The Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar, has warned that justice in Nigeria is increasingly becoming a “purchasable commodity,” where the poor are victims and the rich evade accountability.

The Sultan, who spoke as a guest speaker at the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) Annual General Conference in Enugu on Sunday, cautioned that the integrity of the judicial system is being undermined by corruption and inequality.

“Today, justice is increasingly becoming a purchasable commodity, and the poor are becoming victims of this kind of justice, while the rich commit all manner of crime and walk the streets scot-free,” he said.

He, however, commended the NBA for choosing the theme “Stand Out and Stand Tall”, saying it aligns with the urgent need for lawyers to deliver on their professional mandate.

According to him, the legal profession must remain committed to upholding the rule of law to ensure fairness, accountability, and equality before the law.

“You are resolving to uphold the highest principles of the rule of law to ensure that everyone, including those in power, is subject to and accountable under the law. If we are able to do this, we would have addressed the core of the crisis of governance in this country,” he stated.