By SCM Reporter
LAGOS — FORMER Lagos State Governor and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, has challenged the legal profession to take a more proactive role in tackling Nigeria’s persistent security challenges, asserting that the battle against criminality cannot be won by politicians and security agencies alone.
Fashola made this declaration on Tuesday while delivering the keynote address at the opening of the 2026 Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ikeja Branch Law Week, held in Lagos.
Speaking on the lecture topic, “Law, Leadership and the Ballot: Governance Beyond Politics,” the former Minister of Works and Housing stated that Attorneys-General across the federation and states must step out of the shadows and be more visibly engaged in national conversations regarding security and justice administration.
According to him, the current public accountability structure is fundamentally flawed, as responsibilities are often dumped entirely on the doorsteps of the President and State Governors, while critical legal institutions remain in the background.
Coordinated Approach to Crime
Fashola argued that effective crime control relies on a robust four-pillared foundation: prevention, detection, prosecution, and conviction. He warned that weak enforcement of existing laws continues to heavily undermine public safety.
”The fight against crime requires a coordinated approach involving the executive, legislature, and judiciary, with lawyers playing a central role in shaping and enforcing effective legal responses,” Fashola said.
Linking national security to economic stability, the former governor maintained that without a fierce commitment to the rule of law, Nigeria’s efforts toward social and economic advancement would yield limited results.
In a practical recommendation for modern policing, Fashola called for the strict enforcement of laws governing vehicle registration. He argued that total accountability on public roads is vital for state security.
”Anonymity on public roads creates loopholes for criminal activities and weakens law enforcement capacity,” he noted, adding that number plates must be treated as critical tools for accountability rather than mere administrative routines.
’Ditch Archaic Legal Jargon’
Reacting to the Law Week’s core theme, “Altering the Status Quo: Going Against the Norm,” the senior advocate also urged his colleagues to reform how legal language is utilized in court processes.
He specifically took aim at the frequent use of the Latin phrase “status quo,” noting that it frequently confuses the public and leads to conflicting interpretations of court judgments. He recommended that lawyers and judges adopt simpler, clearer alternatives like “current situation” to foster public trust.
Earlier in his opening remarks, the Chairman of the NBA Ikeja Branch, Mr. Adeniji Quadri, explained that the week’s theme was a deliberate call for bold thinking and institutional overhaul amidst severe economic and security pressures.
Quadri emphasized that the legal profession must continuously interrogate whether Nigeria’s existing legal structures are truly delivering justice and meeting the expectations of the masses.
Corroborating his views, the Chairman of the Law Week Planning Committee, Mr. Chukwudi Enebeli, stated that the annual program was intentionally curated to provoke uncomfortable but critical conversations around governance, accountability, and national growth.
Enebeli revealed that the 2026 Law Week, which continues through the week, will feature high-level sessions with key policymakers, including the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, as well as a highly anticipated memorial lecture to be delivered by renowned human rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana, SAN.
