Nigeria Judiciary Facing Deepening Corruption, Calls for Structural Reform

Former senator and public affairs commentator Sola Akinyede warned that corruption in Nigeria’s judiciary has worsened sharply. He said that while about 10 % of judges were considered corrupt between 2005‑2010, today only 10‑15 % are viewed as clean, indicating a reversal toward widespread rot.

Akinyede urged structural reforms rather than piecemeal changes, calling for constitutional amendments to the composition of the National Judicial Council. He noted that the current system allows the Chief Justice of Nigeria to appoint 19 of the 23 NJC members, a provision he proposed altering in 2010. He highlighted alarming practices such as judges lobbying for their children to become judges, and cited controversial rulings – the 2020 Imo governorship judgment, the 2023 Kano governorship appeal, and the Kano Emirate case – as evidence of a loss of public confidence and judicial independence. Akinyede stressed that the historic leadership of women in both the Bar and the Bench offers a rare chance for deep institutional renewal.