Nigeria’s Judiciary Struggles with Corruption and Inefficiency, Stakeholders Urged to Drive Reform

By Ogungbayi Beedee Adeyemi

Nigeria’s judiciary, ranked 14th in Sub-Saharan Africa and 120th globally in the World Justice Project (WJP) Rule of Law Index, is grappling with systemic challenges that hinder its rise among Africa’s top judicial systems, such as those in Cape Verde, Mauritius, and Botswana. Experts and stakeholders are calling for urgent reforms to address corruption, political interference, inefficiencies, and waning public trust.

The WJP Index highlights key obstacles: bribery and favoritism undermine judicial integrity, unlike Mauritius’ transparent system; executive influence over appointments and decisions erodes independence, in contrast to Cape Verde’s autonomous judiciary; case backlogs, outdated infrastructure, and underfunding slow justice delivery, lagging behind South Africa’s tech-driven courts; and perceptions of bias and inefficiency erode public confidence, unlike Seychelles’ trusted system.

Government shortcomings, including inadequate funding, weak anti-corruption measures, and failure to shield judges from political pressure, are major contributors. Experts emphasize that judicial appointments must be merit-based and judges protected from external influence, as seen in Botswana. Budgets should be increased for modern infrastructure, e-courts, and training, following Namibia’s model. The Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) needs strengthening, and public financial reporting for judicial officers should be mandated. Digital case management and alternative dispute resolution (ADR) must be promoted, as practiced in South Africa. Insurgency and crime should be addressed to reduce judicial burdens, mirroring Mauritius’ robust enforcement.

Legal professionals are urged to lead by example. Lawyers should uphold ethical standards, adopt technology, and push for change through bar associations, while judges must resist external pressures, streamline case management, and promote transparency to rebuild trust.

Citizens are also called to action. Reporting misconduct to the National Judicial Council (NJC), raising awareness on platforms like X, learning legal rights through community programs, using mediation to ease court burdens, and joining civil society groups can drive reform, drawing inspiration from Mauritius, South Africa, and Namibia.

With collective action to tackle corruption, ensure independence, and embrace modernization, Nigeria’s judiciary could align with Africa’s best. Stakeholders are urged to act swiftly to deliver a fair, efficient, and trusted justice system for all Nigerians.