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Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has underscored the importance of a fair, equitable, and transparent justice system, saying the survival of democracy in Nigeria depends largely on the integrity of the judiciary and the legal profession.
Governor Adeleke made the remarks at the 2026 annual national conference of Egbe Amofin Oodua held in Ile-Ife, where he urged judicial officers and legal practitioners to uphold the rule of law and maintain the highest ethical standards in the discharge of their duties.
Represented by the Deputy Governor, Kola Adewusi, Adeleke noted that the country was facing challenges in its democratic process, stressing that democracy would only thrive when judicial officials and lawyers remained committed to professional ethics and impartiality.
“The legal profession occupies a unique position in every democratic society because it serves as the bridge between power and justice, between authority and accountability, and between the government and the governed,” the governor said.
He added that the theme of the conference, “Advancing Constitutional Democracy, Accountability and Responsible Governance: The Role of Law,” reflected the realities confronting Nigeria and other democratic societies around the world.
“Enduring democracy can only flourish where the rule of law reigns supreme. No society can attain sustainable peace, development, or prosperity where laws are applied selectively, justice is delayed, or where citizens lose confidence in the institutions established to protect their rights,” he said.
Adeleke described the Constitution as the supreme expression of the people’s collective will, maintaining that the strength of democracy lies not only in the existence of laws but also in the commitment of institutions and citizens to obey and enforce them fairly and impartially.
He said the judiciary, often described as the last hope of the common man, must continue to inspire confidence among the public, saying, “Our judges must therefore continue to uphold the highest standards of integrity, independence, courage, and impartiality. They must remain guided solely by the law, the facts before them, and the dictates of justice.”
The governor also called on legal practitioners to regard themselves not merely as advocates for clients but as custodians of justice whose primary responsibility is to preserve the legal system and advance the cause of justice.
He warned that perceptions of bias, favouritism, corruption, or undue influence in the administration of justice could erode public trust and weaken the moral authority of the courts.
“Public confidence in the judiciary is one of the most valuable assets of any democracy and must be protected at all costs,” he said.
Adeleke observed that judicial transparency had become increasingly important in electoral and democratic processes, insisting that court interventions in election-related disputes must be guided by law, evidence, fairness, and constitutional principles.
He urged political actors and other stakeholders to remain committed to lawful conduct, democratic values, and peaceful engagement, stressing that political competition should never undermine respect for the law or the integrity of democratic institutions.
The family of former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, on Monday, raised the alarm after the Department of State Services, DSS, officials allegedly took him into custody following a court sitting at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
According to the family, the action was in apparent breach of existing court orders directing that he remain in the custody of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission ICPC.
El-Rufai’s second wife, Hasiat, who addressed journalists outside the DSS facility, said the family was traumatized by the development and lived daily under the shadow of threats and surveillance.
“We now live in constant fear. Every day we get a threat — DSS is coming to raid your house, ICPC is coming to raid your house, police are coming to raid your house. You are being followed. Our phones are tapped,” she said.
She narrated that earlier in the day, el-Rufai had appeared before Justice Joyce AbdulMalik of the Federal High Court, who granted bail and stood the matter down until 1pm.
During the break, she said, he was briefly taken to the DSS facility — a move he resisted, insisting that two subsisting court orders from a Kaduna court directed that he be remanded with the ICPC.
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“He said to them, I am not going to step down because there are two court orders that the Kaduna court gave that I should be remanded in ICPC. Why are you bringing me here? He said, I am not a furniture to be moved,” she recounted.
She said he was subsequently returned to the ICPC, but that after the afternoon session — during which the prosecution sought an adjournment and the judge fixed a resumption for the following day — he was again brought to the DSS instead of being returned to ICPC custody.
As of the time she spoke, she said el-Rufai had refused to step out of the vehicle.
“He told them that if you want to take me inside DSS custody, you will have to physically force me into doing this, because you had an agreement.
“When Justice AbdulMalik said I should go to DSS in the first instance, we told her that there are subsisting orders. And she said, let DSS and ICPC go and decide who will keep him — and you people decided they are keeping him with ICPC.
“What has changed?” she queried.
Hasiat also disclosed that el-Rufai, who has been in custody for 91 days, had been denied access to his personal physicians in violation of a court order by Justice Aikawa of the Kaduna State High Court granting him unfettered access to his lawyers and doctors.
She explained that the ICPC’s own in-house doctor had recommended that el-Rufai run medical tests, after which it was agreed that the doctors would return to discuss the results with him.
That agreement, she said, was subsequently disregarded.
