Hague Institute initiates people-centred justice reform

August 12, 2025 by Eric Ikhilae, Abuja

The Hague Institute for Innovation of Law (HiiL), in collaboration with Nigerian institutions and international partners, has launched a new chapter in justice sector reform in the country.

The initiative, titled “Implementing people-centred justice: The Nigerian story”, was launched during a landmark conference held in Abuja on August 7.

A statement by HiiL said the event highlighted how everyday Nigerians perceive the current justice gap.

The group noted that its 2025 Justice Needs and Satisfaction (JNS) report revealed that over 90 per cent of Nigerians experience at least one legal problem every four years.

These include land disputes, domestic violence, and workplace conflicts, yet cost, complexity, and distance often drive them away from formal systems.

The statement quoted HiiL’s

Senior Policy and Advocacy Advisor, Zainab Malik as saying: “People are not asking for miracles, they’re asking for justice that works.

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“That means justice that is fast, fair, effective, and affordable.”

According to the statement, a lawyer, Prince Adewole Adebayo, who was the keynote speaker, challenged participants to shift their mindset.

Adebayo was quoted as saying: “Justice is not the law. The law is merely a tool that can lead to justice—or not.

The statement further reads: “Concrete models were showcased during the event. Justice Olugboyega Ogunfowora introduced ‘Ibi Isadi,’ one of the HiiL pilots – a justice hub embedded in health centres.

“Magistrate Rebecca Kuwot Suku shared innovations using simple, local-language contracts to resolve disputes.

“Evangelist Michael O. Ikoku, HiiL’s first social impact investor in Nigeria, presented his journey toward establishing Community Justice Centres.

“The event included strategy-building workshops around four core areas –  guidelines, innovation, national strategy and data, emphasising practical next steps to reform.

“Mr. Fernandez Marcus-Obiene, SSA to the President, emphasised the need for broad collaboration, noting that the government alone cannot make things work. Implementation is everything.

“Let us all deliberately take action for good to improve our justice sector.

“HiiL reaffirmed its long-term commitment to supporting data-driven, locally-rooted justice innovation in Nigeria.”