The President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, on Monday said reforms in Nigeria’s justice system must be deliberate, inclusive and carefully implemented to rebuild public confidence, warning against rushed changes that could worsen existing challenges.

Osigwe spoke in Abuja at the public presentation of a book titled “The Bar, Bench, and Good Governance in Africa,” a collection of essays written in his honour and unveiled at Rockview Royale Hotel, Wuse II.

He described the recognition as humbling and expressed appreciation to colleagues for examining the relationship between the Bar, the Bench and governance through a scholarly publication dedicated to his leadership.

According to him, justice delivery must be predictable, consistent and timely to earn public trust, stressing that reforming the system cannot be achieved within rigid timelines.

“There is no way you can have a time-bound reform and call it reform. Reforms are gradual. When you rush them, mistakes are made,” he said.

The NBA President identified the causes of delays and inefficiencies in the justice sector to include procedural bottlenecks, outdated rules and human factors involving judges, lawyers, litigants and witnesses. He said addressing these issues requires a holistic approach and a change in attitude among stakeholders.

He noted that while constitutional timelines have improved the handling of electoral and pre-election disputes, similar urgency has not been extended to commercial, criminal, civil and fundamental rights cases, which directly affect economic development and citizens’ welfare.

Osigwe maintained that the NBA alone cannot fix the justice system, emphasizing the need for collaboration among the executive, legislature and judiciary, as well as sustained media engagement.

“The NBA is not part of government. We do not have executive powers. Our role is to advocate, criticise constructively and propose solutions, including legislative and judicial reforms, rule amendments and better judicial appointments,” he said.

He added that both the Bar and the Bench must uphold internal accountability, discouraging abuse of court processes by lawyers and ensuring that judicial officers whose actions undermine justice are held responsible.

Expressing concern over declining public confidence in the judiciary, Osigwe said many Nigerians believe court judgments do not always translate into justice, thereby discouraging reliance on legal processes.

“People leave the courts feeling they got judgment but not justice. They see no predictability or consistency. That weakens confidence in the system,” he stated.

Earlier, the book’s editor, Dr. Chinedu Obienu, Principal Partner at Zest Partners, said Osigwe was honoured for his courage and commitment to good governance and institutional accountability.

He explained that the book contains scholarly contributions focused on judicial appointments, Bar–Bench relations and governance reforms across Africa.

Chief Ahmed Raji, SAN, described Osigwe as one of the association’s finest leaders and said the publication would contribute to strengthening governance systems on the continent. He, however, stressed that insecurity remains Nigeria’s most urgent challenge, warning that the rule of law cannot thrive without safety and stability.

Former NBA President, Augustine Alegeh, SAN, said the event celebrated service and national contribution rather than personal accolades, while Prof. Omoniyi Bukola Akinola of Baze University said the book highlights courageous leadership and renewed dignity within the Bar.

In his review, Justice Dakas C.J. Dakas described the 689-page volume as a robust intellectual work exploring the intersection of law, governance, technology and society, and challenging legal professionals to uphold integrity and constitutional order.

The event featured legal practitioners, judges, academics and senior advocates, with spoken-word performances highlighting Osigwe’s role in promoting rule of law, human rights and institutional reform.