The Nigerian judiciary once again came under scrutiny with the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III, warning that justice in Nigeria is increasingly becoming a “purchasable commodity,” where the poor are victims and the rich evade accountability.
The sultan, who spoke as a guest speaker at the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) Annual General Conference in Enugu on Sunday, warned that corruption and inequality are undermining the integrity of the judicial system.
“Today, justice is increasingly becoming a purchasable commodity, and the poor are becoming victims of this kind of justice, while the rich commit all manner of crimes and walk the streets scot-free,” he said.
He, however, commended the NBA for choosing the theme “Stand Out and Stand Tall,” saying it aligns with the urgent need for lawyers to deliver on their professional mandate
According to him, the legal profession must remain committed to upholding the rule of law to ensure fairness, accountability, and equality before the law.
“You are resolving to uphold the highest principles of the rule of law to ensure that everyone, including those in power, is subject to and accountable under the law. If we can do this, we would have addressed the core of this country’s governance crisis,” he stated.
Underpinning the role of the judiciary, the sultan said justice is the foundation of stable societies and that law must always target justice as its ultimate goal. He urged participants to use the conference to address critical issues shaping Nigeria’s future.
“This conference, I hope, will also give you the time to address issues pertinent to our society’s future. Three things are significant: continuing efforts at law reforms to gradually decolonise our laws and make them closer to our values, culture and history; addressing social justice to tackle glaring inequalities and foster cohesion; and improving access to justice, especially considering the rising cost of litigation and the exclusion of the weak and vulnerable,” he added.
He lamented Nigeria’s perennial challenge of poor policy implementation despite having excellent policies. “Law and learning are inseparable. At the core of the study of law is the knowledge of value, and justice is one of those core values the law should achieve,” the sultan said.
The sultan’s misgivings about the administration of justice in Nigeria are echoes of the corruption rocking the nation’s judiciary. In 2016, the Department of State Services (DSS) recovered over N270 million from the houses of the judges it raided in Abuja, Port Harcourt and Jos.
The DSS alleged that N93,558,000.00; $530,087; £25,970; and €5,680 (a total of over N270 million) were recovered from three of the judges affected in the raid, which the agency described as a follow up to the outcome of a “special sting operation”.
The National Judicial Council (NJC), the body concerned with the appointment and discipline of judicial officers, had in December 2021, sanctioned three judges involved in issuing conflicting orders in the leadership crisis of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The judges, namely, Okogbule Gbasam of the High Court of Rivers state, Nusirat Umar of the High Court of Kebbi state and Edem Kooffreh of the High Court of Cross River state were barred by the NJC from elevation to either the Court of Appeal or the Supreme Court.
In July 2024, the then Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, had described the conflicting orders from judges of coordinate jurisdiction as embarrassing, saying a measure had been activated to deal with erring judges.
On April 30, 2025, the NJC, headed by CJN Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, placed three judges on a one-year suspension without pay having found them wanting in the dispensation of justice vide the breach of Rule 3 (5) of the Revised Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers.
They are Justice Jane E. Inyang of the Court of Appeal, Uyo Division; Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja Division and Justice Aminu Baffa Aliyu of the Federal High Court, Zamfara Division.
Although this newspaper is in sync with the apprehension of the sultan, we, however, disagree with the over-generalisation. The assertion that the entire gamut of Nigerian judges is corrupt is arguable as the nation prides some dedicated, hardworking and incorruptible judicial officers.
In fact, there are instances where Nigerian judges have refused to be compromised. Justice John Inyang Okoro of the Supreme Court, had said that the DSS were after him because he refused a bribe from the then Minister of Transportation, Mr Chibuike Amaechi.
Okoro, whose house was raided by the DSS on October 18, 2016, alleged that Amaechi had approached him to compromise the governorship election appeals for Akwa Ibom, Abia, and Rivers states but that he declined to fall in line.
While it is indisputable that Okoro belongs to a negligible percentage of judges with exemplary conduct, his case is worthy of acknowledgement and celebration.
Nevertheless, it is apposite to urge all stakeholders in the judiciary, especially judges, to carry out an introspection aimed at changing the perception that justice is for the highest bidder in Nigeria.
Nothing should be spared to restore the fast-eroding confidence in the judiciary, the most critical and pivotal arm of government, as the last hope of the common man.