Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has charged judges to weigh the broader consequences of their rulings on society, insisting that the integrity of justice dispensed by the courts is central to sustaining law and order and driving national development.
Fubara spoke on Sunday while declaring open the 66th Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association, themed “Beyond Limits,” in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.
He said judges must uphold truth at all times, regardless of the status or affiliations of those before them, warning that Nigeria’s legal system can no longer be shielded from present-day realities or bound by outdated precedents, technicalities, poor access, delays, rigid procedures, political interference, or corruption. He added that these failures have continued to erode public confidence in both the judiciary and the bar.
According to the governor, the legal system underpins the relationship between government, institutions, and citizens in a democracy, and the judiciary — beyond enforcing the rule of law — is indispensable to good governance and economic growth. He described the courts as more than dispute-resolution venues, calling them a last resort for ordinary citizens seeking justice, accountability, dignity, and the protection of their constitutional rights.
Fubara said judges must not act as apologists or conformists if they are to remain true guardians of democracy, the rule of law, and good governance.
He noted that public trust in the judiciary grows only when judges show sound legal knowledge, strong reasoning, courage, and integrity — holding both government and the governed accountable to the constitution. This, he said, is how justice moves from being a mere ideal to a lived reality for all citizens, including the most marginalised, not just the privileged.
He further stressed that when political power threatens to override the constitution, it falls on the courage of the legal profession to check such excesses and defend democratic values. Reflecting on Rivers State’s recent political turbulence, Fubara said the state has been tested but remains committed to safeguarding its unity, peace, and progress.
Former President of Liberia, George Weah, who delivered the conference’s keynote address, echoed the call for judicial independence, stressing that a fearless bar and an impartial bench are essential to protecting citizens’ rights and freedoms in any nation.
Weah reminded delegates that democracy is not decided on election night alone but tested daily, and that it survives on strong institutions rather than strongmen. He warned that governments which claim to be democratic while colluding with judges to subvert the rule of law pose a serious threat to democratic governance.
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