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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.

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The Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) has called off its nationwide strike, ending an industrial action that kept public health services disrupted for 84 days.

Union leaders reached the decision on Friday after an expanded emergency meeting of the national executive council (NEC) in Abuja. They met to assess the outcome of Thursday’s conciliation talks with the federal government at the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment.

JOHESU launched the indefinite strike on November 15, 2025, accusing the federal government of repeatedly failing to implement the adjusted Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS) and neglecting long-standing welfare and systemic concerns in the health sector.

In a communiqué issued after the meeting, the union said it suspended the strike to give room for the execution of the agreements reached with the government.

“After exhaustive deliberations, the expanded NEC unanimously voted to suspend the ongoing nationwide strike and allow for the implementation of the FG–JOHESU terms of settlement,” the communiqué said.

The union thanked Nigerians for their patience and acknowledged the hardship caused by the shutdown of health services. It said a breakdown of trust and persistent injustice forced the strike, urging authorities to act more responsibly to avoid similar crises.

JOHESU leaders revealed that negotiations intensified in January, with review meetings held on January 15 and 22 with officials of the Federal Ministry of Health. During those sessions, both sides exchanged proposals aimed at resolving the dispute.

The breakthrough came on February 5, 2026, when an emergency conciliation meeting took place following a 14-day ultimatum issued by the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).

Under the agreement, the federal government committed to capturing funding for the CONHESS adjustment in the 2026 Appropriation Act. Officials also agreed to withdraw the “no work, no pay” directive and immediately pay January 2026 salaries owed to JOHESU members.

JOHESU also secured assurances that authorities would not victimise or sanction any worker who joined the strike.

The union represents thousands of health and allied workers nationwide, including members of the Medical and Health Workers’ Union of Nigeria, the Nigerian Union of Allied Health Professionals, and non-academic staff unions in teaching hospitals and research institutions.

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The Abia State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party has commended the Independent National Electoral Commission for formally recognising the Abdulrahman Mohammed and Senator Samuel Anyanwu–led PDP Caretaker National Working Committee, in line with a recent judgment of the Federal High Court, Ibadan Division.

In a statement issued on Friday and signed by the State Publicity Secretary, Chief Jude Udeachara, the party said INEC’s decision, evident in its invitation to the Mohammed/Anyanwu-led CNWC to a quarterly strategic engagement with political party leaders,”is a clear affirmation of the commission’s respect for the rule of law, equity, justice, and due process.”

According to the statement, INEC’s action has brought an end to the party’s leadership crisis and followed “the unambiguous ruling of the Federal High Court, Ibadan, which nullified the purported PDP convention held in Ibadan, Oyo State, in November 2015.”

The court, the party said, further restrained beneficiaries of the annulled convention, “popularly referred to as the Aminu Turaki-led group, from parading themselves as members of the PDP National Working Committee.”

It added that by extending its invitation exclusively to the Mohammed/Anyanwu-led CNWC, INEC had demonstrated compliance with a subsisting court order and “decisively foreclosed parallel claims to the national leadership of the PDP by the Turaki/Makinde faulty Ibadan gathering.”

“This step, the Abia PDP believes, provides much-needed clarity and institutional certainty in the party’s engagement with the electoral umpire,” the statement read.

The party described the development as a significant milestone in restoring order, legality and internal coherence within the PDP at the national level, especially as preparations for a credible national convention and future electoral activities gather momentum.

“With INEC’s position now clearly aligned with judicial pronouncement, the party is optimistic that attention will shift toward reconciliation, unity and the stabilisation of PDP structures across the country,” it stated.

The Abia PDP reiterated its commitment to due process and urged party members to respect the rule of law and work collectively to strengthen the party at the ward, local government, state and national levels.