Politicians Have Captured Nigeria’s Judiciary Because They See It As The Only Way To Access Political Power — Fmr NBA President, Akpata

*Laments Opaque Appointment Process, Poor Welfare, Intimidation And Corruption Of Judiciary At IBA Conference

The Immediate past President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mr Olumide Akpata has squared the challenges facing Nigeria’s judiciary and that of other countries on the continent on the consuming desire of politicians to use the arm as a platform to capture political power.

Akpata made this claim at a panel session in the ongoing International Bar Association conference holding in the United States of America.

According to the erstwhile Bar President, politicians have captured the judiciary in other to secure their grip on power.

In a video clip sighted by TheNigeriaLawyer, Akpata was seen making his point at a panel session of various lawyers from around the world as part of activities scheduled for the IBA Conference.

In his words, “Judiciary capture is no longer as brazen as it was before but it is insidious, and in my jurisdiction what happens is that from the point of view of appointment, the process is opaque. So people who are not supposed to be on the Bench, get to the Bench.”

He added, “The judiciary is also starved of funds. There is no financial autonomy, so they have to run to the executive for everything including their salaries. They are poorly paid which impedes their ability to function properly.

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Thirdly, there is Intimidation which includes raids on the homes of Judges by 11, 12 midnight. And lastly there is corruption, where they are just offered bribes.

Akpata further said that the whole point is as a result of the desire by politicians to use the judiciary as a tool for political contestation. “Because politicians recognise that the way to political power now is the judiciary, they do everything to take over the appointment process, ensure the judiciary is not well paid, and make the system dysfunctional.”