Retired Justice Oludotun Adefope-Okojie, a former Court of Appeal judge, launched her latest work, A Quick Reference Guide To Substantive Law and Procedure, at the Shehu Musa Yar’adua Centre in Abuja.
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The event drew legal luminaries, scholars, and dignitaries, marking a significant moment for Nigeria’s judicial community. Justice Adefope-Okojie, celebrated for her distinguished career and candid advocacy, used the occasion to address pressing national issues, urging a transformation in the judiciary and society at large.
Justice Adefope-Okojie credited former Vice President Professor Yemi Osinbajo, a former head of the Justice Research Institute, for naming the book. “Not only were you the reviewer of the first edition, you actually gave the book its name,” she said, honoring his role in revolutionizing Lagos State’s administration of justice through amended rules emulated nationwide. The guide, a practical resource for legal practitioners, reflects her decades of experience and commitment to improving judicial efficiency.
In a passionate address, Justice Adefope-Okojie hailed Nigeria’s potential, stating, “We have the best brains wherever we go… the only problem is that we are not allowed to thrive.” She lamented the nation’s division along political, religious, and tribal lines, questioning, “What is the position of Nigeria? Who is thinking of this country?” She suggested that if unity cannot be achieved, a breakup might be considered, but urged, “If we don’t want to break up, then we must merge together.”
Highlighting the judiciary’s critical role as “the most powerful arm of government,” she expressed alarm at its current state. “The people have lost interest in the courts,” she noted, citing excessive backlogs and delays that deter investors. Drawing from a trip to Malaysia five years ago, where the chief justice tackled backlogs by engaging lower courts and leveraging technology, she advocated for similar reforms. “I don’t know why we are still writing longhand,” she remarked, calling for recording machines and arbitration centers even at the Supreme Court level.
Justice Adefope-Okojie called for boldness among judges, recalling the courage of past judicial sages who defied totalitarian regimes under Buhari and Babangida. She urged the National Judicial Council (NJC) to protect judges who stand against corruption, warning that frivolous petitions could undermine honest rulings. “Everybody has a skeleton in their cupboard,” she said, emphasizing the need to shield principled judges from retaliation.
She also appealed to the National Assembly and the presidency to pass pending judicial reform bills, a legacy of a justice summit she attended with former NBA President Mr. Y.C. Maikyau, SAN, “If you don’t deal with these bills and you leave the judiciary as it is, believe me, the judiciary will collapse. And when the judiciary collapses, the nation itself collapses,” she warned.
At over 70, Justice Adefope-Okojie reflected on her longevity, outliving her mother (67) and siblings, framing herself as an elder with a duty to speak. “I’m not looking for money… the Lord has blessed me,” she said, emphasizing her independence. She pleaded for merit and justice over technicality.
The retired justice also critiqued the electoral and political system, describing flawed party primaries and excessive litigation as undermining judicial efficiency. She stressed the importance of elevating merit and justice over technicalities, invoking landmark judicial precedents to illustrate her point.
Concluding her speech, Adefope-Okojie appealed to Nigerians to embrace unity, truth, righteousness, and justice as guiding principles for national development. “There has to be a change. The country is not moving. We cannot continue with bitterness, rank, and division. Justice must prevail,” she declared.
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