Corruption a great burden of judicial officers – Kogi CJ

He noted that until the Nigerian judiciary “is able to purge itself of bad eggs; until a fundamental reform is effected, and there is a  total overhaul of the system, the judiciary of Nigeria may continue to carry the burden of corruption as an albatross.”The CJ stated this while delivering the 8th Hon Justice Jeremiah […]

He noted that until the Nigerian judiciary “is able to purge itself of bad eggs; until a fundamental reform is effected, and there is a  total overhaul of the system, the judiciary of Nigeria may continue to carry the burden of corruption as an albatross.”
The CJ stated this while delivering the 8th Hon Justice Jeremiah Adesiyun Biennial Memorial Public Lecture jointly organised by the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ilorin branch and the Adesiyun family of Offa.
It was in honour of the late Justice Adesiyun, the pioneer Chief Judge of Benue State who served the old Kwara State Judiciary at Ilorin and Lokoja. Speaking on “Maintaining a strong judiciary: Corruption as an albatross”, Justice Ajanah restated that the phenomenon of corruption “is very much with us in the judiciary.”
However, he opined that the problem was a reflection of the broader society, saying, “the judiciary should never be seen in isolation.
“The extent into which corruption has eaten deep into the fabric of the Nigerian judicial system will, however, remain controversial as it may require some empirical evidence. Most of us know it exists but are not certain about its dimensions.
“If the comments that are passed or what we hear and read from the pages of newspapers are anything to go by, then we are in a very serious problem in this country,” he said.
The CJ urged judges to dispense justice with conscience, saying they should be isolated from all external influences. “Only the law, conscience and the facts of the case may serve as the basis for reaching his decision”, he added.