NBA President Warns Judicial Corruption Threatens Nigeria’s Democracy, Calls for Urgent Reforms
The President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, has expressed grave concern over the deteriorating public perception of the Nigerian judiciary, warning that the crisis of confidence poses a direct threat to democracy and national stability.
Speaking in Enugu at the Ralph Opara Memorial Lecture organised by the National Association of Seadogs, themed “Judicial Corruption in Nigeria: A Menace to Democracy and Social Justice”, Osigwe lamented that judges and lawyers are increasingly viewed as among the most corrupt public officials, allegedly swayed by financial inducements rather than evidence.
He described the situation as both a “moral crisis and a democratic emergency,” noting that the judiciary, once revered as the last hope of the common man, is now perceived as a marketplace where justice is sold to the highest bidder.
Citing empirical data, Osigwe referenced a 2024 UNODC/NBS survey which revealed that public officials received approximately ₦721 billion in cash bribes in 2023, with judges among the top recipients. He also highlighted ICPC findings that ₦9.4 billion in bribes flowed through the justice sector between 2018 and 2020, implicating lawyers and litigants as key actors. Transparency International’s 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index ranked Nigeria 140th out of 180 countries, underscoring the erosion of public trust.
Osigwe warned that a compromised judiciary enables the wealthy and powerful to evade accountability while the poor suffer injustice. He pointed to international cases such as Okpabi v. Royal Dutch Shell and the P&ID arbitration saga, where Nigerian litigants sought justice abroad due to lack of confidence in domestic courts.
To address the rot, the NBA President proposed sweeping reforms:
– Merit‑based judicial appointments
– Establishment of state‑level judicial academies
– Removal of the Chief Justice of Nigeria from chairing the National Judicial Council to prevent concentration of power
– Automated case assignment systems
– Mandatory suspension of judges under investigation
– Full implementation of judicial financial autonomy
He further urged religious and traditional institutions to desist from celebrating individuals with questionable wealth, stressing that the fight against corruption is a collective responsibility of the Bar, the Bench, and the citizenry.
“The temple of justice must be cleansed to ensure the rule of law prevails over the rule of money,” Osigwe declared, adding that Nigeria’s democratic survival depends on an incorruptible judiciary capable of commanding both local and international respect.
