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NBA President labels judges, lawyers worst bribe-takers, calls for judicial reforms
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Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), has accused members of the judiciary and legal profession of being the most corrupt Nigerians, asserting that many judgments in the country now depend more on the “fatness of envelopes” than on evidence.
Speaking on Friday at the Ralph Opara Memorial Lecture organized by the National Association of Seadogs in Enugu, themed “Judicial Corruption in Nigeria: A Menace to Democracy and Social Justice,” Osigwe described the situation as a “moral crisis and a democratic emergency” that threatens the foundation of Nigeria.
“The judiciary, once revered as the last hope of the common man, is increasingly perceived as a marketplace where justice is auctioned to the highest bidder,” Osigwe said. He lamented that widespread disillusionment has emerged as citizens now view courtrooms as arenas where rulings are influenced by bribes rather than evidence.
Citing 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. 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,” Osigwe said, pointing out that Transparency International’s 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index ranked Nigeria 140th out of 180 countries. He warned that a compromised justice system allows the wealthy and powerful to escape accountability while the poor bear the brunt.
Highlighting international repercussions, Osigwe cited cases like Okpabi v Royal Dutch Shell, where Niger Delta communities sued in UK courts due to lack of effective justice at home, and 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 said.
To tackle judicial corruption, Osigwe called for radical reforms, including 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. He also advocated for automated case assignments, mandatory suspension of judges under investigation, and full implementation of judicial financial autonomy.
“The fight against corruption is a collective responsibility of the Bar, the Bench, and the citizenry,” Osigwe said, urging religious and traditional institutions to stop honoring individuals with questionable wealth. “History will judge us not by our eloquence, but by our willingness to act. The temple of justice must be cleansed to ensure the rule of law prevails over the rule of money.”
He concluded that the survival of Nigeria’s democracy hinges on an incorruptible judiciary capable of commanding both local and international respect.
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Inter-Parliamentary Affairs, Senator Aliyu Wadada has promised to revive the committee’s activities after acknowledging concerns over its prolonged inactivity.
Wadada spoke on Thursday at the end of the committee’s meeting in Abuja.
Specifically, the chairman admitted that the committee had been underutilised, noting that it had met only once in the last three years.
He, however, said issues responsible for the situation had been identified during a closed-door session and would be addressed.
“Of course I feel concerned about it, but when we got into the details in a closed-door meeting, we got to know where the problems are, and they will all be taken care of. The committee will be as active as it should always be,” he said.
Commenting further, the chairman said the committee would focus on its core mandate of promoting and strengthening legislative relations between Nigeria’s National Assembly and parliamentary bodies across the world.
According to him, the committee will deepen engagement with regional and international legislative institutions, including the ECOWAS Parliament, the Pan-African Parliament, the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), and other parliamentary organisations.
He disclosed that a new work plan had already been developed to guide the committee’s activities.
He added: “The direction is basically around the responsibilities of the committee, which is to promote and deepen legislative relationship within Nigeria and with other legislative bodies around the world”.
The chairman added that the committee’s first major activity would be a courtesy visit to the Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament in Nigeria as part of efforts to strengthen inter-parliamentary cooperation.
SINL NIgeria Online reports that Senator Wadada assured that the public would be kept informed of the committee’s activities as the new work plan is implemented.
The Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, has revealed that the minimum monthly salary of Nigerian soldiers has increased to N100,000 after the Federal Government reviewed their welfare package.
Musa made the disclosure during an interview with News Central ahead of his appearance on the NC Exclusive programme.
He said the adjustment was part of efforts by the government to improve the living conditions of military personnel.
Executive Branch
The former Chief of Defence Staff, however, said the country’s defence sector still requires more funding despite the improvement in soldiers’ earnings and welfare.
He stated that the current defence budget remains inadequate, adding that more resources are needed to effectively support the armed forces and their operations.
Musa explained that soldiers who previously earned about N49,000 monthly now receive at least N100,000 following the salary review carried out by the government.
The minister also called for tougher punishment for kidnappers, saying stronger measures are needed to reduce the increasing cases of abduction across Nigeria.
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Senator Wadada promises to deepen legislative ties, stop inactivity
Just in: FG jerks up salaries soldiers to N100k monthly
DAY 22 of Projects Commissioning in the FCT
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