SAN Raises Alarm Over Judicial Courage Deficit in Nigeria

Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika, has raised concerns over what he described as a “worrying scarcity of judicial courage” in the country, warning that iconic activists like the late Gani Fawehinmi “would likely have perished in detention” under today’s judicial environment.

Olumide-Fusika spoke at a memorial lecture organised by the Ikeja branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in honour of the late human rights lawyer, Adeshina Ogunlana. The event, themed “Adeshina Ogunlana: The Man, the Law and the Struggle for Social Justice,” attracted judges, lawyers, academics, human rights advocates, and family members.

In his lecture, Olumide-Fusika criticized governance failures, judicial inertia, and internal NBA politics, highlighting Ogunlana’s relentless fight for legal and social reforms.

“We are in a society where judges no longer grant what the government opposes,” he said, stressing that this trend should concern every Nigerian. He commended Ogunlana’s resistance to state attempts to “buy off or intimidate” branch leadership, noting that some leaders faced arrest for refusing bribes.

The SAN defended Ogunlana’s preference for public protest over litigation, describing it as “social realism,” noting that injunctions against the state were rarely granted and court processes were often slow and compromised.

Highlighting Ogunlana’s activism, Olumide-Fusika recalled the lawyer’s successful campaign against the controversial 2018 Lagos State Land Use Charge Law, which initially caused a 400 per cent increase in rates. Ogunlana’s advocacy led to a 50 per cent reduction and later amendments to the law, although some constitutional issues remain unresolved.

The late lawyer also faced internal NBA challenges, including annulment of his 2016 election, emergence of rival chairmen, and prosecution by the EFCC over alleged misappropriation of branch funds—a case Olumide-Fusika described as “state repression disguised as anti-corruption.”

Former Vice-Chancellor of Lagos State University, Prof. Lanre Fagbohun (SAN), also paid tribute, describing Ogunlana as “a fearless champion of social justice whose legacy will endure.” He recalled Ogunlana’s student activism, leadership in protests, and innovative court monitoring initiative, S.Q.U.I.P., which sought to instill discipline in judges.

Fagbohun noted, “It was never about titles or attire. Ogunlana confronted injustice wherever it appeared.” He urged attendees to uphold Ogunlana’s legacy by standing for truth and justice in their spheres of influence.

Other NBA branches and dignitaries hailed Ogunlana as a “voice of the voiceless” and a “champion of the people,” celebrating his dedication to public service and advocacy for social justice.