Jonathan urges judges and lawyers to strengthen institutions and uphold justice

YENAGOA — Former President Goodluck Jonathan urged legal professionals to strengthen Nigeria’s institutions, uphold justice, and protect the integrity of the country’s legal system.

Jonathan delivered the message on Friday at the opening ceremony of the 2026 Law Week of the Nigerian Bar Association in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.

The former president, who shared details of the event on his Facebook page, attended the programme with members of the association and other distinguished guests.

The 2026 Law Week carried the theme “Securing the Future: Sustainable National Asset Protection in Africa; Opportunities, Risks and Regulatory Pathways.”

During the plenary session, Jonathan called on both the Bench and the Bar to acknowledge their vital role in shaping the nation’s future through the promotion of justice, accountability, and effective regulatory frameworks.

He argued that a nation’s well‑being and progress depend largely on an impartial judiciary, strong institutions, and unwavering integrity.

Addressing legal practitioners and judicial officers as “stewards of the legal system” and “guardians of regulatory frameworks,” Jonathan emphasized the importance of remaining committed to fairness and the rule of law.

He noted that Nigeria’s future can only be secured when justice prevails over power, institutions are stronger than individuals, and the law offers equal protection to both the powerful and the vulnerable.

Jonathan also called for reforms to the country’s post‑colonial education system, arguing that it must be repositioned to meet the realities and demands of a rapidly changing world.

He maintained that the combined pursuit of justice, strong institutions, educational reform, and equality before the law will lay the foundation for a stable, prosperous, and just society.

According to Jonathan, the legal profession has a central role in advancing these ideals and ensuring sustainable national development.

The post Jonathan urges judiciary, legal practitioners to strengthen institutions, uphold justice appeared first on Vanguard News.