Ben Ezechime, Enugu
The President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, has decried the perceived high level of corruption in Nigeria’s judicial system, describing it as a grave social malaise.
Osigwe spoke on Friday in Enugu at the 17th Memorial Lecture of Ralph Opara, organised by the National Association of Seadogs (NAS).
Delivering a lecture titled “Corruption in Nigeria: A Menace to Democracy and Social Justice,” the NBA president said judicial corruption had become a significant societal problem, adversely affecting the judiciary, governance, and economic development.
He noted that the topic was particularly apt, as many Nigerians have steadily lost confidence in the judicial system, which is widely perceived as riddled with corruption, inconsistency, and undue influence.
According to him, the situation erodes public trust in the legal system, leading to a culture of impunity and widespread disillusionment among citizens.
Osigwe lamented that the judiciary—traditionally regarded as the last hope of the common man—is increasingly seen as an arena where justice is delayed, manipulated, or outrightly purchased by the highest bidder.
He said this perception was rooted in repeated instances and patterns of judicial misconduct that have played out in the public eye.
The NBA president explained that corruption disproportionately hurts the poor by diverting funds meant for development, undermining government’s ability to provide basic services, fuelling inequality and injustice, and discouraging foreign aid and investment.
Describing corruption as a key driver of economic underperformance, he said it remained a major obstacle to poverty alleviation and development.
“Corruption remains one of the most persistent obstacles to economic growth, democratic governance, and social development globally,” Osigwe said.
He cited the World Bank’s 2000 paper, Helping Countries Combat Corruption, which identified corruption as “the single greatest obstacle to economic and social development.”
Osigwe described corruption as a national malaise that must be decisively tackled by the Federal Government, warning that its devastating consequences have placed Nigeria among the most corrupt nations in the world.
The legal luminary further described corruption as more harmful to society than a man running amok with a dagger in a crowded street.
According to him, corruption deliberately destroys the moral foundation of society, inflicts incalculable distress on individuals, and yet allows its perpetrators to parade themselves as “honourable.”
Osigwe said judicial corruption in Nigeria remained pervasive, manifesting in bribery, political interference, nepotism, and manipulation of court processes—often involving judges, lawyers, court staff, and litigants.
“Whatever form it takes, judicial corruption strikes at the very heart of the rule of law,” he said.
He added that when justice becomes a commodity traded in chambers and corridors, when rulings are allegedly influenced by envelopes rather than evidence, and when adjournments are engineered for personal gain rather than procedural necessity, the judiciary ceases to be the last hope of the common man and instead becomes the refuge of the powerful and corrupt.
Osigwe noted that despite repeated calls for reform, judicial corruption not only persists but, in the view of many, has become even more entrenched, undermining public confidence and betraying the principles the judiciary is sworn to uphold.
He stressed that the judiciary is not an ivory tower immune from public scrutiny but an institution that must continually earn trust through fairness, timeliness, and transparency.
According to him, no judiciary can command respect if questions persist about the discipline and integrity of its officers.
He urged the National Judicial Council (NJC) to remain unwavering in upholding ethical standards while safeguarding judicial independence from political interference.
Osigwe warned that whenever justice is perverted or judgments are corruptly obtained, social justice suffers most cruelly, especially among the poor and vulnerable.
“The poor farmer whose land is seized by the influential, the widow denied her inheritance, and the victim of police brutality seeking redress are among those who suffer most when justice tilts towards money and connections,” he said.
He noted that when justice is delayed, manipulated, or denied due to corruption, the rule of law becomes an illusion, fundamental rights lose meaning, contracts become uncertain, and lawful enterprise is discouraged.
Osigwe maintained that social justice cannot thrive where access to justice is determined by influence rather than merit, warning that a compromised judiciary does not merely delay justice but denies it, perpetuating inequality and breeding resentment that could erupt into unrest.
He stressed that the fight against judicial corruption cannot be won without the collective and principled commitment of lawyers, judges, and citizens.
According to him, only a shared commitment to integrity can dismantle entrenched corrupt practices, restore public trust, and ensure justice is administered fairly and impartially.
Osigwe urged judicial officers to uphold the Code of Conduct with unwavering fidelity, reject all forms of inducement, and promptly report misconduct to the NJC.
He also called on judges to embrace transparency and resist political, familial, and financial pressures, noting that judicial independence is not a privilege but a public trust.
However, he emphasised that for the judiciary to effectively fight corruption, it must enjoy genuine independence, free from political manipulation and financial interference.
He said this would enable judges to determine cases competently and freely, based solely on the facts and the law.
Osigwe also called for the expeditious handling of corruption-related cases, urging courts to avoid or outrightly reject unnecessary technicalities.
He added that the fight against corruption would be more effective if judges were properly trained, better motivated, disciplined, and committed to duty.
The NBA president also stressed the importance of active citizen engagement, urging Nigerians to refuse participation in corrupt practices that sustain judicial corruption.
According to him, rejecting bribery, intermediaries, and the belief that justice must be paid for would help dismantle the demand side of corruption.
Osigwe further advocated judicial reforms that promote transparency in appointments and disciplinary processes, and hold elected officials accountable for strengthening the justice sector.
He described an informed and engaged electorate as a powerful check against institutional decay.
To improve judicial professionalism, Osigwe proposed the establishment of state-by-state judicial academies to select and train judges.
He said the NBA had also made recommendations for reforming laws on judicial training, including developing training modules for judges within their respective states.
He called for reforms in the judicial appointment process to prioritise professional competence, technical ability, integrity, and character.
Osigwe urged the Federal and State governments to fully implement the constitutional financial autonomy of the judiciary to safeguard its independence.
He concluded that combating judicial corruption is essential to restoring public faith in the legal system and ensuring fairness and equity.
He also called on religious organisations and traditional institutions to sustain rigorous public enlightenment campaigns against corruption and refuse to honour individuals with questionable wealth.
“They must condemn corruption, refuse to celebrate looters of public resources, and accord them dishonour rather than prestige,” he said.
Osigwe urged all stakeholders to declare zero tolerance for corruption, stressing that the fight must be relentless, transparent, and uncompromising.
“Judicial corruption is not merely a legal problem; it is a moral crisis and a democratic emergency,” he said.
