“UK Court Said Leaving A Case In Nigerian Courts Would Be Catastrophic” — Osinbajo Laments Delays In Civil Litigation
Former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has highlighted structural weaknesses in Nigeria’s legal system, emphasizing the slow pace of civil litigation and the urgent need for reform, during the launch of Civil Litigation: A Quick Reference Guide To Substantive Law and Procedure authored by Retired Justice Oludotun Adefope-Okojie. The 853-page book was launched at the Shehu Musa Yar’adua Centre, Abuja.
Osinbajo opened his remarks by reflecting on the discouraging effect of excessive academic burdens on prospective lawyers. “I have three children. Two were expected to become lawyers, but none of them pursued the law. I think it’s because we burden them with excessive reading and too many books, which discourages them from practicing law,” he said.
He expressed concern over the inefficiency of Nigeria’s courts, noting that criminal and civil cases alike face systemic delays. Recalling a testimony from a former Chief Justice of Nigeria in a UK court case involving Ipoh and NNPC, he stated: “Resolving a civil case in Nigeria could take 20 to 30 years. The English Court of Appeal concluded that leaving such a case in Nigeria’s courts would be catastrophic.” Osinbajo described this ruling as “a very sad reflection on the administration of justice in our country,” but stressed that the issues are solvable.
Highlighting procedural bottlenecks, he criticized endless adjournments, preliminary objections, repeated standard phrases, and interlocutory appeals that prolong cases. “In such situations, justice is no longer about access it becomes about trying to leave the system at all,” he said.
Osinbajo also addressed the transformative role of technology and artificial intelligence (AI) in the legal profession. He noted that AI tools can analyze legal databases, provide opinions in the firm’s language, assist judges in drafting judgments, and even record proceedings without human interference. “AI is going to change practically everything… We may need to bring new tools and thinking to how civil litigation is done in our courts and how outcomes are determined,” he said.
He congratulated Justice Adefope-Okojie on the launch of the fourth edition of her book, describing it as a landmark contribution to improving civil procedure and enhancing judicial efficiency. “Most people only get to do one edition, perhaps a second, but a fourth edition is a tribute to your dedication, commitment to legal thought, and legal practice,” he said, wishing her continued health and success.
