Sultan of Sokoto: Poor Nigerians Suffer Miscarriage of Justice While the Rich Walk Free
The Sultan of Sokoto has warned that justice in Nigeria is increasingly favoring the wealthy.
He urged legal practitioners at the NBA conference to defend fairness and restore public trust.
The Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, has expressed concern over what he described as the increasing monetization of justice in Nigeria, cautioning that the credibility of the judiciary could erode if urgent reforms are not introduced.

Speaking on Sunday at the 2025 Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Annual Conference in Enugu, the Sultan observed that the justice system appears to be tilting in favor of the wealthy at the expense of ordinary citizens.
“In our country today, justice seems to be for sale. The less privileged continue to suffer unfair treatment, while those with wealth and influence commit crimes and remain untouchable,” he stated.
He called on members of the legal profession to defend the sanctity of the law and ensure equity, insisting that no nation can flourish where justice is distorted to protect the powerful.
The monarch also commended the NBA for choosing fairness and equality before the law as this year’s theme, describing it as a timely step toward addressing one of Nigeria’s deepest governance challenges.
He further emphasized that guaranteeing accountability and ensuring that no individual is placed above the law will help rebuild public confidence in the judiciary and tackle the roots of systemic governance failures.
The conference, currently ongoing in Enugu, has brought together lawyers, policymakers, and stakeholders nationwide to deliberate on strengthening democratic institutions and safeguarding the rule of law.