The bail process in the administration of the criminal justice system is meant to be a temporary reprieve for all defendants who have allegations made against them before the Court, pending the conclusion of the trial and at times, the hearing and determination of the appeal.

As Nigeria settles into 2026, the nation’s courts will undoubtedly become the most consequential theatres of power.

In a year marked by heightened public scrutiny, political tensions, constitutional contestations and renewed focus on justice delivery, the Nigerian judiciary found itself at the centre of national conversation.

Barely months after President Bola Tinubu assented to four landmark tax reform Acts aimed at overhauling Nigeria’s fiscal framework, a fresh controversy that threatens to undermine the credibility, legality and enforceability of the new laws before their scheduled commencement on January 1, 2026, erupted last week.

The Supreme Court’s judgment on the suit challenging President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency has triggered intense constitutional debate, reopening old questions about federalism, executive power and the fragility of democratic mandates.

The decade-long trial of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu finally reached a dramatic climax last week when the Federal High Court, Abuja, convicted and sentenced him to life imprisonment on terrorism charges—closing one of the most contentious criminal proceedings in Nigeria’s recent history.

The flurry of activities since November 3, 2025, when America declared Nigeria as a country of particular concern, has been mind-boggling but generally not unexpected.

Nigerians were jolted last week after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to invade the country over what he called a “Christian genocide.” Trump’s fiery remarks, made during a rally in Texas, accused President Bola Tinubu’s administration of failing to protect Nigeria’s Christian population from systematic killings in the North and Middle Belt.

The recent arrest and disappearance of human rights activist, Omoyele Sowore during the Free Nnamdi Kanu protest in Abuja once again expose the fragile foundations of Nigeria’s democracy and the deep-seated contempt for the rule of law by its security agencies.

By Henry Ojelu When President Bola Tinubu announced the pardon of 175  ex-convicts earlier this month under the Federal Government’s Prerogative of Mercy, the gesture was expected to demonstrate compassion, align with the administration’s commitment to justice reform, and decongest overcrowded correctional centres across the country. But instead of applause, the decision stirred intense controversy, […]

By Okechukwu Nwanguma October 2020 marked a defining moment in Nigeria’s history. For weeks, young Nigerians occupied streets and public squares, united by a simple but profound demand: End Police brutality, ensure accountability, and reform the Nigeria Police. The #EndSARS movement was a cry from a generation that had grown weary of impunity. It was […]

In this interview, Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Lawal Pedro, SAN, reflects on his two years in office.

At independence in 1960, the Union Jack which was lowered on October 1 of that year gave way to the green white green flag which we still fly till date.

The Nigerian justice system is standing at the edge of a digital frontier. With the rise of Artificial Intelligence, AI, e-filing platforms, digital case management, and the growing threat of cyberattacks, judges, lawyers, and lawmakers are being forced to confront questions that go beyond the law.

Dr. Monday Ubani, SAN, is the Chairman of Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Electoral Reform Committee.  In this interview with Vanguard Law and Human Rights, he highlights vague provisions on electronic transmission of results, the heavy evidentiary burden on petitioners, and the misuse of “substantial compliance,” in the Electoral Act.