President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has issued a stern warning against corruption in Nigeria’s judiciary, emphasizing that justice should never be up for sale.
Speaking on Monday at the 2025 All Nigerian Judges’ Conference in Abuja, organized by the National Judicial Institute under the theme “Building a Confident Judiciary”, Tinubu stressed the judiciary’s critical role in maintaining national stability.
“History shows that whenever Nigeria faced uncertain times, the judiciary stood firm as the nation’s stabilizing force,” he said. “Through the courage of judges and their rulings, tyranny has been checked and constitutional order upheld.”
Tinubu highlighted that the bench must remain a symbol of honour and accountability. “No reform can succeed if integrity is compromised. Justice must never be for sale, and the bench must never be a sanctuary for compromise,” he added.
The president further warned that corruption in any sector of government is harmful, but within the judiciary, it is particularly destructive. “When justice is compromised, government loses credibility, and democracy loses its foundation,” Tinubu noted.
He assured that his administration is committed to collaborating with the judiciary to safeguard its dignity and root out misconduct. “We stand ready to support every effort to preserve the judiciary’s honour and eliminate misconduct,” he said.
Tinubu also stressed that maintaining judicial discipline is not the responsibility of the National Judicial Council (NJC) alone. “This is a collective duty for every judicial officer. Discipline within the judiciary must be firm, transparent, and consistent. Only a judiciary that polices itself can claim the moral authority to cleanse society,” he explained.
Recent data underscores the urgency of the issue. The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) reported that judges and magistrates received the highest bribes in Nigeria in 2023, surpassing even the police, customs, and military. Nigerians reportedly paid an average bribe of ₦31,000 to judges, compared with ₦17,800 to customs and immigration officers, and ₦16,600 to military personnel.
Overall, public officials across the country collected an estimated ₦721 billion in bribes last year, with the average bribe amounting to ₦8,284.
What do you think drives corruption among public officials in Nigeria? And do you believe the government is genuinely committed to fighting it? Share your thoughts in the comment section.
