Judges Now Lobbying To Make Their Children Judges – Akinyede Raises Alarm

Public affairs commentator Sola Akinyede has alleged that only between 10 and 15 per cent of Nigeria’s judiciary remains free from corruption, describing the country’s judicial system as being in urgent need of far-reaching structural reforms.

Akinyede made the remarks while speaking on Arise Television’s Prime Time programme on Monday, where he expressed concern over what he described as the deepening deterioration of the nation’s judiciary.

According to him, meaningful reforms can only be achieved through amendments to the Nigerian Constitution, particularly in relation to the composition and powers of the National Judicial Council (NJC).

Recalling his time as a member of the Senate Constitutional Review Committee, Akinyede said he proposed constitutional amendments in 2010 after identifying what he considered an imbalance in the process of appointing members of the NJC.

“As far as I’m concerned, what the Nigerian judiciary needs is fundamental structural change.

“I was a member of the Senate Constitutional Review Committee. If you are going to make any structural changes then or now, you need a constitutional amendment.

“I proposed amendments in 2010 because when I read the constitution, I said, how can you have the Chief Justice of Nigeria appointing 19 members of the NJC out of 23?

“So I proposed some other amendments, but I never imagined the kind of rot that we have now,” he said.

Akinyede argued that the level of corruption within the judiciary has worsened significantly over the years.

According to him, while judicial misconduct was once relatively limited, the situation has deteriorated to the point where only a small percentage of judicial officers can now be regarded as untainted.

“You see, in about 2005 to 2010 you could say that maybe 10% of the judiciary was rotten. But now I can’t say 10%.

“In fact, some people will say it’s the reverse now. Maybe 10% or 15% are clean. Nobody ever imagined the kind of rot that we have today.”

The commentator also expressed concern over practices he described as previously unimaginable within the judicial system, including allegations that some judges lobby to have their children appointed to the bench.

“And you see, some of the things that we see today, we never imagined them 30 years ago. For instance, judges lobbying or arranging to have their children to be made judges. Things that were unheard of about 30 years ago, you see them now.

“When I made those amendments, people did not take me seriously. But even I myself, I never imagined that the kind of thing that is happening today will ever happen,” he added.

Akinyede maintained that comprehensive constitutional reforms and stronger institutional safeguards are necessary to restore public confidence in Nigeria’s judiciary and preserve the integrity of the country’s justice system.