Judiciary remains bedrock of modern society, says Uba Sani

<strong>Uba Sani of Kaduna State has described the judiciary as an indispensable institution in modern society, stressing that its independence and integrity must never be compromised.

Sani stated this on Monday at the commissioning of the Justice Muhammadu Bello Bar Centre and the opening of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Kaduna Branch Law Week 2026 in Kaduna.

He said the judiciary remained the guardian of constitutional order, protector of civil liberties, defender of due process and custodian of societal equilibrium.

According to him, during periods of uncertainty and national strain, citizens often turn to the judiciary for reassurance that justice, fairness and reason will prevail.

“As a government, we fully recognise the pivotal role of the judiciary and the legal profession in sustaining democratic stability, advancing peaceful coexistence, protecting rights, resolving disputes and deepening public confidence in governance.

“Our administration therefore remains committed to supporting initiatives that strengthen judicial infrastructure, enhance institutional capacity, improve access to justice and promote professional excellence within the legal ecosystem,” he said.

The governor noted that no society could attain sustainable development where the rule of law was weak, institutions were fragile and justice inaccessible to ordinary citizens.

Sani also described the theme of the 2026 Law Week, “ACTIVATE! Empowering Lawyers in the Digital Age,” as timely and significant.

He said technological advancement, artificial intelligence and digital communication were transforming governance, economies, legal practice and evidentiary standards globally.

“The legal profession must not merely react to technological transformations but proactively shape them.

“Lawyers of this generation must cultivate technological literacy alongside legal scholarship. They must embrace innovation while preserving the ethical foundations of the profession,” he said.

Sani further urged legal practitioners to remain intellectually agile, globally aware and committed to justice and professional responsibility.

Earlier, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, described the commissioning of the Bar Centre and the Law Week as symbolic of the resilience and progressive vision of the legal profession in Nigeria.

Fagbemi commended the Kaduna State Government for supporting the completion of the project and advancing the cause of justice and institutional development in the state.

He paid tribute to the late Justice Mohammed Bello, former Chief Justice of Nigeria, describing him as an icon of judicial integrity and intellectual distinction whose contributions to Nigerian jurisprudence remained indelible.

According to him, the Bar Centre should serve as a hub for continuing legal education, policy discourse, innovation, professional collaboration and access to justice initiatives.

The minister also stressed the need for collaboration among the Bar, the Bench and the Executive while respecting the constitutional independence of each institution.

“Such collaboration does not diminish the role or authority of any arm of government or institution. Rather, it strengthens governance, deepens democracy and enhances justice delivery,” he said.

Also speaking, the President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Afam Osigwe, SAN, commended the Kaduna Branch for completing the Bar Centre project.

Osigwe also acknowledged the contributions of past NBA administrations and the Kaduna State Government toward the successful execution of the project.

He urged NBA branches across the country to invest in infrastructure that would provide operational support and generate revenue for their branches.

The NBA president further emphasised that cooperation between the Bar and government should not be misconstrued as compromising the independence of the legal profession.

“We may disagree or offer constructive criticisms, but we are committed to building a better society where the rule of law is upheld,” he said.