A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Olukunle Ogheneovo Edun, has warned that the perception that justice can be bought in Nigeria poses a grave threat to democracy, the rule of law, and national stability.

Delivering a lead paper titled “Justice for Sale: Who Truly Pays the Price?” At the 2026 Law Week of the Benin Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Edun argued that the commodification of justice has become one of the most pressing challenges confronting Nigeria’s legal system.

The senior advocate of Nigeria described the notion of justice being influenced by wealth, political power, or social connections as a national crisis that extends beyond academic debate and affects the daily lives of ordinary Nigerians.

According to him, allegations that judicial outcomes and legal processes can be manipulated by money and influence have weakened public confidence in the judiciary and raised concerns about whether access to justice is still determined by the merits of a case.

He said: “If justice is indeed for sale, who ultimately bears the cost?” he asked. “The poor litigant, the ethical lawyer, the judiciary, and society at large all become victims.”

Edun noted that justice is compromised whenever judicial outcomes are improperly influenced, legal procedures are manipulated to secure unfair advantages, or access to the courts depends more on financial capacity than legal merit.

The SAN identified bribery, judicial corruption, procedural abuse, delay tactics, and unequal access to quality legal representation as some of the major manifestations of what he termed the commercialisation of justice.

The senior advocate expressed concern over the rising cost of litigation, arguing that exorbitant filing fees, legal expenses, and endless adjournments have made justice increasingly inaccessible to many Nigerians.

MEANWHILE, the administration of justice has finally come to a complete halt in the Enugu North Senatorial District following an indefinite strike action declared by the NBA, Nsukka, and Obollo-Afor branches.

The legal practitioners, yesterday, created gridlock for several hours as they marched the streets of Nsukka in protest over alleged breakdown in justice delivery in the area, which comprised five judicial divisions, including Obollo-Afor Judicial Division, Enugu-Ezike Judicial Division, Ogbede Judicial Division, and the Umulokpa Judicial Division.

They were protesting what they described as the systematic abandonment of the courts, rampant administrative extortion, and a deeply flawed transition to virtual hearings that has left litigants stranded.

Chairman of the NBA, Nsukka Branch, Christian Agbo, told journalists that the lawyers had been pushed to the wall after months of enduring agonising working conditions.