Human rights lawyer and former Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission, Prof. Chidi Odinkalu, has said Nigeria’s judicial system is structured in a way that punishes judges and judicial officers who insist on integrity.
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Odinkalu spoke during an interview with journalist Rudolf Okonkwo on 90MinutesAfrica, where he painted a troubling picture of the legal system.
According to him, the dysfunction within the judiciary affects not only judges but also lawyers and litigants.
“The dysfunctions in the system affect everyone—lawyers, clients, and judges,” Odinkalu said. “Judges who want to do things rightly are often punished.”
He argued that judges who refuse to compromise frequently face reprisals, including redeployment to unsafe or undesirable locations, withdrawal of security details, and neglect of court infrastructure.
Odinkalu said these measures are designed to pressure upright judicial officers into submission and reinforce a culture where compromise is rewarded.
He cited the example of a former permanent secretary and solicitor-general in the ministry of justice of a South-East state who was allegedly retired after refusing a bribe from a senior politician close to the governor.
According to him, the incident illustrates how individuals who choose principle over patronage suffer consequences quietly within the system.
Odinkalu said his decision to publicly call out judicial corruption initially attracted intense backlash, including threats to his life.
However, he said persistence has begun to yield results, noting that some judges and senior lawyers now privately support his efforts and provide information.
“I will never mention any judge whom I know to be good,” he said, explaining that publicly identifying honest judges would expose them to danger and potentially destroy their careers.
He also condemned what he described as unusual practices within the judiciary, including politicians visiting judges privately to discuss pending cases and the use of so-called “judicial consultants” who allegedly draft judgments that later appear as court decisions.
“These are strange happenings,” Odinkalu said. “They are alien to the legal profession.”
Beyond the judiciary, Odinkalu expressed concern about alleged irregularities in Nigeria’s tax reform process.
He said many principal officers of the National Assembly are lawyers but have not publicly questioned allegations that tax laws were altered after being passed.
He also criticised the role of Taiwo Oyedele, chairman of the presidential committee on fiscal policy and tax reforms, arguing that consultants do not possess the constitutional authority of ministers or duly appointed government officials.
“He is just a consultant in government,” Odinkalu said. “He is not a minister and does not have departmental responsibilities. He cannot go around taking responsibility for things that only people who have gone through the clearance and induction into the government should take responsibility for.”
Odinkalu added that the government’s handling of the tax issue creates the impression of an “organised crime” operation rather than a transparent governance process.
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