…Says, judges, lawyers are worst bribe-takers
Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), has expressed serious concern over how judgements are being dispensed in the country, stressing that justice is now premised more on the on the “fatness of envelopes” than on evidence adduced.
Osigwe, who stated this at the Ralph Opara Memorial Lecture, organized by the National Association of Seadogs in Enugu on Friday, specifically accused members of the judiciary and the legal profession of taking corruption to an unacceptable level.
He noted that the judiciary which was once revered as the “last hope of the common man”, is increasingly perceived as a marketplace where justice is auctioned to the highest bidder, stressing that widespread disillusionment has emerged as citizens now view courtrooms as arenas where rulings are influenced by bribes rather than evidence.
The NBA president described the situation as a “moral crisis and a democratic emergency” that threatens the foundation of Nigeria, stressing that the temple of justice must be cleansed to ensure the rule of law prevails over the rule of money.
Referencing data, Osigwe noted that a 2024 survey by the UNODC and the National Bureau of Statistics revealed that public officials received approximately N721 billion in cash bribes in 2023, with judges among the top recipients.
According to him; “An ICPC survey also indicated that N9.4 billion in bribes flowed through the justice sector between 2018 and 2020, with lawyers and litigants identified as primary bribe-givers.
“The rot in our judiciary has decimated public trust. Transparency International’s 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index ranked Nigeria 140th out of 180 countries. A compromised justice system allows the wealthy and powerful to escape accountability while the poor bear the brunt,” he said.
While highlighting international repercussions, Osigwe noted that cases such as Okpabi v Royal Dutch Shell, where Niger Delta communities sued in UK courts due to lack of effective justice at home, adding that the P&ID arbitration saga, where a multi-billion-dollar award against Nigeria was only overturned in London after fraud was proven.
“These cases represent a global vote of no confidence in Nigeria’s legal system,” he emphasised.
The NBA president therefore demanded for radical reforms to include merit-based judicial appointments, the creation of state-level judicial academies, and removing the Chief Justice of Nigeria from chairing the National Judicial Council to prevent power concentration.
Osigwe also advocated for automated case assignments, mandatory suspension of judges under investigation, and full implementation of judicial financial autonomy, stressing that the fight against corruption is a collective responsibility of the Bar, the Bench, and the citizenry.
“Religious and traditional institutions should stop honouring individuals with questionable wealth. History will judge us not by our eloquence, but by our willingness to act.
“The survival of Nigeria’s democracy hinges on an incorruptible judiciary capable of commanding both local and international respect,” he stated.
