Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), delivered a powerful address at the 2025 NBA Section on Legal Practice (NBA-SLP) Annual Conference in Jos, Plateau State.
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The conference, themed “Uncommon Challenges in a Rapidly Changing Legal Environment,” convened legal practitioners and thought leaders to tackle pressing issues in the legal profession.
Osigwe highlighted the evolving complexities of legal practice, urging reforms to enhance access to justice, streamline service delivery, and foster innovation. A key focus was the overburdened Supreme Court, which he noted is inundated with appeals that could be resolved at lower courts. He called for a re-examination of Nigeria’s appellate framework to reduce the apex court’s workload, enabling it to prioritize constitutional and precedent-setting cases.
The NBA President also addressed inefficiencies in court processes, questioning why judgments remain inaccessible to litigants, lawyers, and the public in the digital age. He advocated for a robust judicial digital infrastructure, including e-filing systems and prompt publication of judgments, citing the National Industrial Court’s digital advancements as a model for others. Osigwe further championed the broader adoption of virtual court hearings for cases not requiring physical appearances, aligning the profession with global technological best practices.
Emphasizing the legal profession’s core mission, Osigwe urged lawyers to uphold justice, fairness, and the rule of law. He encouraged conferees to use the platform to reflect on their roles as custodians of justice and to commit to integrity-driven practices.
The NBA President commended the NBA-SLP leadership for organizing the timely conference and welcomed delegates to what he described as a dynamic exchange of ideas poised to shape the future of legal practice in Nigeria.
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