“People No Longer Trust The Courts”: Ebonyi Chief Judge Decries Deep-Rooted Corruption In Nigeria’s Judiciary
By FIDELUS ZWANSON
THE Chief Judge of Ebonyi State, Justice Elvis Ngene, has delivered a sobering critique of Nigeria’s justice system, warning that pervasive corruption is eroding public trust and endangering access to justice.
Speaking at a special court session marking the opening of the 2025/2026 Legal Year of the Ebonyi State Judiciary in Abakaliki, Justice Ngene lamented that integrity within the courts has deteriorated so badly that many Nigerians now seek justice outside formal judicial processes.
“There is no denying the fact that integrity issues do exist within the justice system in Nigeria,” he said.
“Public perception of corruption among judicial and court officers is discouraging. Many people now prefer to resolve their conflicts elsewhere rather than approach the courts.”
‘Corruption Threatens the Foundation of Justice’
Justice Ngene described corruption as a “grave threat” to fair hearing and due process, noting that it often manifests through bribery, case manipulation, and political interference. These practices, he said, have damaged the image of the judiciary and weakened the confidence of the citizenry in the courts as a last resort for justice.
He commended the National Judicial Council (NJC) for sanctioning erring judicial officers but stressed that more must be done to restore the sanctity of the bench.
“All of us at the bench must maintain the highest ethical standards, as any act of misconduct undermines the credibility of the entire justice system,” he warned.
“Any slight violation of the Code of Conduct for judicial officers constitutes judicial misconduct.”
Reforms and Infrastructure Development
Despite the challenges, the Ebonyi Chief Judge praised the state’s judiciary for maintaining “an impeccable record of chastity and integrity.”
He outlined several infrastructure projects designed to modernise the judicial system — including a new complex housing six magistrate courts at Ochudo Centenary City, the completion of High Courts 1 and 2 in Abakaliki, and ongoing construction of a High Court complex in Ohaozara.
Justice Ngene revealed that these efforts, supported by the administration of Governor Francis Nwifuru, are part of a broader plan to expand court access across all judicial divisions in the state.
Funding, Delays, and the Fight for Judicial Autonomy
The Chief Judge also addressed long-standing issues of underfunding and judicial delays, describing them as “the biggest ailments afflicting Nigeria’s justice system.”
He called for collaboration between all branches of government and civil society to improve access to justice, especially through specialised divisions such as Small Claims Courts and Family Courts.
Reiterating the call for judicial autonomy, Justice Ngene noted that inadequate financial independence has kept many courts “at the mercy of the pocket,” making them vulnerable to political manipulation.
“The drum of judicial autonomy has been beaten for so long that the melody seems to have been doused, but we cannot give up on it,” he said.
Nigeria’s Widening Trust Gap
Justice Ngene’s concerns mirror wider national anxieties. Studies by anti-corruption agencies reveal that corruption within Nigeria’s judiciary remains deeply entrenched.
A survey by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) showed that between 2018 and 2020, over ₦9.4 billion was exchanged as bribes within the justice sector. Lawyers accounted for 27.17 per cent of the bribe offers, followed by litigants (21.96 per cent), court staff (21.54 per cent), and judges (16.88 per cent).
Another report by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) found that judges received the highest average bribe amount — ₦31,000 per transaction — in 2023, out of the ₦721 billion paid in cash bribes to public officials that year.
Towards Restoring Faith in the Courts
Justice Ngene concluded with a call for renewed commitment to transparency, ethics, and innovation within the judiciary. He urged stakeholders to prioritise digitalisation, continuous legal education, and strict enforcement of disciplinary codes to rebuild public confidence.
“Improving access to justice is not a task for one body alone. We must work collaboratively to ensure that the courts once again become the true temple of justice,” he said.
