Corruption, Courts & The Collapse Of Trust In Nigeria
By MELVIN KOFFA
Justice on Trial: When the Powerful Outsmart the Law
NIGERIA is steadily sliding into a dangerous paradox: a country rich in laws but poor in justice. Across political parties, regions and administrations, public office has come to be viewed less as a platform for service and more as a gateway to wealth and immunity. The result is a justice system strained by corruption cases that rarely reach resolution, and a democracy weakened by public distrust.
From Abuja to Port Harcourt, high-profile corruption trials follow a predictable script. Arrests are announced with fanfare. Charges are filed amid media attention. Then the process slows—adjournments multiply, interlocutory appeals pile up, and years pass without judgment. By the time cases resurface, public outrage has faded, governments have changed, and the accused often re-emerge politically relevant and financially intact.
A System Designed for Delay
Legal experts argue that Nigeria’s justice system has become fertile ground for procedural abuse. Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Dr. Mike Ozekhome, describes corruption trials as “structured to fail,” not necessarily because judges are corrupt, but because politically exposed persons exploit loopholes.
“They file endless motions and appeals,” Ozekhome said. “Justice is suffocated by technicalities. The law becomes a game of survival, not truth.”
This pattern has far-reaching consequences. When cases neither conclude nor collapse, justice exists only in limbo, eroding public confidence in the judiciary.
Elite Protection and Selective Prosecution
Former Nigerian Bar Association President Olumide Akpata insists the problem goes beyond individual judges. According to him, judicial independence is undermined by political influence over appointments, postings and security.
“Once judges feel exposed or pressured, justice becomes vulnerable,” he said.
Civil society groups echo this concern. Kolawole Oluwadare of SERAP describes Nigeria’s anti-corruption drive as selective. “Prosecution is enthusiastic when it is politically convenient,” he said. “Once powerful interests are threatened, momentum disappears.”
Cases That Shaped Public Cynicism
Few cases illustrate this cynicism more vividly than that of former Abia State governor Orji Uzor Kalu. His 2019 conviction was overturned on procedural grounds, and although a retrial was ordered, progress has been slow.
Similarly, former petroleum minister Diezani Alison-Madueke remains abroad while Nigeria’s prosecution efforts lag, despite asset seizures in foreign jurisdictions. To many Nigerians, justice appears faster outside their borders than within.
The ongoing prosecution of former Attorney-General Abubakar Malami, SAN, has further heightened public scepticism. While Malami maintains his innocence and alleges political motivation, public sentiment remains pessimistic.
Democracy Under Strain
Political analyst Dr. Jide Ojo warns that democracy cannot survive prolonged injustice. “When justice collapses, elections lose meaning,” he said. “Politics becomes an elite conspiracy.”
Professor Ayo Olukotun describes the situation as the “normalisation of impunity,” warning that societies that accept corruption without consequence sow the seeds of instability.
A Generation Losing Faith
On Nigeria’s streets, frustration is palpable. Young Nigerians increasingly question the value of voting and civic participation. “Why vote when nothing changes?” asked a Lagos-based graduate.
Experts agree that justice reform is no longer optional. Without time-bound trials, procedural limits, and genuine political will, Nigeria risks losing not just stolen funds—but public trust itself.
