NBA Chief Warns of Deep Integrity Crisis in Courts, Says Money Influence Undermines Justice

The President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Afam Osigwe, has expressed serious concern over the state of the nation’s judiciary, saying corruption within the system is weakening public trust and putting democratic governance at risk. He said the justice sector is facing a credibility challenge that demands urgent and comprehensive reform.

Speaking at a public lecture in Enugu focused on corruption and the rule of law, the NBA leader said many citizens now question whether court decisions are based strictly on law and evidence. He warned that growing perceptions of financial influence in legal outcomes are damaging the image of the courts as impartial arbiters.

Osigwe pointed to recent survey findings from anti-corruption and statistical agencies indicating that large sums of money have circulated as bribes within public institutions, including parts of the justice sector. According to him, such trends contribute to Nigeria’s poor global corruption ratings and discourage confidence in legal remedies.

He noted that several major commercial and environmental disputes involving Nigerian parties have been decided abroad, arguing that this reflects limited faith in domestic judicial processes. He said reliance on foreign courts and tribunals in high-value cases hurts the country’s legal reputation internationally.

To address the situation, he called for structural changes such as transparent judicial appointments, stronger disciplinary systems, automated case assignment, and greater financial independence for the courts. He also urged professional bodies and community leaders to stop celebrating unexplained wealth, stressing that restoring integrity in the justice system is essential for the survival of democracy.