidence. When judgments appear compromised or delayed, the temple of Justice trembles.
The legal profession must lead the charge in rebuilding public trust through ethical practice, institutional reform, and fearless advocacy.
Wishing you all a thought-provoking and impactful Law Week.
LATEEF OMOYEMI AKANGBE SAN, FCIArb(UK)
Bencher Former Chairman, NBA Lagos Branch
