Abstract
The World Justice Project Rule of Law Index, in its 2021 report, ranked Nigeria 121 out of 139
countries evaluated by examining policy outcomes and their impact on citizens. This indicates that,
despite the formal establishment of governance structures and the profession of constitutionalism,
as in other top-ranked countries, there are gaps between constitutional provisions and structures
and their realisation, designed to ensure egalitarianism through access to justice. This study
examines the relationships between court management processes and access to justice in Nigeria,
with a focus on the dynamics of power and privilege. The primary objective is to analyse how
court management processes, including judicial appointments, resource allocation and budgeting,
court efficiency, and informal power structures, impact access to justice. The study employed a
longitudinal approach from 1999 to the present, engaging both qualitative and quantitative
methods, including survey interviews, personal observations, and document analysis. Findings
indicate that while there have been substantial reforms at various levels of government and within
components of the legal system to make the judiciary more accessible and efficient, power
structures and political influence continue to create barriers not only for the indigent and
vulnerable but also for the politically exposed. This thesis highlights innovations, such as the
creation of an appellate helpdesk for indigent litigants who wish to pursue an appeal at the Rivers
State Customary Court of Appeal, and concludes with recommendations for improving court
functionality, addressing power imbalances, and enhancing judicial independence and access.