The President of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, has sparked a nationwide debate after describing members of the judiciary and legal profession as among the worst perpetrators of bribery in Nigeria, warning that judicial corruption now poses a serious threat to democracy and social justice.
Osigwe made the remarks on Friday while delivering a lecture at the Ralph Opara Memorial Lecture organised by the National Association of Seadogs in Enugu. The lecture was themed “Judicial Corruption in Nigeria: A Menace to Democracy and Social Justice.”
At the event, the NBA president said members of the judiciary and legal profession were among the worst perpetrators of bribery in the country, lamenting that many court judgments are no longer based on evidence or the rule of law but on what he described as the “fatness of envelopes.”
“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 described the situation as both a moral crisis and a democratic emergency, warning that public confidence in the justice system has been severely eroded.
Statistics paint grim picture
To support his position, Osigwe cited a 2024 survey conducted by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, UNODC, in collaboration with the National Bureau of Statistics, NBS, which estimated that public officials received about ₦721 billion in cash bribes in 2023, with judges listed among the top recipients.
He also referenced a report by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, which showed that ₦9.4 billion in bribes flowed through the justice sector between 2018 and 2020, with lawyers and litigants identified as major bribe givers.
According to him, the impact of corruption is further reflected in Transparency International’s 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index, which ranked Nigeria 140th out of 180 countries. He warned that a compromised judiciary allows the wealthy and politically powerful to evade accountability, while the poor and vulnerable are denied justice.
Corruption allegations knock out 34 Federal High Court judge nominees
No fewer than 34 lawyers out of 62 nominated for appointment as judges of the Federal High Court were dropped in December 2025 after failing an integrity screening dominated by allegations of corruption and unethical conduct.
Multiple petitions submitted during the integrity review raised serious questions about their character, reputation, and suitability for judicial office.
The integrity test, introduced under new guidelines approved by the National Judicial Council, NJC, relies heavily on public feedback to expose misconduct.
Following the publication of the nominees’ names on September 17, 2025, members of the public and legal practitioners submitted petitions alleging bribery, abuse of office, and other corrupt practices.
One high profile petition accused a female nominee of demanding and receiving bribes in the course of her official duties.
Investigations into the allegations reportedly produced damaging findings, with the Police Service Commission confirming that she demanded and received a ₦1 million bribe in relation to a court matter handled by her office.
Based on these findings and similar reports against other candidates, the Federal Judicial Service Commission upheld only 28 nominations and forwarded them to the NJC, while disqualifying the remaining 34 nominees for failing the integrity test.
Kano JSC disciplinary actions
Against this backdrop, the Kano State Judicial Service Commission, in November 2025, approved a series of disciplinary actions against judicial officers and court staff found guilty of corruption and unethical conduct.
Among those sanctioned was Isa Wudilawa, a Principal Registrar at the Magistrate Court, Zungeru Complex, who was demoted from Grade Level 12 to Grade Level 10 for diverting official funds into his personal bank account in violation of financial regulations and public service ethics.
The Commission also demoted and issued a strong warning to Alkali Shamsu Maul’ainaini of the Upper Shari’a Court, Durbunde, for financial misconduct, removal of court records, and violation of judicial circulars.
Similarly, Ibrahim Salim, Clerk of the Upper Shari’a Court, Rijiyar Lemo, was dismissed from service for forgery, falsification of court records, and demanding bribes from litigants.
Observers described the disciplinary measures as a step toward enforcing accountability within the judiciary and rebuilding public trust in the justice system.
Amnesty International reacts
Osigwe’s comments and the actions of the Kano State Judicial Service Commission drew reactions from Amnesty International, which described corruption in the justice sector as deeply troubling.
Speaking on the issue, the Director of Amnesty International Nigeria, Isa Sanusi, said no society could thrive when its justice system is compromised.
“The judiciary is the last institution standing for the protection of rights and the defence of the powerless. For years, we have heard allegations of corruption involving judges and lawyers,” Sanusi said.
He warned that corruption in the justice sector undermines its credibility and effectiveness, stressing that the NBA must go beyond public statements.
“It is not enough to talk. Concrete actions must be taken to address this problem. This is not something Nigerians can afford to ignore,” he added.
Lawyer disputes scale of corruption
However, a legal practitioner, Barrister Umar Usman Dan Baito, offered a differing perspective on the scale of corruption within the judiciary.
He acknowledged that bribery in the justice sector is a serious offence but disagreed with the assertion that the judiciary is the most corrupt arm of society.
Dan Baito recalled warnings by senior jurists, including the late Justice Chukwudifu Oputa, who once argued that a corrupt judge could be more dangerous than an armed robber because a single tainted judgment could shield many criminals.
Despite this, he maintained that the judiciary still retains a significant level of integrity compared to other sectors, particularly politics.
“I do not believe the judiciary is the most corrupt sector. There is still a lot of honour and professionalism within the system. Politics, in my view, is far more corrupt, as most corruption cases originate there and eventually come before the courts,” he said.
Calls for sustained reforms
As public debate continues, stakeholders have called for sustained reforms, strict accountability, and decisive action against corruption to restore confidence in Nigeria’s justice system, warning that the survival of democracy depends on an incorruptible judiciary.
