AGF Lateef Fagbemi Urges African Lawyers to Strengthen Rule of Law at AfBA 2026 Conference
The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Olasunkanmi Fagbemi, SAN, has called on African lawyers to strengthen the rule of law, legal institutions and continental cooperation as Africa confronts growing security, economic and governance challenges.
Fagbemi made the call in his goodwill message at the 2026 Annual Conference of the African Bar Association (AfBA) holding in Sal, Republic of Cabo Verde, from September 20 to 24, where he described the conference theme, “Resilient Africa’s Roadmap for Sustainable Development: Strengthening and Addressing Issues of Military, Security and Economic Stability,” as timely and compelling.
According to the Attorney-General, Africa’s pursuit of sustainable development cannot be separated from strong institutions, respect for the rule of law, access to justice, human rights protection and accountable governance. He urged lawyers, judges and other justice-sector stakeholders to play a leading role in developing lawful and sustainable responses to security threats, democratic transitions, economic pressures, technological disruption and transnational crimes.
Fagbemi also called for deeper cooperation among African legal practitioners and institutions, particularly in mutual legal assistance, cross-border cooperation, asset recovery, combating corruption and organised crime, digital and cybercrime legislation, and the harmonisation and effective implementation of legal frameworks.
Read the full message below
GOODWILL MESSAGE BY THE HONOURABLE ATTORNEY-GENERAL OF THE FEDERATION AND MINISTER OF JUSTICE OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA, PRINCE LATEEF OLASUNKANMI FAGBEMI, SAN, AT THE 2026 ANNUAL CONFERENCE OF THE AFRICAN BAR ASSOCIATION (AfBA), SAL, REPUBLIC OF CABO VERDE, 20–24 SEPTEMBER 2026
PROTOCOLS
It gives me great pleasure to extend warm greetings and heartfelt goodwill to the leadership, members, and distinguished delegates of the African Bar Association as we gather for this 2026 Annual Conference, taking place in this beautiful island city of Sal — a vibrant beacon of Cabo Verde’s rich hospitality, stunning coastal landscape, and enduring stability. This beautiful setting undoubtedly serves as a fitting backdrop for a gathering dedicated to the advancement of our continent.
2. Let me start by commending the African Bar Association for its unwavering leadership, visionary advocacy, and steadfast commitment to advancing the legal profession, fostering regional collaboration and strengthening the rule of law across our continent. The AfBA continues to be a vital catalyst for institutional integrity and continental unity, uniting legal minds to build a more secure, just, and resilient Africa.
3. The theme of this year’s Conference, “Resilient Africa’s Roadmap for Sustainable Development: Strengthening and Addressing Issues of Military, Security and Economic Stability,” is both timely and compelling. It speaks directly to some of the most pressing challenges confronting our continent and underscores the important role that lawyers, judges, policymakers, and other justice-sector stakeholders must play in shaping Africa’s response.
4. Africa’s quest for sustainable development cannot be separated from the existence of strong institutions, respect for the rule of law, access to justice, protection of human rights, and accountable governance. The legal profession therefore has a particularly important responsibility to provide the intellectual, institutional, and ethical foundations upon which resilient African societies can be built.
5. As lawyers, we are not merely practitioners of law. We are custodians of justice, defenders of constitutionalism, and important participants in the development of our societies. At a time when our continent continues to confront security threats, democratic transitions, economic pressures, technological disruption, and emerging transnational crimes, the legal profession must remain at the forefront of finding innovative, lawful, and sustainable solutions.
6. Distinguished delegates and participants, there is also a compelling need for greater cooperation among African legal practitioners and institutions. Our shared challenges transcend national boundaries and require collective responses. Strengthening mutual legal assistance, cross-border cooperation, asset recovery mechanisms, the fight against corruption and organized crime, digital and cybercrime legislation, as well as the harmonization and effective implementation of appropriate legal frameworks, will contribute significantly to a safer and more prosperous Africa.
7. Furthermore, as we advocate for economic integration and peace, we must confront the painful internal fractures that undermine our collective unity, most notably the recurring waves of xenophobic attacks against fellow Africans, racial discrimination, and tribal intolerance across various parts of our continent. Sustainable development cannot take root in an atmosphere of intolerance or intra-African hostility. As legal practitioners, we must champion legal frameworks and human rights protections that safeguard migrants, refugees, and minorities, ensuring that every African can live, work, and thrive anywhere on the continent free from fear, discrimination, or vigilante violence. True African resilience requires an unyielding commitment to unity, brotherhood, and equal protection under the law.
8. I wish to emphasize that Nigeria remains firmly committed to the promotion of the rule of law, justice-sector reform, and stronger legal institutions. We recognize that an effective justice system is indispensable to national development, economic stability, and public confidence in government. In Nigeria, this commitment is demonstrated through concrete statutory and procedural interventions designed to tackle systemic bottlenecks and align with the security and governance goals of this Conference.Law Enforcement Updates
9. To eliminate chronic trial delays and enhance institutional efficiency, we are advancing key legislative amendments to our criminal justice framework, including mandatory pre-trial case management, the full integration of digitized court proceedings, and legislative measures to prevent trials from starting de novo when judges are elevated or transferred.
10. Furthermore, to ensure that law enforcement and judicial outcomes are uniform across our sub-national entities, Nigeria has introduced the National Minimum Standards on Criminal Justice alongside a nationwide Harmonized Restorative Justice Framework. By establishing operational benchmarks across all jurisdictions, we are preventing criminals from exploiting jurisdictional gaps through forum shopping, while incorporating restorative justice mechanisms, victim compensation, and witness support funds into our procedural regime. These statutory reforms demonstrate that security, stability, and human rights protection must move in tandem.
11. We equally recognize the importance of partnerships with African and international legal institutions in addressing the increasingly complex challenges of our time. I therefore commend the African Bar Association for providing this important platform for dialogue, professional exchange, and continental cooperation. Conferences such as this offer an opportunity not only to deliberate on our challenges but also to develop practical and sustainable strategies for building a more peaceful, secure, democratic, and prosperous Africa.
12. I encourage all participants to use this gathering to exchange ideas, deepen professional relationships, and forge partnerships that will endure beyond the Conference. Let us continue to promote a legal profession that is independent, ethical, innovative, and responsive to the needs of our people.
13. Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, let me emphasize that Nigeria remains proud of our long-standing contribution to the African legal community and we remain committed to supporting initiatives that strengthen the African legal profession and advance the cause of justice across the continent.
14. I wish the leadership and members of the African Bar Association a successful and impactful Annual Conference. I also extend warm felicitations to the Government and people of the Republic of Cabo Verde for hosting this important continental gathering.
15. May the deliberations in Sal produce concrete recommendations and enduring partnerships that will contribute to the realization of a resilient, peaceful, and prosperous Africa.
16. I wish you all fruitful deliberations and a most successful Conference.
Thank you.
Lateef O. Fagbemi, SAN
Attorney-General of the Federation
and Minister of Justice
Federal Republic of Nigeria
