The President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Afam Osigwe, SAN, has defended the integrity of the Nigerian judiciary, pushing back against perceptions of widespread corruption within the institution.
Speaking in response to remarks by Musa Aliyu, SAN, the Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Osigwe argued that while there are challenges, the judiciary is far from being Nigeria’s most corrupt institution.
Aliyu, during the 2024 Annual Lecture and Award ceremony organised by the Crime Reporters Association of Nigeria, had described the justice sector as deeply compromised, pointing to high rates of bribery and influence-peddling among stakeholders.
“The widespread corruption within the justice system, including bribery, influence-peddling, and attitudinal challenges, are more fundamental and daunting,” Aliyu said. He stressed the need for targeted anti-corruption measures, noting that judicial officials exhibit a “relatively high bribery prevalence” despite limited public interactions.
A Nuanced View on Corruption
Osigwe, however, sought to provide a more balanced perspective, acknowledging the existence of corruption within the judiciary while challenging the scale of the problem as presented in reports by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, the National Bureau of Statistics, and other anti-corruption agencies.
“I will not bury my head in the sand and pretend there is no form of judicial corruption,” Osigwe said. “But I do not agree that the judiciary is one of the most corrupt institutions in Nigeria.”
He noted that the presence of a few “bad eggs” among judges and lawyers has tarnished the reputation of the profession, contributing to negative perceptions.
“This may have accounted for the negative perception of the judiciary, but I don’t think it is as bad as it is painted,” he added.
A Call for Introspection and Reform
Osigwe urged members of the judiciary to undertake a period of reflection to address the roots of public distrust. He called for the National Judicial Council (NJC) to strengthen its disciplinary mechanisms, ensuring that credible allegations of corruption are thoroughly investigated and addressed.
“We must ask ourselves: where did we get it wrong? When did we lose the confidence of the public? Why do people see us as among the most corrupt in society? There is a lot of work to do,” Osigwe said.
He highlighted the importance of introspection within the legal profession, alongside institutional reforms, to rebuild trust and credibility in the judiciary.
Upholding Judicial Integrity
While acknowledging the challenges facing the justice sector, Osigwe’s remarks underscore the complexity of addressing corruption in a system that remains pivotal to Nigeria’s governance and democracy. As debates continue, calls for greater transparency and accountability within the judiciary are growing louder, signalling the need for systemic change to restore public confidence.
