The judiciary is stinking with corruption, a public perception that is incontrovertible. It has lost its previously impeccable status. These days, people no longer believe that it is the same sanctuary known as the last hope of the common man because of the "cash and carry" judgements allegedly being procured by those who can afford it.
The pervasive corruption has led to a great decline in public trust. The immediate past Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Olukayode Ariwoola and the Chief Judge of the FCT High court,, Hussein Yusuf were recently accused of appointing family members as judges, thus violating the federal character principle. Such height of nepotism has in no small measure undermined the integrity and reputation of the judiciary.
A former governor of Rivers State, Dr. Peter Odili was granted a perpetual injunction in 2007 to prevent anti-graft agencies from arresting and probing his tenure. To date, that ignoble action, regarded as one of the brazen displays of judicial recklessness, has not been challenged or upturned.
The confessional statement last year by Senator Adamu Bulkachuwa that on behalf of his politician friends, he solicited very favorable judgements on election cases from President of the Court of Appeal, Zainab Bulkachuwa, who is his wife, again buttresses the endemic rot in the system.
Like the posting of civil servants to Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of government with massive economic and other benefits, politicians who are godfathers of some judges also influence their postings to places where they can be very useful to them. This is another pointer to how well that arm of government has been compromised.
These days, it is not strange to see courts of coordinate jurisdiction embarrassing the judiciary by engaging in a serious battle of wits. They have decended so low that they dish out interlocutory injunctions with the speed of light. Notoriously, they also make bizarre pronouncements and deliver offbeat rulings, further making a mockery of the once revered temple of justice.
The swearing in of Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun on August 23rd by President Bola Tinubu as the 23rd Chief Justice of Nigeria signals hope of a new dawn. But it is going to be an uphill task for her to clear the rot and clean the augean stable. She has to brace up and wear a thick garment of courage to be able to surmount the myriad of adversities and confront the monster of corruption in the justice system.
Kekere-Ekun needs to urgently overhaul the judiciary, purge it of its transactional image, and institute far-reaching reforms that would redirect it back to the good old days. The ethical standard the judiciary is known for must be reinvented. Side by side with that should be discipline, adherence to practical ethos, accountability, and merit-based appointment of judges.
She must also prioritize a technology and innovative driven judicial system that will enhance the speedy dispensation of justice. Digitalization of our courts is long overdue. Hand-written judgements should be completely fazed out.
Erring judges must be held accountable for their actions. Clear penalties for breaches of jurisdiction must be spelt out in a way that will make judges sit up and be more responsible to adjudicate on cases.
The new CJN must equally prioritize the welfare of judges. In the near future, she may seek an addition to the recent 300 per cent increment for judges salaries. This may help to prevent or reduce the issue of bribery that judges face.
The executive and legislative arm of government must support Kekere-Ekun to succeed in this very demanding task of sanitizing the judiciary. It is not going to be an easy job, but with determination, sheer commitment, and patriotism, she can do it.
