HEDA: 266 of our survey respondents admitted bribing judicial officials

Human and Environmental Development Agenda, (HEDA Resource Centre) has raised concerns over the ills confronting Nigeria’s judiciary system, stating 266 out of 1,357 respondents admitted bribing judicial officers to expedite services. The survey featured a data collection between February 13-19 from 774 local government areas in 36 states and Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Highlighting the […]

Human and Environmental Development Agenda, (HEDA Resource Centre) has raised concerns over the ills confronting Nigeria’s judiciary system, stating 266 out of 1,357 respondents admitted bribing judicial officers to expedite services.

The survey featured a data collection between February 13-19 from 774 local government areas in 36 states and Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Highlighting the statistics of the survey, the Executive Secretary, Sulaimon Arigbabu, during the unveiling of the Leadership Approval Rating (LAR), Volume Five, titled: “Voices for Justice: A Civic Lens on Nigeria’s Judicial System – Documenting Public Experiences, Opinions & Reform Demands” said it mirrors the public perception about the judiciary.

“This report is grounded in a structured and methodologically sound public perception survey conducted by the Human and Environmental Development Agenda, (HEDA Resource Centre),” he said.

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He stressed that the survey was conducted to provide reliable insights into the views of the citizens on the state of the judiciary, particularly regarding transparency, corruption, access to justice and judicial independence.

“These are not just statistics; they are the live experiences and unfiltered voices of the Nigerian people,” he said.

He added that a compromised judiciary system could erode public trust.

“When public trust in the judiciary is compromised, the very legitimacy of our democratic framework is at stake,” he said.

He described the Leadership Approval Rating as more than just a report, saying it reflects the views, frustrations, and hopes of the citizens.

He stressed that findings in the report showed the urgent demand for reform of the National Judicial Council and full judicial autonomy.

“The recommendations outlined in this report are both comprehensive and urgent. They include ensuring full judicial autonomy, reforming the National Judicial Council to enhance its effectiveness, leveraging technology to increase transparency, and fostering ethical professionalism within the judiciary and legal practices,” he said.

He said the judiciary could only function effectively when it earns and maintains the trust of the people it serves.

He added that judicial legitimacy must be built not only on constitutional mandates but also on public confidence.

“At HEDA, we strongly believe that public accountability must be rooted in public perception. Citizens’ opinions about the judiciary are not just a measure of institutional performance; they are a call to action.

“Only by listening to these voices can we begin to chart a realistic path toward meaningful reform,” he said.