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The slogan gained prominence in the aftermath of the Birmingham pub bombings and the subsequent conviction of six Irish men the now infamous Birmingham Six. Their case quickly became a lightning rod for allegations of coerced confessions, police misconduct, and a justice system more interested in closure than correctness.
The intersection of law and politics in Nigeria is profound and longstanding. Lawyers have disproportionately shaped the country’s political landscape, from pre-independence nationalism to post-1999 democratic governance. Legal training emphasizing advocacy, constitutional interpretation, negotiation, evidence-based reasoning, and oratory equips practitioners exceptionally well for political roles. This pattern reflects both the profession’s prestige and Nigeria’s constitutional emphasis on legal expertise in governance.
The prosecution says he cannot be trusted because he once faced disciplinary proceedings in another jurisdiction decades ago. Yet even if every fact of that matter is accepted, the question before this court remains simple: what relevance does an event from more than twenty years ago have to allegations made today?
If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be appointed to you
Nigeria has finally built the legal architecture for a self-sufficient judiciary. The challenge for the remainder of 2026 and beyond is ensuring fiscal discipline. With the judiciary now managing its own billions, the public is shifting its focus from "Why is the court broke?" to "How transparently is the court spending our money?" For the first time in history, the Nigerian judiciary has the tools to be truly independent, now, it just needs to prove it can manage them.
Centre for Nigeria Progress 