Kazeem Ugbodaga

The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice – Mr. Abubakar Malami, SAN has said that corrupt judges will go to jail as the government of President Muhammadu Buhari will actively promote and ensure that corrupt judges are prosecuted and their illegally acquired assets are returned to the State.

He said considering the pivotal role that they play in the administration of justice, it is important to ensure that Nigerian Judges, like the proverbial Ceasar’s wife, are beyond reproach or even suspicion as gone are the days when corrupt judges escaped from Justice in Nigeria.

Malami made the commitment at the media launch today of Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP)’s latest report titled: Go home and sin no more: Corrupt judges escaping from justice in Nigeria. The report launched at Westown Hotels Lagos highlights through case studies judicial corruption and the impunity of corrupt judges in the country.

Malami, who was the Special Guest at the launch was represented by his Senior Special Assistant (White Collar Crimes) Abiodun Aikomo said that, “I can assure you today that in line with the cardinal agenda of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, the office of the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation shall ensure that every appearance of corruption in the Judiciary is dealt among other measures through criminal prosecution and forfeiture to the State of illegally acquired assets.”

According to Malami, “Acts of judicial impunity will also not be condoned, so that our Judges can be judicially accountable at all times in a corruption-free judiciary which is both independent and impartial. All these, shall be achieved, (together with partners like SERAP), without violating the fundamental human rights of the persons involved, and in line with Rule of Law and international best practices. That would be this administration’s own way of saying: Go and sin no more”

“The Judiciary’s one and only mandate should be to deliver justice without fear or favour, affection or ill-will. The world over, the rule of law, and separation of powers which are inseparable components of a democratic government, presupposes the existence of an independent and impartial judiciary.”

“Unfortunately the trust reposed in the Nigerian Judiciary is often betrayed on the altar of corruption or other conducts incompatible with the exalted office of a Judge. Though, there have been cases of removal of some judges for acts unbecoming of judicial officers, often times upon the recommendation of the National Judicial Council (NJC) in line with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) (1999 Constitution) which empowers the President to remove a judicial officer from office on the recommendation of NJC.

SERAP’s Executive Director. Adetokunbo Mumuni welcomed Mr Malami’s commitment. He said “Corrupt judges are more dangerous to the society than corrupt politicians because a corrupt judiciary denies both victims of corruption and those accused of corruption access to an independent, impartial and fair adjudication process. SERAP looks forward to working with the Attorney General of the Federation to ensure the full implementation of the recommendations contained in our report.”

The report is calling for: the prosecution of corrupt judges; referral by the Chief Justice of the Federation and the National Judicial Council of all cases of judicial corruption to appropriate anti-corruption agencies; publication and auditing of spending by the judiciary; public and periodic disclosure of assets by the Chief Justice of Nigeria and all other judges; retired judges should be allowed to lead the National Judicial Council to improve its independence; and urgent investigation of allegations of age falsification among judges by the National Judicial Council.

The report also calls on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to proactively and robustly use their statutory powers to investigate and prosecute judicial corruption and to request from the National Judicial Council files on cases of corrupt judges for prosecution.

Other recommendations include calls for justice for those wrongfully convicted or who have suffered any other miscarriage of justice by corrupt judges; for all judges to be appointed on merit and an end to selection of corruptible judges; for improved conditions of service and working environment for judges; for an end to unfair promotion and transfer of judges; for security of tenure for judges; for full implementation of report on judicial corruption by the late Hon. Justice Kayode Eso; and for training for judges on codes of ethics and conduct, rules of procedure, national and international anticorruption standards, and the consequences if those norms and standards are breached or violated.

The report is also recommending transparency in court processes; laws to empower citizens to expose judicial corruption and to encourage victims of judicial corruption to speak out so that they can enjoy access to effective remedies.