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Uprooting corrosive corruption in the judiciary

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LIKE a malignant genie, corruption allegations are sticking stubbornly to the judiciary. In the latest assault on the citadel of justice, the Chairman, State and House of Representatives Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Kano, Flora Azinge, raised the alarm that a senior lawyer was attempting to bribe her to influence the court. This has again illustrated the urgency of rooting out corruption and restoring public confidence in the judiciary. Though Azinge did not disclose the identity of the lawyer allegedly trying to bribe the panel, she insisted that some senior lawyers arguing petitions before the tribunal were engaged in unwholesome moves to corrupt the system. Visibly angry, she revealed in court how a senior lawyer offered a member of her staff N10 million to bribe the panel members. This was the second time the judge would raise such a weighty allegation. She had earlier accused an unnamed Senior Advocate of Nigeria of asking her to provide a bank account to send her “Sallah...
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Nigeria’s top judge leaves the justice system in a mess. Here’s how his successor can fix it

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   Nigeria’s Chief Justice Tanko Muhammad has  resigned  in the wake of corruption allegations.  President Muhammadu Buhari immediately swore in  the most senior judge of the Supreme Court, Olukayode Ariwoola, as Acting Chief Justice. Justice Muhammad leaves behind a dysfunctional justice system. The Conversation Africa asked public law expert Abiodun Odusote what Muhammad’s successor can do to fix the justice system. President Muhammadu Buhari congratulates Acting Chief Justice Ariwoola. What’s wrong with Nigeria’s justice system? The events preceding Justice Muhammad’s resignation and the news emanating afterwards call for reflection on the administration of justice in Nigeria. A week before he resigned, 14 Supreme Court justices  had accused  him of corruption and of not taking their welfare seriously. In addition, he was accused of misplaced priorities and the use of limited financial resources to take his family on vacation. The justices cite...
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