*Says “Nigerian Judiciary Has Lost Its Global Esteem,, Citing Controversial Rulings
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A former member of the Nigerian Constituent Assembly, Sola Akinyede, has sounded the alarm over what he describes as the deep rot within the judiciary, calling for urgent reforms and a restructuring of the National Judicial Council (NJC).
In an interview, Akinyede criticized the judiciary’s declining integrity, alleging systemic corruption, jurisdictional abuses, and nepotism in judicial appointments.
Akinyede, who has long advocated for judicial reforms, lamented how Nigeria’s judiciary, once held in global esteem, has lost its credibility. He recalled how Nigerian jurists were once cited in British law textbooks, contrasting this with today’s reality, where controversial judgments, such as the 2020 Supreme Court ruling on the Imo governorship election, have eroded public confidence.
One of the major issues he highlighted was how cases are deliberately filed in courts lacking jurisdiction, leading to judicial manipulation. “A case that has nothing to do with Rivers State will be filed in Port Harcourt, at a Federal High Court that has no jurisdiction. This is a self-inflicted wound by the judiciary,” he stated.
Akinyede also raised concerns about the appointment process within the judiciary, accusing senior judicial officers of nepotism. He revealed that in the FCT Federal High Court, eight out of 12 recently appointed judges were children or relatives of top judicial officers. “That is a statistical improbability,” he declared, calling it an abuse of power enabled by the structure of the Federal Judicial Service Commission (FJSC) and the NJC—both chaired by the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN).
“The CJN shortlists candidates at the FJSC, then takes the same list to the NJC where he approves it himself. That is why senior judges are filling the judiciary with their children,” he asserted, advocating for an NJC reconstitution to reduce the CJN’s overwhelming influence.
Akinyede’s proposed reforms, which he submitted to the Senate Committee on Constitutional Review, aim to limit the CJN’s appointment powers and ensure that judicial selections are merit-based. He warned that unless decisive actions are taken, the decay in the judiciary could lead to a total collapse of Nigeria’s justice system.
He also addressed allegations of bribery within the judiciary, referencing the valedictory speech of Justice Dattijo Muhammad, who had admitted to deep-rooted corruption in judicial processes. Akinyede pointed out that some cases take 17 to 20 years to reach the Supreme Court, while others filed just a year ago are fast-tracked due to backdoor dealings.
“Millions exchange hands under the table to push cases ahead. When justices see a case filed last year reaching their desk before one filed 20 years ago, shouldn’t they be suspicious?” he asked.
On the controversial issue of judicial immunity, Akinyede criticized what he called “fabricated immunity,” where the courts have ruled that judges cannot be prosecuted without NJC approval. “There is nothing like that in the Constitution. It was invented by the judiciary to protect themselves. In the UK and the US, a conviction comes first before disciplinary action. This is a dangerous precedent,” he said, advocating for anti-corruption agencies like the EFCC and ICPC to prosecute judges without NJC interference.
Despite the grim picture he painted, Akinyede urged Nigerians not to give up on demanding reforms. “The son of a vulcanizer, a farmer, or a labourer should have the right to aspire to the highest judicial office in Nigeria, not just the son of a CJN,” he concluded.
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