Senior Advocate of Nigeria George Ukaegbu has called for broad reform of Nigeria’s justice system, arguing that declining public confidence has made it difficult to continue describing the judiciary as the unquestioned last hope of ordinary citizens.
Ukaegbu, who is also National President of the Zenith Environmental and Social Protection Network, spoke in Port Harcourt during the organization’s 2026 Dinner and Award Night.
He said the challenges facing the judiciary reflected wider deterioration in societal values and institutions.
According to him, judicial reform could not succeed in isolation because courts operated within the same political, social and administrative environment as other public institutions.
Ukaegbu said concerns over the quality and perception of justice had become visible enough to require serious institutional attention.
He agreed with the event’s keynote speaker that the judiciary remained central to constitutional democracy but said public faith in that role had weakened.
The Senior Advocate also outlined ZESPRONET’s work in environmental protection and social intervention.
He said the organisation provided pro bono legal assistance in selected cases involving indigent members of the public.
Keynote speaker Obum Nwoye described the judiciary as a critical pillar of the separation of powers.
He said courts were responsible for protecting constitutional supremacy, enforcing fundamental rights and resolving disputes between citizens and government.
The event’s central argument was that the credibility of the justice system depended not only on constitutional guarantees but also on judicial independence, ethical standards, transparency and consistent application of the law.
Ukaegbu said wider reform across Nigerian institutions would be necessary to rebuild public trust.
